This paper reports on the findings of an in-depth genealogical study discourse quality in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) policy. Quality reform has become foremost global policy agenda for ECEC due to assumptions about economic potentials services. In Australia, recent National Framework elevated early childhood Australia from margins as lynchpin a broader agenda. However, – what it is does complex, contestable notion that could be considered problematic sector execute,...

The last two decades have seen the emergence of a global education paradigm that has reimagined through lens neo-liberal ideology. Education policy agendas and discourses in current times are globally governed transnational networks, which increased opaqueness policymaking. For critical researchers, challenge is to respond with new methodologies can capture critique increasingly diffuse, fractured nature contemporary processes. This article presents one such methodology, where Foucauldian...

This paper reports on the findings of a genealogical study and argues that global discourse quality in early childhood education care (ECEC) is based number problematic assumptions converge to identify ‘quality’ as site government investment. Using Australian policy context an example, assumption only ECEC beneficial for children linked historical privileging mother-care male breadwinner through family policy. Foucault’s notion ‘art government’, implications discursive logics are outlined,...

EDUCATIONAL CONTINUITY IS A well-documented challenge facing the early childhood field. This research project investigated preschool and primary teachers' perspectives of educational dis/continuity, as they have been under-represented in literature to date. The inclusion dual-qualified educators sample group provided counter-perspective those who trained taught both settings. It was found that teacher perceptions how school differentiate historical roots, are orientated belief two settings...

Within the broad landscape of early childhood education and care politics policies, calling quality reform into question is a political act. As numerous scholars have pointed out, policy structures that measure identify what constitutes (and does not) are not value-free reflect neoliberal human capital economic agenda whose effects rapidly changing work. This paper investigates how in sector has reinvigorated historical distinctions between to elevate as 'quality' via standardisation...

The socio-emotional experiences of infants during transitions to early childhood education and care (ECEC) across their first year in these out-of-home contexts are not well known. In an international project five countries (New Zealand, Finland, Australia, Scotland the United States), observational data, video key moments, plus re-probing interviews with parents teachers concerning 10 (six females) aged 5–13 months were collected ECEC. An embedded case study design was used analyse infant...

Quality in early childhood education settings has dominated the global economic policy agenda since 1990s, and despite decades of public investment, quality reform stalled Australia internationally. This lack improvement been attributed to inadequacy standardized, quantitative, perspectives that drive policy, which are increasingly focused on systematized, academic interpretations quality. The most impactful dimensions interpersonal include warm, frequent interactions rich, responsive...

In recent times, education policy and reform discourses have become increasingly politicised by neo-liberalism, with critical methodologies struggling to catch up. Critical sociologists noted that commentaries rarely succeed in changing or impacting dominant pathways. This article presents a framework for engagement drawing on Foucauldian notions of governmentality, the aim imagine path discourse intervention, truth-telling. The ‘affirmative intervention’ model comprises three interrelated...

From 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic has highlighted crucial role of childcare in lives families and children, as well its economic importance to nation states. In Australia, effects threatened sector's viability, leading a period 'fee free' policy. After decades rigorous marketisation, this unprecedented dispelled state illusion that market models are unmovable was robustly supported by various other stakeholders. Yet, 'fee-free childcare' lasted only three months first industry be...

This paper makes a case for developing theory of quality ecologies in early childhood education and care, presents our initial thoughts around how that might be done, including it create space further thinking, research discussion. First, the politicised, positivist nature dominant contemporary interpretations is discussed, theoretical experimentation diversification. Then, we discuss existing applications opportunities presents, followed by thinking so far can applied to critical...

Abstract Early transitions are on the rise across global and national contexts. However, resources informing teachers families about best practices concerning infants, especially infant from home to early childhood settings, almost non-existent. In this article, authors share outcomes of an experiment that translated research International Study Social Emotional Experiences Transitions ( isseet ) project into a range visual for audience. They created suite video, infographic meme outlined...

The role of play in early childhood settings has become a global issue due to coordinated policy trends that privilege learning, academic foci and formalised assessments amid broader economic investment agenda. This paper undertakes critical discourse analysis the Australian New Zealand national curricula frameworks order examine treatment learning as they relate one another. revealed curriculum documents from both Australia drew on lifelong ideological frames present view an activator where...

In this “Reflection on Practice” paper we reflect an early childhood Work Integrated Learning course redesign that explored new ways of developing and applying playfulness theory to higher education instructional approaches. Our experience was the students required more support deepen their understanding content. response, engaged with emerging pedagogy develop a Higher Education Playfulness Pedagogy model reflects principles pleasurable, immersive intellectual engagement risk-taking. The...