BOSTES Accreditation For ECT's

[Kooky28]

I was told last night that by the end of the year ECTs will have to be accredited just like in the school system. I think this is wonderful. Lorina...can you tell me more about this and what the process will be and how it will work?
Thank you.
Kylie

[Lorina]

Accrediting early childhood teachers

The NSW Parliament has passed amendments to the Teacher Accreditation Act 2004 that will require NSW early childhood teachers working in long day care centres, preschools or other early childhood settings to be accredited under national standards and undertake ongoing professional learning.

The Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) will work collaboratively with the early childhood sector on a project to develop sector appropriate processes for incorporating existing and future early childhood teachers into the NSW teacher accreditation system during 2016-2017.

Specifically, the early childhood teacher accreditation project, to be undertaken during 2014-2015, will consider:

1. Professional standards
Teacher accreditation in NSW is overseen by BOSTES and provides a rigorous assessment of evidence for a teacher’s achievement of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at one of four career stages – Graduate, Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead. Currently, the Standard Descriptors focus on school teaching practices.

BOSTES will work with the early childhood sector to determine the most appropriate and effective way to incorporate early childhood teaching practices and settings into the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

2. Accrediting existing early childhood teachers
BOSTES recognises the professional experience and standing of early childhood teachers and is committed to developing a straightforward, one-off process for initially accrediting these teachers at the level of Proficient Teacher. The process will include requirements for early childhood teachers to provide a Working With Children Check clearance, provide identification data to BOSTES and pay an accreditation fee.

BOSTES will work with the early childhood sector to determine the procedure for initially accrediting existing early childhood teachers at the level of Proficient Teacher.

What do I need to do now?
For early childhood teachers only working in an early childhood setting

While planning is taking place there is no need for you to do anything. When accreditation occurs you will be asked to provide certified (Justice of the Peace signed) copies of relevant qualifications and evidence of a current Working With Children Check Clearance and you will be accredited at Proficient Teacher level.

For teachers with a qualification that enables you to work in both early childhood and primary school settings

You can apply for accreditation now.

3. Accrediting new and returning early childhood teachers
To start or return (after a break of 5 years or more) to work as an early childhood teacher in NSW you will need to be provisionally or conditionally accredited. Provisional Accreditation will require you to have successfully completed an early childhood teacher qualification approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

BOSTES will work with the early childhood sector to determine the procedure for provisionally/conditionally accrediting future new or returning early childhood teachers.

4. Maintaining accreditation
To maintain Proficient Teacher Accreditation, full-time teachers must:

undertake 100 hours of professional development over five years
demonstrate every five years that their professional practice continues to meet the Standards
keep their annual accreditation fees up-to-date.
BOSTES will work with the early childhood sector to determine the procedure for early childhood teachers maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation

5. Teacher Accreditation Authorities (TAAs)
TAAs are responsible for accrediting teachers and authorising that teachers are maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation.

BOSTES will work with the early childhood sector to identify appropriate agencies to become TAAs for early childhood teachers.

Ref: Accrediation For ECT's

Hope this helps,
Lorina