What is WA Early Years International?
WA Early Years International is a curriculum program for Kindergarten to Year 2 designed to provide schools with comprehensive information to:
- plan student learning programs
- observe, monitor and assess student progress
- report to parents.
WA Early Years International clearly sets out the knowledge, understanding, skills, values, attitudes and standards of achievement that all students are expected to acquire by completing the curriculum.
What are the entry requirements for WA Early Years International?
The SCSA sets no entry requirements for WA Early Years International.
Note: the Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines and the Western Australian curriculum are written in Standard Australian English (SAE).
How is WA Early Years International structured?
Kindergarten and Pre-Primary
In Western Australia, the principles, practice and learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), guide educators’ pedagogical decision making about children’s learning in Kindergarten and Pre-primary.
The Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines (https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/teaching/kindergarten-curriculum-guidelines) reinforce the themes of the SCSA’s Kindergarten and Preprimary statement and the guidingprinciples for schools outlined in the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline (the Outline). TheOutline can be found on the SCSA website at https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/.
The Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines are based on the key ideas and related content from the EYLF to construct an integrated curriculum which ensures all children in Kindergarten experience quality learning. Kindergarten is not a compulsory year of schooling in Western Australia.
Pre-primary to Year 2
WA Early Years International contains year‑level syllabuses for the eight learning areas of the Western Australian curriculum shown below.
Learning areas of the Western Australian curriculum
The teaching and learning in Years 1 and 2 continue to be influenced by the principles, practice and pedagogy of the EYLF (birth to Year 2).
Learning areas must be implemented and the Western Australian curriculum delivered by schools in accordance with the SCSA’s Pre‑primary to Year 10: Teaching, Assessing and Reporting Policy and Policy Standards for Pre-primary to Year 10: Teaching, Assessing and Reporting. The SCSA provides scope and sequence documents which summarise the content and skills needed to be taught for each year level and learning area.
What are the notional hours of delivery for WA Early Years International?
Kindergarten
The Department of Education, Western Australia, recommends that Kindergarten runs for 15 hours each week.
Pre-Primary to Year 2
SCSA’s notional time allocation guidelines for Pre-primary to Year 2 assume a 25‑hour teaching week over 40 teaching weeks per year. It is recognised that school teaching hours often exceed 25 hours per week and that the length of the school year may vary.
Are textbooks prescribed for WA Early Years International?
The SCSA does not publish, prescribe or endorse textbooks, but supplies a list of textbooks and other resources commonly used by Western Australian schools in sample teaching and learning outlines for each learning area and year level.
How is WA Early Years International assessed?
Kindergarten and Pre-Primary
Assessment for learning is guided by the EYLF and refers to the process of gathering and analysing information as evidence about what children know, can do and understand. It is an ongoing cycle that includes planning, documenting and evaluating children’s learning.
Pre-primary to Year 2
Schools develop assessments in relation to the curriculum content and achievement standards, observing the SCSA’s Principles of Assessment. The SCSA provides exemplar assessments and guidance.
There are no external tests or examinations. Schools may decide to conduct on-entry testing.
What type of moderation activities take place?
The purpose of the moderation process is to work with schools and teachers to develop a comprehensive and shared understanding of the achievement standards. Teachers will develop an understanding of the benefits and use of diagnostic tools and assessment strategies to make valid, reliable and consistent judgements on student progression and achievement. Schools that participate in the moderation process with the SCSA will be able to apply the model within their school for school‑based moderation and comparability practices across all year levels.
Where can I find further information?
Further information relating to WA Early Years International can be found on the K–10 Outline page of the SCSA’s website at https://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home.
