General News
8 April, 2024
Children’s development supported through funding
The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) has continued their support for Central Goldfields’ young children, donating $10,000 to upskill educators abilities to improve child development. Since forming in 1999, ALNF has supplied equal...
The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) has continued their support for Central Goldfields’ young children, donating $10,000 to upskill educators abilities to improve child development.
Since forming in 1999, ALNF has supplied equal opportunities for Australian children by providing initiatives like the Early Language and Literacy Program (EL&L).
Go Goldfields manager Carolyn Bartholomeusz said the program has had a lasting impact in supporting the local community.
“We are really delighted to partner with ALNF, we have very shared values and their program is evidence based and has the commitment to the Central Goldfields,” she said.
“Since 2013, ALNF has worked with 14 learning sites across the region from early learning services, to preschools, libraries and the Goldfields Family Centre.
“In that time, approximately 150 educators have been trained in the EL&L course, and around 800 children benefit from the EL&L approach annually.
“The educators and teachers at the child care centres learn this approach that ALNF provides and it’s a program that improves teachers understanding of how to deliver all these literacy programs.
“This new boost of funding will allow the chance for a new generation of educators to get involved and it has been offered across the shire.”
ALNF also provides literacy packs and share-a-book materials as part of the EL&L program to help integrate learnings into daily activities.
Ms Bartholomeusz said the program aims to create a strong foundation in listening, speaking, reading, writing and comprehension to allow young children to fully engage in education.
“We have a number of children who are struggling with their early language, so this is a really great first step into supporting those children,” she said.
“EL&L has some really practical and fun learning materials that can be integrated into everyday play and routines.
“The program brings together proven speech pathology elements into the teachings of reading and literacy.”
EL&L now includes the Early Language and Literacy Development Index (ELLDI), a measure of a child’s oral and literacy development aged two to eight, a world first in prior-to-school education.
Ms Bartholomeusz said the new index is a practical tool which will benefit teachers and parents.
“The ELLDI provides real time feedback on the assessments of children to support educators and parents on the child’s literacy growth, and recommends activities for further development,” she said.
“Ordinarily, assessments will be done at the end of the year, this allows for mini assessments to be done throughout the year, so that teachers can adjust their teaching to suit each child.
“The ELLDI is another critical tool in developing foundational skills in our children to support our vision of ensuring every child has every chance to grow up safe, healthy and confident.”