This report considers the appropriateness of a national professional practice network for teachers and educators working in early childhood education and care and outside school hours care. The report reviews existing professional practice networks and considers whether a national network would add meaningful value. It provides five recommendations.

This report considers the appropriateness of national early career mentoring and induction support for early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers. Enhanced mentoring and induction for new early childhood teachers has the potential to benefit stakeholders at all levels of the ECEC system. However, structural barriers prevent a national program from becoming a reality.

This report provides insights into strategies and interventions that improve aspects of wellbeing linked to learning and clarifies the degree of evidence underpinning them. It finds that Australian education systems and sectors can have medium to very high confidence in the wellbeing strategies and interventions identified.

Intentional teaching is widely regarded as a key teaching practice within early childhood education and care settings. It involves educators making deliberate, thoughtful decisions to achieve quality learning outcomes for children. This discussion paper synthesises evidence related to intentional teaching in early childhood and highlights gaps in the evidence base.

This explainer outlines how students develop mastery by consolidating knowledge – storing and strengthening it in memory through practice and review – enabling them to solve unfamiliar problems, think critically and creatively, and generate new representations and applications of their understanding.