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Butler Buzz
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2025 Family Day Care Compliance Diary: What's New
We collected your feedback over 2024 and made some changes to the 2025 Family Day Care Compliance Checklist Diary. We have now jam packed more of your compliance needs into the same Diary while reducing how bulky it is! Sounds impossible we know, but we did it! Here we go through the changes and give you some examples... -
A Practical Example of a Cycle of Planning
Here is an example of what a cycle of planning might look like... -
Where to find examples of the OSHC Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary?
We have a ton of examples and support available for our Weekly Programming and Reflection Diaries... here's how to find them. -
FAQs on the OSHC Diary
The OSHC Diary is a compliance tool for those working in Outside School Hours Care. It captures medical notifications, birthdays and celebrations, children leaving for activities, casual bookings and cancellations, family communication and visitor sign-ins. This means much of your compliance requirements are recorded in the one place and OSHC Educators and Leaders have a daily glance of what's happening inside the service to support supervision, children's inclusion and legal requirements. -
A Quick Guide to the Educational Leader Diary
The Educational Leader Diary when used correctly acts as a Reflection Tool and shows how critical reflection is being used within the team to improve outcomes for children. It demonstrates and captures evidence of the role of the Educational Leader and the work they are doing to support Educators. Here's a quick guide to the Educational Leader Diary to maximise the way it's being used in your service. -
Where to find Program inspiration?
Are you stuck? Feel like you've fallen into the cycle of the same thing over and over and want to start the year off fresh? Maybe still stuck in Christmas mode? Here are all the places you can find program inspiration this year! -
FAQs on the Weekly Programming and Reflection Child Educator Diary
Have some questions on how the Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary can best be used to show the cycle of planning and children's goals? Wondering how to use it and show evidence for Assessment and Rating... all your information is here. -
Free Early Childhood Christmas Program with Links to EYLF
Download your free EYLF Early Childhood Christmas Program. Incorporating these Christmas activities into your ECEC program not only brings holiday cheer but also aligns with the principles of EYLF. It's a testament to the rich learning opportunities that can be found in every festive season. Remember to document these activities in your Weekly Programming and Reflection Child Educator Diary. -
EYLF Activities to Develop Gross Motor Skills 0-5 Years
In the first two years of life, children are rapidly developing their gross motor skills. Here are some activities tailored to 0-5 year olds that are linked to the Early Years Learning Framework. -
Digital vs. Paper: What's Right for your Service?
The question of sustainability in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is more relevant now than ever. We were recently asked, "Wouldn’t it be more sustainable on digital media rather than all that paper?" It's an important question, and one that deserves a nuanced answer.
It's no secret that digital platforms have made significant inroads in various sectors, including education. Many customers, recognising the environmental and efficiency gains, opt for digital documentation or even a blend of digital and paper-based methods.
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"Streamline practice and compliance": A Case Study
We asked our wonderful long term customers, Angel Tots Early Learning Centre, to share with us how Butler Diaries are used inside their service and they provided some amazing insights into compliance, streamlining practice, and creating tailored and individualised programs for the children in their care. -
NAIDOC Week and Beyond
NAIDOC Week is a significant event in Australia that celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For educators in early childhood education, this annual observance offers a valuable opportunity to engage young children in learning about Indigenous cultures, fostering respect, and promoting reconciliation. In this article, we explore NAIDOC Week using a EYLF lens and provide program suggestions and examples. Download your Free Programming Spread Example here.
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Early Childhood and Development: EYLF and NQS
Early childhood development is a crucial period that lays the foundation for a child's future growth and success. During this period, children go through significant changes in their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. In this article, we will discuss the critical developmental milestones that children go through during early childhood, in the context of the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards.
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Critical Reflection Prompts for Early Childhood Educators
As an educator in an early learning centre, you have the opportunity to impact the lives of young children and help shape their future. You are not just a teacher, but also a caregiver and role model for these children. With this great responsibility comes the need for critical reflection on your practice as an educator.
Reflecting on your practice means taking time to critically examine your actions, thoughts, and feelings about your work with children. This process can help you identify areas where you can improve, as well as areas where you are doing well.
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Early Childhood and Technology: The Role in Early Learning Centres
Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, and it is inevitable that it will continue to play a significant role in shaping our future. The use of technology in early childhood education has become a topic of debate among parents, educators, and policy-makers. Some argue that technology should be integrated into early childhood learning, while others believe it can have negative effects on child development. In this article, we will explore the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards and their recommendations for the use of technology in early childhood education. -
A Guide to Setting Up Compost in your Early Learning Centre
By participating in the composting process, children can develop a sense of responsibility and ownership over their environment, as well as a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Additionally, composting can be used as a way to teach children about the interconnectedness of living systems and the importance of conservation and stewardship of natural resources. -
MTOP and EYLF Planning Cycle Explained: V2.0
Here we have another article from our EYLF and MTOP V2.0 Series that explains the MTOP and EYLF V2.0 Planning Cycle. As well as explaining the EYLF Planning Cycle, we break down the process and walk you through examples.
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Updated EYLF and MTOP V2.0 Learning Outcomes for your Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary
Your Programming and Reflection Pack just got bigger! Not only does it include Print-Ready Photo Evidence for your Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary, but it now also includes an Updated EYLF and MTOP V2.0 Learning Outcome template so you can start using the V2.0 Frameworks now. Yes, we are continuing the goal of no more sticky fingers!
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The Evidence Behind the Culturally Responsive Calendar
Our Culturally Responsive Year is a monthly calendar designed to highlight the culturally competent and responsive practices carried out in the ECE Setting. It is a monthly reminder to actively involve children in cultural practices and activities as well as a record of the experiences for parents and assessors to view. It supports you to "build it in" rather than "bolt it on" to your program and practice. Write stories, draw pictures, or stick in photos to document your month and maintain a record of experiences for parents and assessors to view. -
Tips for Reflecting on Intentional Teaching
Intentional teaching involves "deliberate, purposeful and thoughtful" decisions in your environments, interactions and children's learning. The documentation you keep must show intentional teaching practices at its core. Here we break down Intentional Teaching Strategies and reflecting on these in your Weekly Programming and Reflection Diaries. -
"Beautiful and Visually Appealing": A Case Study
We love seeing the different ways educators are adding their own personality to their documentation. We checked out the Torquay Kids' teams Diaries and saw how educators are using different methods such as highlighting and photos to complete planning and reflections. -
"It's doing your work for you" A Case Study
"I don't know where it has been all my life."
Leanne is a veteran Educator in the industry for nearly 40 years. As a relief worker, she visits many centres with different philosophies and practices. When asked about her practice and method, she points to the Butler Method supporting her in her programming and practice. Leanne feels the Butler Method has simplified her documentation and helped her meet her obligations. She has described the diary as doing her work for her.
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The Importance of Critical Reflection in Early Childhood Education
Critical reflection – the process of carefully evaluating the outcomes of our actions – can help us to improve our educational methods, and thus to better meet the needs of the children in our care. Critical reflection is a skill that comes with time and experience, but it’s well worth putting in the effort to hone it, as it will help you to continuously learn and improve your practice over time. Read on to find out more about how you can apply critical reflection in your early childhood education centre. -
Print Ready Photo Evidence for your Weekly Programming and Reflection Child Educator Diary
We have created print ready photo templates to make providing photo evidence easier. They are the perfect size to print and stick into your Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary. The Design is drag and drop friendly and works with Free Canva Accounts. Learn more... -
Rated Exceeding "The Department Love It": A Case Study
We were lucky enough to be invited into Brady Bunch at Hervey Bay. This is one of their three Queensland centres with another three down South. The absolutely wonderful team took us through their service and how they achieved an Exceeding Rating. Brady Bunch completely flipped their planning and programming method and introduced the Butler Method is 2021. -
EYLF in Practice: Belonging, Being and Becoming
Fundamental to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) are the three pillars Being, Belonging, and Becoming. These values guide the framework and our practice as Early Childhood Educators. This includes our mission, vision, and actions as well as our day-to-day operations. This article takes you through the three pillars of the EYLF. -
How our customers use our diaries for educator programming and reflection.
Take a look at how our customers use the Weekly Programming and Reflection diaries. -
Thinking outside the box but within the NQS
I was a family day care educator when my children were little. The industry was not as regulated back then and there were certainly not the resources available today that would enable you to stay within the regulatory guidelines.