Hello! I am sangam lamichhane and I am studying early childhood education at the moment. I am now in the last phase of my path to becoming a qualified early childhood educator and this portfolio reflects my professional experience as part of my placement at Goodstart Early Learning Bayswater north Goodstart Early Learning center with children aged between 2-3 years. I have always been interested in working with children and early childhood education as my interest rose due to the experience that I gained as a volunteer and employee working with young children in different environments. I am convinced that it is crucial to have a good foundation in the early years of the life of the child because it is the period when he or she acquires the essential skills such as social, emotional and cognitive ones. My aim is to create a positive and caring atmosphere which can encourage creativity, learning and growth.
During my placement at Goodstart, I have had the opportunity to observe the effects of a play-based curriculum, which is one of the main beliefs at the center. Being in close contact with the educators, I have also learned that it is critical to give children the chance to learn through exploration, experimentation and in a fun and supportive atmosphere. The teachers of Goodstart have shown the importance of building an interactive learning environment in which children will have the opportunity to lead in their learning process, and at the same time, be followed and assisted by adults. It has been a difficult and fulfilling experience because I got the opportunity to put into practice theoretical concepts that I have gained in my course work. I have also received practical experience on how to design learning activities, make observations and use different documentation techniques to monitor the development of the children and plan future learning activities. I have also been able to look back at my practice and this has enabled me to develop both professionally and personally. Among the most important topics, I have been studying is how to build an inclusive and respectful environment that would recognize and embrace diversity and make all children feel appreciated.
During my continuous growth, I have been engaged in learning and implementing the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) that governs the teaching at Goodstart. The EYLF pays much attention to play-based learning, where the child is viewed as a competent and capable learner (Arthur et al., 2024). Personally, I have witnessed the implementation of the EYLF principles in the nurturing of the learning processes of children such as the development of their identity, well-being and communication abilities. I have also worked with the national frameworks, quality standards and the professional teaching standards, and made sure that my practice has been in line with the regulatory requirements in early childhood education. In the future, I would like to further my understanding and experience in early childhood education particularly in the area of establishing environments that accommodate children individual needs and foster lifelong learning. I am a lifelong learner and intend to engage in further reflections of my practice and enhances my professional skills as an educator in the future.