Unit of Study TCHR5009 - Theory to practice: Education and Care for Infants and Toddlers (2027)

Unit description

This unit supports pre-service teachers to undertake professional experience in infant and toddler settings. It builds a practice-rich understanding of the learning, development, and education of children from birth to three years within early childhood education and care contexts. The unit draws on current research and the Early Years Learning Framework, with a focus on observation, documentation, and reflective planning cycles that meaningfully inform learning and development. The unit emphasises how educators intentionally translate theory into pedagogical practice. Pre-service teachers explore how infants and toddlers learn through relationships, attachment, responsive caregiving, and everyday care routines. Particular attention is given to recognising and planning for children’s strengths, abilities, interests, and communicative capacities, including their non-verbal and multimodal expressions. The unit also supports students to engage with professional expectations and ethical practice, as they develop the dispositions, and confidence needed to create safe, inclusive, nurturing and relationally rich environments.

Unit content

Module 1: Understanding Infant and Toddler Learning as Integrated, Holistic and Interconnected to Support Development and Learning.

Module 2: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives of Pedagogy for Infant and Toddlers.

Module 3: The Planning Cycle for The Learning and Development of Infants and Toddlers.

Module 4: The Power of The Learning Environment, and Guiding Children's Behaviour.

Module 5: Educator Dispositions, Attributes and Capabilities for Working with Infants and Toddlers.

Module 6: Routines, Transitions, Health and Safety, and Caring as Opportunities for Learning.