NURTURING THE FUTURE
PUTTING RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
Building
positive
attachments
STAFF TENURE
< 10 years: 71%
10 to 19 years: 22%
20 to 29 years: 6%
30+ years: 1%
The most important part of an
educator’s role is to foster strong, positive
relationships - with children, between
children, and with each child’s family.
These relationships, or attachments, form
the basis of a child’s self worth, and their
predisposition to learning.
Throughout 2014 KU supported the
implementation and expansion of a range
of attachment and relationship based
programs across the organisation. These
programs include Marte Meo, Play Spaces,
Circle of Security and the Infant and Toddler
Program (based on RIE principles).
CONSISTENCY FUELS QUALITY
STAFF RETENTION RATES
All these program theories are unique
and valuable on their own however when
intertwined, and integrated into our
already high quality educational programs,
they produce extraordinary outcomes for
children, educators and families. Both Circle
of Security and Marte Meo are focused
on building connections and positive
relationships between children and their
educators. This simple yet complex idea
involves working with children, e ducators
and families, starting from ‘where they are’
and developing together.
All these programs recognise the crucial role
that these connections play right from the
early years, and are designed to provide
practical strategies to help educators
encourage and foster this. These early
connections are especially pivotal in the
infant and toddler programs.
In 2014 we supported future leaders in
education through excellence awards at:
Macquarie University
University of Newcastle
University of New England
University of Notre Dame
University of Western Sydney
TAFE NSW
Find out more at ku.com.au.
“The Circle of Security explains that how we
react to children’s emotions teaches them
whether feelings can be shared or need to
be hidden, and whether they can face their
feelings or need to escape from them.”
This idea has guided the educators at
KU James Cahill Preschool as they have
implemented a relationship focused
approach into their daily practices. The
staff work individually, as a team, and
in partnership with families, to support
children to feel secure, confident and
included at preschool and beyond.
Such are the efforts being made by staff,
and the benefits being demonstrated by
children, that the team at KU James Cahill
was awarded the 2014 HESTA Award
for Advancing Pedagogy and Practice. A
wonderful recognition of the research and
training the service has been involved in
over recent years.
KU’s commitment to ongoing attachment
and relationship based professional
learning has seen more than 500 educators
undertake specialist professional learning
and/or intensive training programs in this
area. In addition, KU’s Annual Conference,
Professional Services and Learning offering
and parents’ workshops continue to enable
us to share this positive approach with many
more educators and families beyond KU.
2014
90 %
2013
89 %
2012
2010
89 %
89 %
2011
85 %
119th Annual Report 2014
11