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Movement Environment Rating Scale (MOVERS)

This program aims to enhance the quality of the movement environment in early childhood education settings.

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Program details

  • Priority area: Wellbeing (social and emotional)
  • Primary audience: Educators
  • Delivery mode: Group training, resources (books, kits, manuals)
  • Strength of evidence: Scale
  • AEDC sub-domains: Physical health and wellbeing – physical independence
  • Item cost: Low (<$200 per person/item)

Program description

The interactive, evidence-based MOVERS professional development program aims to enhance the quality of the movement environment in early childhood education settings. It specifically focuses on children's physical development.

The professional development for educators focuses on 4 key areas (aligning with the subscale in the MOVERS scale):

  1. curriculum, environment and resources for physical development (space, resources, gross and fine motor skills)
  2. pedagogy for physical development (staff engagement, observation, assessment, and planning)
  3. supporting physical activity and critical thinking (movement vocabulary, conversations, critical thinking risky play)
  4. parents/carers and staff.

The professional development focuses on children aged 2–5 years, however, the content is applicable to all children aged birth to 5 years.

A certificate of completion will be provided.

There are a range of options for delivery of professional development workshops:

Option 1

Two-day face-to-face professional development workshop. This workshop is for a maximum of 40 participants in total, and a maximum of 5 participants per ECE setting. Workshops are generally delivered in Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, although may be delivered in other locations if required.

Scheduled dates for 2025 are as follows:

  • 19th/20th May 2025 (9am to 3pm on both days)
  • 28th/29th July 2025 (9am to 3pm on both days)

Additional workshops can be facilitated later in the year if required.

Option 2

On-site face-to-face professional development workshop (2 hours). All educators and staff members are welcome. Contact the provider to request dates.

Option 3

Online professional development workshops (6 x 1.5 hours). Workshops are deliver via Zoom for a maximum of 40 participants in total, and a maximum of 5 participants per ECE settings.

Scheduled dates for 2025 and 2026 are as follows:

  • 6th May 2025 (2hrs)
  • 27th May 2025 (2hrs)
  • 17th June 2025 (1hr)
  • 5th August 2025 (2 hrs)
  • 26th August 2025 (2 hrs)
  • 16th September 2025 (1 hr)
  • 5th May 2026 (2hrs)
  • 26th May 2026 (2hrs)
  • 16th June 2026 (1hr)
  • 4th August 2026 (2 hrs)
  • 25th August 2026 (2 hrs) 1
  • 5th September 2026 (1 hr)

Additional sessions can be added as needed.

Detailed cost

  • Workshops: please email Rachel Jones (rachelj@uow.edu.au) for further information on costing. For on-site face-to-face professional development workshops, the cost is generally $600 for services located within one hour drive from the facilitator.
  • Online professional development sessions (5 hours [2x2 hours + 1 hour], inclusive of scale) - $300 per educator or $600 per ECE service (unlimited educators).

Implementation considerations

  • Target population: early childhood educators.
  • Program/practice descriptions and details: the MOVERS professional development program encourages changes in pedagogy and practice to enhance the quality of the ECE movement environment.
  • Factors to consider: the provider may be able to run training sessions in particular local areas if interest is sufficient. If travel is more than one hour and accommodation is needed, additional costs will vary.
  • Supervision/coaching: workshop training is supplemented by ongoing phone support. Ongoing training in administration and use of the scale is also available.
  • Staffing: services should consider the need for backfill when determining the cost of accessing this resource.

VEYLDF alignment

Item uses these practice principles

  • Reflective practice, Partnerships with families
  • High expectations for every child
  • Respectful relationships and responsive engagement
  • Assessment for learning and development
  • Integrated teaching and learning approaches
  • Partnerships with professionals

Item responds to these sub-outcomes

Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.

Education

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