Inspire your heart, head and practice

"Amazing insight, very helpful and powerful - a must-have for Early Childhood educators"

Get the tools for you and children to thrive

Change from the hectic pace and pressure of the Educational Program. Grow in expertise and confidence as an educator to support real and meaningful learning for children. Nurture active, capable learners and see the joy and rewards of your role as an educator.

  • FRESH PURPOSE - Focus on building strong foundations for each child's success in life. Support child-led play and agency, in active learning environments.

  • SHIFT PRIORITIES - Explore your pedagogy, and slow down to nurture authentic interactions in relationships and environments.

  • INSPIRED PRACTICE - Understand important theories and research to reflect on your approach. Use critical reflection as a meaningful tool to inspire your practice.

Lifetime access to a treasure of course resources

to use and revisit as much as you like

  • 9 chapters with 9 presentations

    Each chapter has a 20 - 30 minute presentation that weaves key understandings together, and builds knowledge from the previous chapter.

  • 17 videos to inspire

    We've filmed authentic learning in action with Stephen Gallen and the children at Cawongla Playhouse. Join Andrea Isitt for fresh insights in professional conversations with: Stephen Gallen, Narelle Dawson and Andrew Oberthur

  • Printable resources and 3 workbooks

    Gain access to loads of printable resources to use and to deepen your professsional knowledge. Your three workbooks will become treasures of information. Use these to reflect on and jot down your new ideas as you work through each chapter.

Watch Intro Video

Watch the course intro - see inside

with Andrea Isitt, First Door Company Director

Course curriculum

Your toolkit for ongoing learning & reflection

with unlimited access to inspirational resources and professional wisdom
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  • 1
    GETTING STARTED
    • COURSE INTRO: & how this online course works with course facilitator Andrea Isitt
    • Course outline: Your action steps (Printable)
    • Video: Our purpose - to see each child flourish
    • Online course AGREEMENT OF USE
    • Before you begin - SHORT SURVEY
  • 2
    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
    • PRINTABLE to use: Ideas, mindmap, notes and doodle pages
    • Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework V2 2022
    • Educators guide to the EYLF
    • The CREATE Framework: Learning environments to develop creativity, by Center for Childhood Creativity
    • Loose Parts Play: A toolkit, by Theresa Casey & Juliet Robertson
  • 3
    PART 1 Intro and workbook. PURPOSE: INGREDIENTS FOR AUTHENTIC LEARNING
    • Intro for PART 1: Ingredients for authentic learning
    • PART 1: PURPOSE WORKBOOK (Printable)
  • 4
    Chapter 1: Capable learners - supporting developmental learning
    • Chapter 1 Presentation - CAPABLE LEARNERS: Supporting developmental learning
    • 1.1: Natural unfolding of development (Dr. Emmi Pikler)
    • A moving child is a learning child - with Angela Hanscom video link
    • 1.2: Children's brain and nervous system development: the impact of experiences
    • 1.3: Three types of learning (Printable)
    • 1.4: Early Years Learning Framework Practice Based Resources - Developmental Milestones
  • 5
    Chapter 2: Fuel for learning - nurturing agency, belonging, 'being' and play
    • Chapter 2 Presentation - FUEL FOR LEARNING: Nurturing belonging, 'being', agency and play
    • 2.1: The swing set up - supporting agency and authentic learning in the everyday
    • 2.2: The borrow book - a child's idea, listening and agency
    • 2.3: Child-directed learning and unrushed play, at Bribie Island Community Kindergarten
    • 2.4: The power of PLAY poster (Printable)
  • 6
    Chapter 3: Authentic experiences in active learning environments
    • Chapter 3 Presentation - AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES: Providing active learning environments
    • 3.1: Learning with heart, head and hands (Story telling)
    • 3.2: 'The Story of Snake' by Leanne Logan
    • 3.3: Active learning environment at Bribie Island Community Kindergarten
    • 3.4: Phases of the learning journey (Printable)
    • 3.5: Growth map for active and competent learners (Printable)
    • Check your learning for PART 1. Ingredients for authentic learning
  • 7
    PART 2 Intro and workbook. PRIORITIES: RETHINKING PEDAGOGY TO NURTURE ACTIVE, COMPETENT LEARNERS
    • Intro for PART 2: Pedgogy to nurture competent and active learners
    • PART 2: PRIORITIES WORKBOOK (Printable)
  • 8
    Chapter 4: Cultivating life competencies
    • Chapter 4 Presentation - Growing the apple: cultivating the seed for life competencies
    • 4.1: Preparing children for school: a Principal's perspective
    • 4.2: The apple & Learning Outcomes for children from EYLF - focus to nurture (printable)
  • 9
    Chapter 5: Slow pedagogy and intentionality
    • Chapter 5 Presentation - Being intentional starts with slowing down
    • 5.1: Video: Social learning and being a Role model
    • 5.2: Problem solving the hose - Partner role to share ideas, knowledge and learning
    • 5.3: 4 roles of an educator to support learning (Printable)
    • 5.4: Are you supporting active or passive learners? (Printable)
  • 10
    Chapter 6: 'Sparking the flame' with child-centred learning
    • Chapter 6 Presentation - 'Sparking the flame' with child-centred learning
    • 6.1: Inquiry-based learning - nurturing children's interests, knowledge and ideas
    • 6.2: The Rainbow cabinet - Project-based, collaborative learning and sustaining interest
    • 6.3: About Me form - for child-centred practice (Printable)
    • Check your learning for PART 2: Pedagogy to nurture active, competent learners
  • 11
    PART 3 Intro and workbook. INSPIRED PRACTICE: USING CRITICAL REFLECTION & THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
    • Intro to PART 3: Using theoretical perspectives to inspire practice
    • PART 3: INSPIRED PRACTICE WORKBOOK (Printable)
    • PRINTABLE: Overview of theoretical perspectives - a tool for reflective practice
    • Reflective journal template: using theoretical perspectives to inspire practice
  • 12
    Chapter 7: Reflecting on practice using social learning theory
    • Chapter 7 Presentation: Reflecting on practice using social theorists' perspectives
    • 7.1: 100 Languages by Loris Malaguzzi (2 minutes)
    • 7.2: Inspired by Reggio Emilia approach (Malaguzzi)
    • 7.3: "They're not being my friends" - ZPD & supported learning (Vygotsky and Bruner)
  • 13
    Chapter 8: Relating practice to developmental theory
    • Chapter 8 Presentation: Relating pedagogy to developmental theorists
    • 8.1: Developmental theory and Schema (Piaget and Athey)
    • 8.2: Schematic play poster (Printable)
    • 8.3: Schema: play urges for learning (Printable)
    • 8.4: The Pikler collection: The Development of Movement - Stages
  • 14
    Chapter 9: Using critical reflection to inspire practice
    • Chapter 9 Presentation: Using critical reflection to inspire practice
    • Quiz: Using theories of learning - to inform and inspire my practice
    • Critical reflection worksheet (Printable)
    • Phases of critical reflection and learning: poster with key notes (Printable)
    • My professional development plan (Printable)
    • Check your learning for PART 3: Using critical reflection and theoretical perspectives to inspire practice
  • 15
    NEXT STEPS
    • It's a wrap from Andrea and Stephen
    • Congrats! Here's where next...
    • Before you go...

Course reviews

What educators say about this course:

Course reviews

  • "This beautiful course helps me to understand more about the children's learning and development and change my old way of nurturing and educating children to a much better one. The focus is shifting practice to respecting the children. Everyone is happier with the practice in this course and there is long-term benefits. I enjoyed taking my time to slowly take in and use all of the information in this course. The whole team and all early childhood teams should do this course!" | Silioti Fatiaki

  • "I have loved every moment of this learning. The course is so well organised and the layout/delivery is incredibly user friendly. The content is of the highest quality and provides relevant information, ideas, and tools with rich and practical examples in both video and text format that help to really cement learning and understanding. I cannot speak highly enough of the professional learning courses through First Door." | Katie Samuels

  • "Great! I have learnt some valuable information to help me in my practices. I loved learning about the theory side of things." | Sonya Buchanan

  • "This course had so much valuable and informative material which I will now be able to apply in my own work practice. It has equipped me in becoming a better educator inspired to enrich children's learning in a much more authentic and holistic way. It has made much more aware of the importance of critical reflection and my motivations for pursuing a career in this field. The combination of video and text in the course content meant that the information was delivered in a very user friendly fashion and it enabled me to retain the information better. the work books and printable documentation will be valuable tools to look back on and refer to ." | Jane Bailey

  • "This course totally exceeded my expectations. The content is presented in such a way that you feel you are there, taking part in every aspect and able to apply this in real life. This has changed my thinking of my own pedagogy and the way that I will apply this in future, taking in consideration the different theoretical perspectives and how they link to each other in certain scenarios. Andrea has such a lovely manner conveying the learning material that ignite a certain enthusiasm to want to dig deeper and learn more." | Erika Holtzhausen

  • "This course has a lot of valuable information for any teacher or educator in the Early Childhood sector to further their development and gain valuable information to improve their practice." | Tamara Gear

Enjoy unlimited access to course inspiration, resources and tools

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Course Facilitator and Contributors

  • Andrea Isitt

    Course creator and facilitator

    Andrea Isitt

    Andrea commenced studying early childhood development over 30 years ago, and this started a career focused on achieving best outcomes for children in Early Childhood. After several years working as a qualified educator and leader, Andrea co-founded First Door in 2012. Her passion as Company Director is driven by her desire to promote exceptional education and care for children.

    Andrea promotes respectful practice that nurtures emotional security and a natural childhood. She is an avid researcher and shares views from Dr. Emmi Pikler and many leading Early Childhood theorists, play and learning ambassadors, and from current neuroscience research. Andrea has been influenced by her experience of Early Childhood Education in New Zealand, and by visiting Bush Kindys and Forest Kindergartens in Norway, California and Australia.

  • Stephen Gallen

    Course contributor

    Stephen Gallen

    Stephen is a consultant and teacher who has over 30 years of roles and experience in Early Childhood Education and Care, with over 20 years as a contact educator/teacher. During this time, he has experienced all service types including long day care, in home care, school age care, primary school and kindergarten. Stephen has supported educators in their professional development since 1999, delivering a range of programs on behalf of providers including Gowrie, Workforce Council (PSC), TAFE and QUT. Stephen is currently the Director/ECT at Cawongla Play House, and has collaborated with Andrea to share practical examples of authentic learning, agency and social justice in action within the every day curriculum. Throughout this course, Stephen engages in professional conversations with Andrea sharing his inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach, and his wealth of knowledge in relation to practical and theoretical perspectives.
  • Clare Caro

    Course contributor

    Clare Caro

    Clare Caro is the founder of The Pikler Collection, Nature Play® (UK) and Authentic Learning Environment. As an ongoing learner, researcher and writer, her wealth of insightful knowledge is shared through her websites and in workshops. Clare embodies this knowledge and shares practical application through Nature Play groups, and in every day life and pedagogy with her own two daughters.

    Andrea and Clare have enjoyed professional collaboration since 2016. Clare is a strong advocate for supporting children to be active learners in authentic learning environments, and for supporting the natural unfolding of development. This knowledge has contributed to the resources provided in this course.

Bring transformation to your pedagogy

Nourish joy and authentic learning in Early Childhood

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Team eLearning package

Connect your team's purpose, priorities and practice - transform pedagogy together

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