Big Fat Smile is working to improve its services to children and their families with the recruitment of an industry-first Pedagogical Thinker in Residence.
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Industry expert Michele Peden has been working in a part time role since early February. But now as she nears completion of her PhD is taking up a full time position in two weeks to further enhance education and care outcomes at Big Fat Smile’s 27 community preschools, 14 fun clubs, Artspace program and Green Bean Play Café.
Ms Peden is presently undertaking a review before implementing some positive advances in early childhood education at Big Fat Smile.
The Pedagogical Thinker in Residence role will involve her developing an educational framework spanning all Big Fat Smile’s services for children aged from naught to 12.
The framework will enable parents to better understand exactly what their child is learning, providing assurance that the important educational outcomes for a child’s development are achieved.
It will also further equip and support educators to deliver innovative educational programs that are reflective of current research.
Ms Peden said it was a perfect scenario for her to make the most of her research skills in the area.
Big Fat Smile chief executive Jenni Hutchins said the new position will benefit families by enabling them to associate the day-to-day practice of their child’s educators with an educational framework which values the whole child and their family.
“In our latest 2017 Parent Survey our families spoke about their desire for an understanding of our educational framework,” Ms Hutchins said.
“As part of Big Fat Smile’s recent consultations and co-design approach to our new strategic plan, we determined that our educational ethos and practice were critical to the happiness, wellbeing and success of our children, families and educators.
“These factors, as well as our strategic priority to be leaders in the development of innovative educational practices for our children, led to the creation of the Pedagogical Thinker in Residence position”.
Ms Peden has 20-years’ experience in the early childhood education and care industry.
Her experience includes working with the University of Wollongong as a project manager and researcher for the Faculty of Social Science’s School of Education and Early Start.
Her role at the Early Start Building has already seen her involved in research opportunity with Big Far Smile and she sees the new position as a wonderful opportunity and a very innovative role in the child care/early learning industry.
Ms Peden said quality care and education for children, families and staff were all very important to her/
She and Big Fat Smile have a clear set of values and beliefs to underpin a strong strategic plan.
“I am incredibly excited about this new role and the opportunity that it represents for Big Fat Smile, its families, the industry and me professionally,” she said.
“The Pedagogical Thinker in Residence role shines light on the educational framework that our children receive whilst attending our centres and services. My role is to nurture, support, inspire and collaborate with the educators at Big Fat Smile to enhance the current educational programs and create a culture that challenges and questions current educational practices, to boost the developmental outcomes for all children”.
Ms Peden said during the next few months she will be working primarily to gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical foundations that underpin present educational practices across all services within Big Fat Smile.
Following close collaborations with educators, the position will then shift its focus to investigating and determining innovative learning platforms that will support educators to deliver industry-leading programs that support the learning outcomes of all Big Fat Smile children and families.
“Big Fat Smile’s current educational programs and practices are strong, adhering to the latest industry standards and guidelines. The focus of this role is to see the Organisation further enhance its educational framework for the purpose of creating an even higher standard of education and care for its children and families,” she said.
Ms Peden is looking at the possibility of establishing a research advisory board and developing professional partnerships with researchers.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
