Education Commons^™

Consideration is given about why children with additional needs are at a greater risk of mental health difficulties, and how schools can promote mental health and wellbeing in children who have additional needs. The session also considers how the KidsMatter framework guides schools through a whole-school approach that promotes a positive school community, develops children’s social and emotional skills, strengthens parents and carer engagement, and assists children experiencing difficulties, particularly those with special needs. Key principles for supporting children with disabilities to participate and be included at school are discussed, along with key findings from the Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students …

The KidsMatter Early Childhood (KMEC) initiative is a pilot study that has been implemented in a very diverse group of Australian early childhood services that provide education and care for young children of differing ages. These early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are operating in a policy environment that is concerned with reform to early childhood services nationally, and so are experiencing significant change. As such the design of future versions of the KMEC initiative needs to be mindful of the diverse and dynamic nature of the early childhood education field.