Templates - STEPPING STONES professional development for ECE's

 
 
STEPPING STONES 
Professional Development
 for ECEs

 
 
STEPPING STONES 
Professional Development
 for ECEs

October 2025 Newsletter

SSPD October Newsletter<br><br>This month, we shine a light on Mental Health Month and the vital role wellbeing plays in early childhood education. Inside, you’ll find three simple yet powerful activities to support children’s mental wellness across the age groups: calming bottles for babies, sensory play for toddlers, and mindfulness strategies for preschoolers. Each activity is designed to help children build resilience, regulate emotions, and develop a sense of calm in their everyday experiences.<br><br>You’ll also hear directly from Janine Kelly, founder of STEPPING STONES Professional Development, who shares her reflections on mental wellness in early learning—highlighting why it matters for both educators and the children in their care.<br><br>Looking ahead, our November edition will feature an in-depth article on the importance of professional development in early learning. We’ll explore how ongoing learning empowers educators, strengthens practice, and directly impacts quality outcomes for children and families.<br><br>Together, let’s continue building spaces where children flourish, educators feel supported, and wellbeing is placed at the heart of education.

June 2025 FREE Newsletter

Welcome to our June 2025 Newsletter for early childhood educators, teachers and centre directors. This edition explores how trauma influences young children’s behaviours, the role of sensory processing in learning and engagement, and introduces our Inclusion Mapping Uplift Challenge—an initiative supporting inclusive practices across centres. You’ll also find a range of exciting promotions to support your professional growth and planning.

Example of a Well-Written QIP Goal

FREE October 2024 Newsletter

FREE August 2024 Newsletter

July Newsletter

March 2024 Newsletter

January 2024 Newsletter

Behaviour Record

Positive Behaviour Support Plan

Risk Assessment Management Plan

SMART Poster

🌱 SMART & Meaningful Goals for Children – Educator Poster<br><br>Empower educators and leaders to set intentional, achievable goals that truly support children’s growth and learning.<br><br>This beautifully designed SMART & Meaningful Goals for Children poster guides educators through the five essential steps of setting effective, child-focused goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.<br><br>Perfect for staff rooms, programming areas, or professional learning spaces, this poster acts as a visual reminder that every goal should not only be SMART, but meaningful — reflecting each child’s unique strengths, interests, and developmental stage.<br><br>🧩 How It Supports Educators & Leaders<br><br>Encourages reflective and intentional goal setting<br>Promotes a shared professional language for documentation, planning, and team discussions.<br>Strengthens educators’ ability to write evidence-based goals for children’s learning and development.<br>Serves as an excellent professional development tool for team meetings, mentoring, or self-reflection.<br><br>✨ This resource is FREE when you enrol in our course "Creating Meaningful Goals for Young Children in Early Learning"

This reflective journal: Advocacy in ECEC: Speaking Up for What

Reflective Journal: Advocacy in ECEC – Speaking Up for What Matters Most<br><br>This reflective journal is designed to accompany the article “Advocacy in ECEC: Speaking Up for What Matters Most.”<br>It offers guided prompts to support your professional growth, encourage critical reflection on advocacy in early childhood education and care, and help you make meaningful connections between reflection and everyday practice.<br><br>Use this journal as a space to pause, question, and strengthen your voice as an advocate for children, families, and the profession.

SMART Goals for children linked to different curriculum areas

SMART Goal Template for Educators<br><br>Are you looking for a practical tool to help your service create SMART, meaningful goals for children that align with key learning domains?<br><br>This easy-to-use SMART Goal Template guides educators step-by-step in developing goals that are:<br>✅ Specific – clearly focused on a child’s learning and development<br>✅ Measurable – progress can be observed and tracked<br>✅ Achievable – realistic within the child’s current stage<br>✅ Relevant – linked to the child’s interests, strengths, and developmental needs<br>✅ Time-bound – set within a timeframe for reflection and review<br><br>The template also includes space to link each goal to the relevant learning domains, supporting educators to make intentional, evidence-based connections between planning, teaching, and learning outcomes.<br><br>✨ This resource is FREE when you enrol in our course "Creating Meaningful Goals for Young Children in Early Learning"

SMART Goals for children linking to the EYLF

SMART Goal Template for Educators<br><br>Are you looking for a practical tool to help your service create SMART, meaningful goals for children that align with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)?<br><br>This easy-to-use SMART Goal Template guides educators step-by-step in developing goals that are:<br>✅ Specific – clearly focused on a child’s learning and development<br>✅ Measurable – progress can be observed and tracked<br>✅ Achievable – realistic within the child’s current stage<br>✅ Relevant – linked to the child’s interests and strengths<br>✅ Time-bound – set within a timeframe for reflection and review<br><br>The template also includes space to link each goal to the EYLF Learning Outcomes, helping educators make intentional, evidence-based connections between practice and framework.<br><br>✨ This resource is FREE when you enrol in our course "Creating Meaningful Goals for Young Children in Early Learning"

A Reflective Tool for the Conscious Educator: Practitioner’s Journal

52-Week Reflective Journal for Australian ECEC Professionals<br><br>This beautifully designed 52-week reflective journal provides meaningful support for Australian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals, guiding you through a year of intentional reflection and growth.<br><br>It includes:<br>✅ Weekly prompts for deep reflection on daily practice<br>✅ Monthly critical reflection pages to extend professional thinking<br>✅ Dedicated space to plan, evaluate, and set meaningful goals<br>✅ Inspiring quotes and wellness tips to nurture motivation and wellbeing<br>✅ Links to the EYLF and NQS to strengthen curriculum connections and evidence quality practice<br><br>Created by STEPPING STONES Professional Development, this journal is your trusted companion for 2026 — a year of intentional growth, self-care, and professional empowerment.

A Reflective Tool for the Conscious Educator: Practitioner’s Journal for Intentional Growth

52-Week Reflective Journal for ECEC Professionals<br><br>This beautifully designed 52-week reflective journal provides universal support for all Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals, helping you stay intentional, inspired, and reflective throughout the year.<br><br>It includes:<br>✅ Weekly prompts to guide deep reflection on your practice<br>✅ Monthly critical reflection pages to explore big-picture thinking and professional growth<br>✅ Dedicated space to plan, evaluate, and track your goals<br>✅ Inspiring quotes and wellness tips to nurture motivation and wellbeing<br><br>Whether you’re an educator, leader, or student, this journal is your year-long companion for continuous improvement, mindfulness, and meaningful reflection in early education.