Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)
Written By
Janice Rocca & Michelle Raikuna-Jones
http://www.raindropsofdiversity.com
Nurturing children throughout their Early Years fosters their development and assists them to grow up strong in not only their identity but also allows them to fill their tool box with skills and knowledge which will give them the best start as they enter the school community.
Bringing Community together allows children to be supported throughout their early years. The Australian Early Development Census is a measure which allows data to be collected across 5 key areas or domains, across all locations, based on a child’s first year at school.
By accessing and using this information, an early childhood education and care service can identify vulnerabilities within their community, and therefore offer ways in their learning curriculums to reduce these vulnerabilities, which leads to improved learning outcomes for children in these important years before they start school.
Early Childhood Education and Care Services provides a network of support, collaborating with families and community stakeholders to offer quality learning opportunities for each child.
The results in the AEDC can be used to guide practice which will support a child’s school readiness and therefore the transition into the school community.
The AEDC offers information based on each community, not on each individual child’s progress.
5 Key Areas or Domains
Physical Health and Wellbeing
Social Competence
Language and Cognitive Skills
Emotional Maturity
Communication Skills and General Knowledge
Key Areas or Domains can be interwoven into children’s learning experiences with Educators planning their learning curriculum with intent.
By being aware of the community and environmental factors influencing a child’s development, Professionals within Early Childhood Education and Care settings can plan to meet the needs of the children within their local community and therefore support each child throughout their early years and during their school transition, giving each child the best opportunity for success once they have entered the school community.
Please watch the following video from the Dept of Education and Training for more information...
Video 13 - Understanding the AEDC
The following links will provide you with additional resources...
Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) - Guide to using the AEDC
Using your AEDC results
early childhood educators
Resources for early childhood education and care services
How can using the information from the AEDC assist your understanding of vulnerabilities in your local community?
Reflect on your understanding of each of the 5 key areas or domains.
Are there specific learning experiences that you can include in your learning curriculum to support the ongoing development of each child, focusing on these developmental areas?
Who are the important people who make up the learning community for the children in your education and care setting?
How is your partnership with these stakeholders important factors in promoting positive learning outcomes for your children?
