In very large schools like Scots with boys from ages three through to 18, there can be the perception that most of the deep reflection on educational practice takes place in the Senior School, when things 'get serious'. When you look at the Early Learning Centre, however, that assumption could not be further from the truth. Under the leadership of Mrs Gaye Entwistle, the ELC has built a rigorous, reflection-rich professional culture, seeking to provide the best experiential education for our youngest boys in a critical stage of their development. That culture was on display this week as each full-time teacher presented the fruits of their action research on developing a philosophy for the ELC that integrates the best of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood formation. This project was conducted as part of a joint study with the Early Childhood Education team at Macquarie University. Mrs Entwistle explained the process of collaboration between academics, teachers, boys and families, the questions teachers explored, and the fruit of this research in enriching practice:

A focus group of families and boys were given opportunity to meet with the lecturers to discuss the heart of the Centre. What was the evident practice that made the Centre unique? How was the impact of the reflective Reggio Emilia practice part of the Centre's philosophy?

Each teacher then chose an action research question and became part of a practitioner inquiry to research the question in their class. The research was diverse and was refined over a year as small groups and teachers refined their thinking and saw evidence of change in their practice. Data was collected, practice changed and re-evaluation in teams and classes meant at the final presentation of the work, teachers had not only found some answers but continued with a further question or line of inquiry. Many felt it had finished with a new beginning. Shared ideas and experiences have provoked new directions with year levels and teams reexamining documentation, classroom designs, furniture, small group combinations and programs.

Parent participation has given us a great collection of ideas and information to rebuild our website and to offer different ways of communicating our learning while reinforcing the much loved portfolios and celebration materials we currently share.

Questions explored included:

Gaye Entwistle
What starts aggressive play in the playground?
Kindergarten

Deborah McMurtrie
How does the outside environment impact learning?
Cubs

Kitty Joson
How do we normalise IT in the Lions program?
Lions

Christa Sheaffe
Do parents value/understand our practice or do they think we should be more formal?
Lions

Kathy Gibson
How can I prioritise reading skills and strategies during guided reading time?
Kindergarten

Markie Calle
What strategies impact phonetic development in the EALD boys?

Sam Nealson
How do we build a class community?
Kindergarten

Sarah Jane Marmion
Can problem solving maths strategies be productive in low skill sets?
Year 1

Adelaide Brown
How can I utilise the best class arrangement with boy's voices to build community?
Year 1

Penny Ryder
What impact is fidgeting having on learning?
Year 1

Kate Stoddard
How can I encourage a student voice in curating the class displays?
Year 1


The research confirmed our list of essential philosophy components in the Centre.

• The agency of the child is paramount.
• Knowing the child deeply is the beginning to growing.
• Choice of the child is heard.
• Voice of the child in the environment of the room and Centre, in documentation and celebrations of learning is important for connection and comprehension.
• The environment must be a place of provocation to learning both beautiful and engaging.
• The experience of play is needed to reinforce and consolidate learning in a social, linguistic and physical domains.
• The environment is the third teacher.
• The differentiation of the program to meet the child's needs is foundational to design of programs.
• Connection and community are important for a sense of belonging, confidence and respect.
• All boys can contribute to learning.

These key points will now become the basis for our document outlining the philosophy for the Centre. We are not a Reggio Emilia 'all of us thinking a bit differently about it' school. We are The Scots College and we do Early Childhood Education this way. We seek to reflect world's best practice, influences and research, in an Australian context.

By the time you read this, the most remarkable election in American history will have come to an end, and either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump will be the incoming resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, also known as The White House. But as I write, the world waits nervously for the result, both of the election and its aftermath. To help us understand how this course of events came to be, a large number of boys, parents and members of the Scots community were treated to a masterful explanation of presidential politics at Monday evening's ScotsIdeas on 'The Battle for America and the Future of Politics'. Guest speaker Dr Harry Melkonian, a Scots parent and Lecturer at the United States Studies Centre, gave a fascinating story of how and why Americans have come to elect their leader in the curious way they do.
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From the creation of the colleges of electors at the birth of the Union to the more recent creation of 'super-delegates' in the Democratic Party and the expansion of the 'primaries', Dr Melkonian described how complex American democracy really is. When it came to the two candidates, he discussed their policies and the importance of listening to the questions asked by Mr Trump of America's economy and foreign policy stance, which are often lost in his presentation of them. With extended questions afterwards amidst campaign memorabilia going back to 1964, it really was a superb evening of rich ideas, for which we thank Dr Melkonian.

You can watch the full recording below, and click here to see other ScotsIdeas forums on topics ranging from sustainability to speechmaking, sports science to the art of motivating boys. We look forward to seeing you at ScotsIdeas in 2017.