The Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education within the Faculty of Education, University of Malta is organising a public lecture entitled Reflecting on ‘quality’ in early childhood education – practitioners’ perspectives.
The lecture will be held on Thursday 26 September 2019 in LT1 (Lecture Theatre 1) at the University of Malta, Msida Campus between 17:30 and 20:00.
Professor Valerie Sollars will present the findings from a study which sought to identify stakeholders’ definitions of quality in early childhood education. The results which will be reported during the lecture will present the views of around 430 practitioners who participated in the research. Data were collected from among practitioners working in any of 50 participating childcare and kindergarten settings located across Malta and Gozo. The study was conducted with the financial support from the small grants scheme offered through the Research, Innovation & Development Trust (RIDT) at the University of Malta.
According to practitioners, what characterises good quality service and provision in early childhood settings? What challenges do practitioners face in their attempt at providing good quality services? How do practitioners attempt to offer quality experiences for the children and their families? Prof. Sollars will discuss these questions arising from the local context which is characterised by widespread availability and accessibility of early childhood settings. The presentation will be followed by a response by Professor Carmen Dalli from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and conclude with a wider discussion with the participants.
Professor Sollars has worked and researched extensively in the area of Early Childhood Education locally and internationally. She has been instrumental in raising the early years profile in Malta through the publication of the first national policy in 2006, followed by the introduction of the Early Years Cycle in the National Curriculum Framework in 2012 and the policy document outlining the way forward in 2013. She had also introduced the first undergraduate programme of studies for practitioners working in the early years in 2009 and co-ordinated European and International Master’s degree programmes in Early Years between 2007 and 2016. Between 2007 and 2015, Prof Sollars was the Dean of the Faculty of Education.
Attendance is free but prior booking is required owing to seating capacity. Registration can be secured and will be confirmed on a first come first served basis by sending an email to valerie.sollars@um.edu.mt by Monday 23 September.