Workplace Culture: it’s critical wherever you work and is central to work satisfaction, great relationships, growth and success. But what is it exactly and why does it matter within the early learning context?

As owners and directors of early learning centres the focus can be on occupancy rates and profitability. However, these things are the outcomes of the many things you do to bring families into your centre. Chief among these, is to build the “right” culture. This is crucial to building successful and sustainable organisations.

In this PodCast we talk to Allan Price to find out how to build a great culture in your centre.

Allan is an experienced human resources consultant and educator who wants to build a better world one organisation at a time. Along with corporate culture he also does volunteer work with refugees helping them develop English language skills.

Children in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school already behind and Children who start school behind in maths generally stay behind.

Numeracy is a foundation skill for successful participation in our society – individuals need it for budgeting, taking medication and employment and so on.

Today we are talking to Amanda Grimmond from The Smith Family to find out more about teaching maths in early childhood education and their program Lets Count.

Find out more at THE SMITH FAMILY.

Sarah caught up with Dr Red Ruby Scarlet to find out what cultural diversity in Early Childhood Education actually looks like in practice.

Take a listen to this insightful conversation that shows we have come a long way, yet still have a long way to go.

Dr Red Ruby Scarlet is an activist, early childhood teacher-researcher, consultant, artist and academic. Red has been working in early childhood for over 25 years and is devoted to creative, imaginative, inclusive practices that promote dignity and integrity in early childhood. Red has developed curriculum and learning frameworks nationally and internationally. She has won numerous awards for her teaching and advocacy.

More can be found out about Dr Red Ruby Scarlet at www.multiverse.com.au

You can find out more about Little Rockers Radio at www.littlerockersradio.com.au

Kids radio that changes lives! Press PLAY and be a changemaker! Every child safe, health and happy.

In this PodCast we look at THE EXCEEDING THEMES. The revised National Quality Standard now includes information about the three exceeding themes which services must demonstrate for any standard to be rated as Exceeding NQS.

To find out more about this we spoke to Heather Barnes.

Heather was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to early childhood education. She works as a trainer and consultant throughout Australia, assisting educators on their professional learning journey and believes that the National Quality Agenda is the most significant development for early childhood education and care in decades and feels privileged to assist educators in their understanding of the requirements of the NQS and the Frameworks and to identify quality improvements.

You can contact Heather at www.heatherbarnes.com.au

This PodCast is a collaboration between Little Rockers Radio and the Australian Childcare Alliance.

Sarah catches up with Chris Dee from the Forrest School Learning Initiative in the UK.

With over 20-years experience running Forrest School in the UK and around the world we take a deep dive into looking at what Forrest School, or Bushy Kindy is, how you can implement the program in your centre, why it’s worth considering, the health, safety and insurance considerations and more.

Take a listen and please let us know what you think.

If you like this episode please subscribe and rate.

Want to see other topics covered? Please email sarah@littlerockersradio.com.au and let us know.