Birth to Five years

As part of the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years), professional experience is a core component designed to support your development as an early childhood educator. This hands-on placement is essential for deepening your understanding of the teaching role within early childhood settings and for cultivating your professional pedagogy.

During your placement, you’ll have the opportunity to:

The program is structured to build your professional knowledge, skills, and attributes through close collaboration with your service mentor and university lecturer.

The following indicates compulsory Work Integrated Learning (WIL) components:

Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years)

The recommended course progression is to perform one placement per session across the degree in the following order.

  • EMH302: Pedagogy of Relationships –10 embedded days in your current workplace.
  • EPT308: Infant Pedagogy for 0-2 Years - Extended placement 20 days with 0–2-year-olds.
  • EPT326: Early Childhood Professional Practice - Extended placement 40 days with 3–5-year-olds can be approved to a reduction of 20 days under criteria.
  • EEB427: Leading Early Childhood –10 embedded days in your current workplace.

NOTE: If currently employed in an Early Childhood service, the placement for subjects EMH302 and EEB427 can be performed within that service or a service where placement has previously been performed.

Whilst completing placements for EPT308 and EPT326, you should be aware that:

  • You cannot be counted in the ratio for the provision of service within an Early Childhood setting
  • You cannot receive remuneration whilst on placement
  • The service you source must be either a meeting or exceeding against the National Quality Standard

Student guide

It is important to familiarise yourself with the Student Guide to Professional Experience Placement for the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years)

Eligibility to proceed with professional experience placement is dependent upon students meeting their course requirements. These requirements are:

  • All School of Education students must be enrolled in a Charles Sturt professional experience subject
  • All students must have obtained and uploaded their relevant state’s WWCC and expiry date to InPlace before placement is approved.

    Note: Links to each state are provided in the Resources tab.

  • Student Agreement Declaration form - Once you've read and confirmed acceptance of the guidelines, print your name, sign, date, and upload the form to InPlace.
  • In order to avoid a personal conflict of interest, you are advised that you are unable to complete an extended placement in an early childhood setting where:
    • you are presently employed or volunteer.
    • you have been employed or worked as a volunteer in the previous 2 years.
    • your own child or a close relative attends the service.
    • a close relative either as a teacher, educator or as a member of the non-teaching staff is employed at the service.
  • In addition, you are advised that you are required to:
    • Ensure the room you are completing your placement in has a minimum of 5 children within the focus age group of your placement.
    • make every possible attempt to complete your two extended placements (EPT308 and EPT326) at different services as this will provide a broader scope of experiences. If this is not possible you will need to be granted a Work Integrated Learning Approval by the Early Childhood Professional Experience Liaison Officer (ECPELO).
    • commence placement no sooner than Week 3, (Week 2 in Session 3) of the University session and only once your Goals have been approved and your early childhood service confirmed by the Workplace Learning Team.
    • ensure your placement days are more focused post any required or approved break in placement.  i.e. Session 3 (90) should be fewer placement days before the required Christmas/New Year Shutdown period.

To prepare for your placement, you must log into the InPlace placement management system to upload all the mandatory documents (evidence that all required checks and training are completed).

Before you start your placement, you should complete the following:

  1. Assessment tasks submitted and approved as outlined in the Subject Outline (e.g., Professional Experience Goals).
  2. Familiarise yourself with your Student Guide to Professional Experience, the relevant Subject Outline, and recommended texts.
  3. Prepare your Working With Children Check clearance notice and insurance letter to provide to your placement site.
  4. Prepare a professional experience folder as per EPT subject requirements.
  5. Contact services that are ‘meeting’ or ‘exceeding’ the National Quality Framework:
    1. Clarify if a service is willing to place you as a student for 20/40 days in the 0-2- or 3–6-year-old rooms. If so, negotiate suitable dates.
    2. Confirm you will be supervised by a Bachelor of Education qualified teacher of more than twelve months, and if one is available in your service they would be prepared to mentor you.
    3. Confirm if the Bachelor trained teacher be prepared to share his/her qualification details - Degree name, University attended and year they graduated from the course
    4. Confirm the Agency/Service Contact details (Director) and the Supervisor contact details (mentor).
    5. Enquire if there are any extra requirements or documentation that the service/company requires to engage in professional experience within this service.

Note: As a pre-service teacher, you are required to wear identification whilst on your Professional Experience Placement and carry your University student ID card. You can either purchase a Charles Sturt name badge from the online store and carry your ID card or wear your University student ID card in a clear plastic lanyard or clear plastic name badge sleeve during placements.

Placement expectations

From day one, aim to become part of the early childhood service team. This means:

  • Arriving on time and staying for the full eight hours (inclusive of breaks and one hour planning time)
  • Completing your InPlace timesheet daily
  • Following early childhood service authority rules
  • Assisting with early childhood teacher duties and activities
  • Dressing appropriately and using respectful language
  • Using service technology responsibly, with all permissions granted in accordance with university and or service policy.

Teaching responsibilities

Your teaching load will increase gradually. Check your subject site for the Progression of Teaching document to see what’s expected each week. Your supervising teacher will also have access to this guide.

Keep records

Maintain an organised and up-to-date folder of:

  • Professional Experience Goals
  • Teaching Progression resources including Centre Profile & Context, Documenting of Learning Stories, Play Based Learning Experiences, Intentional Group Time & Inquired Based Project resources.
  • Portfolio Evidence
  • Feedback sheets
  • Code of Conduct
  • Relevant Policies and Procedures of the service
  • Leave of Absence Form
  • Permission to Observe Letters
  • Professional Experience Student Guide

Note: Make sure it’s accessible to your supervising teacher and University Liaison Officer (ULO) if requested.

Mid-Placement review

At the halfway point, meet with your supervising teacher to:

  • Review your progress
  • Reflect on your goals
  • Discuss the Professional Experience Report focus areas

After placement

Final report

Work with your supervising teacher to complete and sign the Professional Experience Report. The service director also needs to sign it.

  • Keep a copy for your records
  • Upload it as directed in your Subject Outline

Final steps

  • Submit any remaining assessment tasks by the due date.
  • Thank your supervising teacher, director and school staff for their support.
  • Course and subject information can be found in Brightspace

InPlace

Workplace Learning at Charles Sturt uses The InPlace (Workplace Learning Placement system). You also have access to your placement information and WPL resources via InPlace.

  • InPlace login is your Charles Sturt username and password.

Charles Sturt support and services

Working with Children Checks

Accreditations - Early Childhood

Thank you for partnering with us to support our pre-service teachers (PSTs). Your role as a supervising teacher is vital to their development, and we truly appreciate your time, expertise and commitment.

To help you prepare, we recommend reviewing Section 4 of AITSL’s Components of Effective, High-Quality Professional Experience. It offers practical guidance on effective supervision and mentoring.

Progression and reporting

Each PST follows a suggested weekly teaching schedule with minimum teaching responsibilities. You can adjust this based on their individual needs, progress and your services context.

You’ll need to complete:

  • Complete one lesson feedback sheet each day
  • A mid-placement review
  • A final Professional Experience Report on the last day of placement

Important tips for completing the report:

  • Signatures must be added in order: director → PST → you (supervising teacher)
  • Once you sign, the report is locked and can’t be edited
  • After all signatures are added, email the report to the PST. They’ll submit it via BRIGHTSPACE.

Supporting students during placement

Address concerns early, by Day 8 or sooner.

If you or the University Liaison Officer (ULO) have concerns about a PST’s conduct or competency, please address them promptly.

  • Speak with the ULO to explore strategies
  • If issues continue, email the Workplace Learning Team

Teaching Competency & AITSL Standards

Use the Student Placement Support and Review Process (SPSRP) to support PSTs who are struggling to meet teaching standards.

Early intervention - before the mid-placement review - is key.

Helpful documents:

Insurance coverage

All students are covered by university insurance during approved placements.

Reporting incidents

  • Report any accidents within 48 hours to FOAE-WPL@csu.edu.au
  • Car accidents to/from placement: claim via Third-Party Insurance
  • PSTs accepting payment for transport may void their insurance
  • Overseas placements are not covered

Need help

If you have questions or need support during the placement, please contact the Workplace Learning team.