The Australian Developmental Curriculum has been specifically and rigorously designed and researched to ensure that explicit teaching and learning is retained alongside directed and scaffolded investigations. Successful implementation of the Australian Developmental Curriculum which will gain successful results and outcomes for children requires accurate information and ongoing mentoring.

The success and widespread interest and introduction of the Australian Developmental Curriculum into schools across Australia are very exciting for the consultancy. However, one of the challenges is to ensure that schools and teaching teams have accurate information and support to assist with successful implementation. One of the dangers is for teachers to simply visit a school which is implementing a version of the Australian Developmental Curriculum or a play based curriculum which may or may not actually be endorsed and certified by Kathy Walker and Associates.

Increasingly we are finding that schools are attempting to implement a version of the curriculum after one or a combination of the following: attend a symposium; read the book "Play Matters"; visit schools which they believe are implementing a version of the Australian Developmental Curriculum. We are becoming increasingly concerned that some schools or teachers are assuming that the ADC is simply adding a bit of play, that it is unstructured and does not retain explicit teaching in key learning areas.

We take teaching and learning very seriously. Kathy Walker developed this approach whilst an education academic and researcher at university. The design and development of the Australian Developmental Curriculum has taken many years of rigorous research and trialling within schools. In order to implement this approach appropriately and successfully requires an understanding of the philosophy and approach by teams and schools.

Furthermore, the Australian Developmental Curriculum is the Intellectual property of Kathy Walker and cannot be legally reproduced in any way without being endorsed by Kathy Walker and Associates. If you are interested in or have started to explore the Australian Developmental Curriculum without attending one of our Friday afternoon symposiums or if you would like for us to visit your school and leadership team, please contact us so we can point you in the right direction.

In order to maintain a high level of quality control and integrity and rigor in the Australian Developmental Curriculum in 2009 we are commencing a certification process of schools that have implemented the approach with staff who have had at least 20 hours of professional development and mentoring with our consultancy and are following the key principles and practices of the approach. These schools will be certified as Australian Developmental Curriculum schools for one year and this certification will be reviewed each year. This will ensure that schools wishing to implement Australian Developmental Curriculum will be provided with accurate and appropriate information and support.