Assignment 1: Report
Word limit: 2800 (+/- 10%)
Weighting: 60%
You are required to write a report, based on the following scenario:
Your local municipal council has decided to build a new community-based early education setting that will be called the “Wominjeka Children’s Centre”, with a focus on bringing ‘contemporary best practice’ in Early Childhood Education to your local area. You are charged with writing an evaluative information report that explores the current state of the Australian Early childhood profession, comparing significant national and international movements and trends, including the complex benefits and challenges of creating a new education setting.
You are being asked to make choices about what would be included in such a report as you research and report on the state of the early childhood profession in Australia today. A typical report investigates, describes, and analyses information in a thorough and logical manner. This information is then presented in a clear report format. Some features that typify a report format include:
• numbered sections and/or headings
• a contents page
• information presented with images, tables, or diagrams
• short paragraphs
• illustrations and examples to guide the reader.
In the body of your report, you should cover the following essential discussion points:
• Discuss the characteristics and complexities of the early childhood profession including current strengths and challenges in Australia today.
• Identify trends and movements influencing ECE. Include at least one movement and one trend, however, you may choose to include more. Make sure to discuss and critique the trends, movements and policies in the Australian context and international contexts. For example, compare Australia with one or two other countries.
• Describe the key legal obligations and policies that impact the early childhood profession and their implications for teaching and service provision.
• Include a SWOT analysis that outlines why the council should support and fund community-based ECE services with 6–8 discussion points for each section (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats).
Your report should also include the following sections:
1. Table of contents (not included in the word count)
o Create a table of contents in Word or a similar processing program you are using. The latest version of Microsoft Office is free for students to download.
o The contents page should list the different sections and/or headings together with the page numbers.
o Your contents page should be presented in such a way that the reader can quickly scan the list of headings and locate a particular part of the report through the page number.
o Whatever heading and/or numbering system you use, make sure that the relationship with headings and sub-headings is clear and consistent.
2. Executive summary (approximately 200 words)
o This is a short, clear summary of the whole report outlining who the report is for and what you are hoping to achieve with its creation (the purpose) and the summary of recommendations.
o Write a short draft outline of this when planning your report and then rewrite when you have completed the report, making sure you include any changes you made during the process.
3. Introduction and terms of reference (approximately 300 words)
o The introduction sets the scene for the main body of the report.
o Introduce the early childhood profession and provide a rationale explaining the relevance of teachers having an understanding of current trends, policies and movements impacting on the early childhood profession.
o Introduce and outline the key aspects of your report and any new terms with brief descriptions of each term. You can also include explanations of the acronyms or abbreviations used in your report by creation a short glossary.
4. Main body of the report (should include the essential discussion points) (approximately 2000 words)
o The main body of the report is where you discuss your key ideas, with supporting literature that describes the profession. Think carefully about what is relevant for your council audience.
o Use section headings and sub-headings where points are grouped and arranged in an order that is logical and easy to follow. You are able to use some bullet points to present a series of ideas in an easy-to-follow list, however, this section should be mostly discussion. Remember this is not an essay.
o You can use images, photographs and diagrams to present your ideas; these should be labelled and the headings included in your table of contents. They should also include clear descriptions of what they are and referenced with APA in-text citations and in your reference list.
o Use examples, illustrations, vignettes, quotes or case studies to guide the readers’ understandings of the report content.
5. Conclusion (approximately 300 words)
o Short summary of key points.
o Recommendations for the council outlining why they should invest in quality early childhood services for the community.
6. Reference list (not included in word count)
o All sources used should be acknowledged with APA referencing throughout the report with in-text citations and the creation of a comprehensive reference list.
o A report often contains many references as you are reporting information. You will need to include a minimum of 10 to 15 references, but it is highly likely that you will include many more.
7. Appendices (not included in word count)
o This section may include supporting information such as examples of student work, projects and family feedback. (This section is additional and not compulsory or included in the word count.)
Throughout your teaching and learning journey, you will be required to use the nationally approved learning frameworks (the Early Years Learning Framework or the Australian Curriculum) or the approved learning frameworks for your state or territory. To help you further build capability in this area, and to prepare you for placements, at Swinburne Online you may choose to use the nationally approved learning frameworks or the approved learning frameworks for your state or territory in your assignments. For further information specific to your assignments for this specific unit, please seek advice from your OLAs and/or your Unit Coordinator.
Supporting resources
The following Student Hub resources will assist you with completing this assignment:
• The Academic practiceLinks to an external site. page has sections on ReferencingLinks to an external site., ‘Academic integrity’ and ‘Assignment support’.
• The Academic writing and presentingLinks to an external site. page has a section on ‘Formatting and presentation’, which includes a handy resource for appendices.
