Through Implementing evidence-based effective early learning and care practices with children in their first 8 years of life we aim to improve educational outcomes for all children residing in Rosebud West. Supporting children’s language development from birth through the Seawinds Community Hub and Early Learning Centre is the focus of phase one of this project. The project aims to develop staff capacity to implement the Abecedarian Approach, a simple but powerful approach to early language development based on the work of Professor Joseph Sparling, currently in residence at Melbourne University. This innovative approach has been utilised in disadvantaged communities since the 1970s in the US, Canada, Eastern Europe and now in Indigenous communities in Australia with measurable long -term benefits to participants. The approach puts children’s language development as the number one priority. Through the application of simple yet powerful games, conversational reading and enriched caregiving, children’s language development is enhanced. Developing educators’ awareness of this high quality practice ensures that early learning is of the best possible quality. 
The project will train educators to improve adult child interactions in early learning and care settings, as well as helping parents to have improved interactions with their children. After establishing a 12 month pilot (phase one), the project aims to utilise evidence of children’s rapid development to take the project to a larger scale in the wider community.
In 2015, 30 educators and allied health professionals from Seawinds Community Hub, Rosebud Kindergarten, Frankston Hospital, Anglicare, Rosebud Literacy Village, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Library and Eastbourne Primary School will be trained by Melbourne University in using the Abecedarian Approach. A literacy consultant will be employed to co-ordinate the project, develop staff, track progress, manage personnel, support families, develop resources and promote the project and develop community awareness program.
In 2016 and 2017, the success of the pilot project will be used to broaden the scope to include other local day-care providers, kindergartens, schools and other setting were children learn and are cared for.
Children and their families who will in the next few years enrol in primary schools in the Rosebud West catchment area stand to benefit the most from this project. Each year, Eastbourne Primary School enrols around 75 Prep students, of which around 20% are developmentally vulnerable in two or more domains. In the pilot phase, the project aims to support all children who attend Eastbourne Primary School’s major feeder pre-school (Rosebud Kindergarten and Seawinds Childcare Centre), as well as other local day care providers beyond the pilot phase. Through developing the practice of staff in the educational settings to facilitate language development, all children will stand to benefit.
