Narnia Early Learning commenced the 2026 academic year with a comprehensive two-day Professional Development program, reaffirming the organisation's commitment to continuous learning and excellence in early childhood education.
Day one brought together 100 staff members from across Narnia's centres for a carefully curated program that balanced pedagogical development, relational practice, and organisational alignment. Narnia Social Worker Vicki Cottier presented on "Building a Community," exploring the importance of community working in relationship to raise a child. Executive Director Nicole Denzin led a morning devotion before facilitating a session on "Relational Pedagogy in a Child Safe World," exploring how educators can maintain warm, responsive relationships with children while upholding contemporary safeguarding practices. This session addressed one of early childhood education's most pressing contemporary challenges: balancing relational pedagogy with increasingly complex regulatory frameworks. Day two saw teams return to their individual centres for centre-based professional development, focusing on policy, procedure, and the intentional design of learning environments that reflect both regulatory requirements and best practice pedagogy.
"Professional development is not an add-on to our work, it is foundational to it," said Nicole Denzin. The investment in comprehensive professional development reflects research showing that educator quality is a significant predictor of positive outcomes in early childhood settings. By prioritising regular, substantive professional learning opportunities, Narnia Early Learning demonstrates its commitment to educational excellence.
