Video transcript
Susan Irvine
Professor of Early Childhood, Queensland University of Technology
Teaching in kindergarten is underpinned by a dynamic and expanding body of knowledge, and that includes the teachers own professional knowledge and expertise. It includes their deep knowledge of local context, in particular their knowledge of individual children, and it includes the Queensland kindergarten learning guideline.
So while it's not the whole story, the Queensland kindergarten learning guideline has a really important role to play. It provides us with an evidence-based reference point for our learning and teaching, and it also has a really important role in keeping us up to date by presenting contemporary theory, current research and also practice wisdom.
While it's the teacher’s role and responsibility to lead the design and the delivery of the kindergarten program, this is best done in collaboration with children and families, and it's really important to be giving voice to children and families as they support decision making in local context.
The Queensland kindergarten learning guideline provides that really important reference point, but it still remains the teacher’s role to lead — working with children, working with families — the design and delivery of the kindergarten program. So, it's that intentionality. I mean, we're intentional in everything that we do, and there is intentionality here, using professional judgment, using our professional knowledge to take from the curriculum and think about what that might look like and mean in our local context.
- Last updated:
- 22 September 2025
