Paula Buckingham
Summary
I am a dedicated and passionate childcare professional who enjoys working with, and forming meaningful, nurturing and supportive relationships with children and their families.
I endeavour to encourage children of all abilities to participate in an inclusive and supportive environment where all needs are met, in turn providing a space where individual potential is achieved.
I enjoy working in a team where input and knowledge is valued and utilised to achieve an optimum outcome.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Room Leader - Nursery
Edge Early Learning
06.2023 - Current
- Programming and implementation of the program in line with the EYLF for the room and individual children
- Work within WHS guidelines, policies and procedures
- Form trusting personal/individual relationships with children under my care
- Food preparation & cleaning
- Ensure children's daily care routines are completed and to a high standard
- Complete daily Learning Stories for the room on the Storypark App
- Communicate with and form trusting relationships with families
- Active supervision of children in my care
- Promote children's wellbeing and all facets of their development
- Complete centre documentation
- Maintain confidentiality
- Keeping children safe and healthy
- Strong leadership within a team environment by mentoring and guiding new educators in their roles
- Supervising interactions with educators, children, and families.
- Promoting an inclusive learning environment for all families and children.
- Adhere to policies and procedures.
Educator Level 3
Edge Early Learning
11.2022 - 06.2023
- Assist Nursery & Preschool Room Leaders with programming and implementation of the program in line with the EYLF
- Work within WHS guidelines, policies and procedures
- Form personal/individual relationships with children under my care
- Food preparation & cleaning
- Assist with children's daily care routines
- Communicate with and form trusting relationships with families
- Active supervision of children in my care
- Promote children's wellbeing and all facets of their development
- Complete centre documentation
- Maintain confidentiality
- Perform First Aid Officer duties
OSHC Service Director
YMCA
11.2020 - 11.2022
- Staff rostering, management, pays, qualifications & conducting staff meetings
- Creation of school holiday programs
- Monthly financial reporting
- Periodically complete NQF Audit Checklists
- Monthly QIP entries
- Monthly Facility and Contract Inspections to identify any compliancy issues
- Undertake and document Invacuation and Evacuation Drills
- Responded to email communication from head office, parents and stakeholders
- Ensure all first aid kits and emergency bags are compliant
- Ensure that all child medications and corresponding documentation is valid and current
- MSDS documentation
- Assist in the creation of Safety Risk Assessments
- Complete and lodge incident reports and undertake any investigation due to the incident
- Complete Directors reports required by school governing council for meetings
- Attend Advisory meetings with the school each Term
- Complete applications and reporting/claiming for Inclusion Support Subsidy funding for students with additional needs through Department for Education
- Assist with creation of documentation for funding and claiming for Inclusion Support Program through Gowrie SA
- Maintain bookings, cancellations, enrolments and daily rolls through Xplor
- Managing site finances and running to budget
- Assist with recruitment and employment of staff
- Assist Assistant Director with programming and observations/documentation for children attending the service
- Forming meaningful, supportive relationships with children attending the service
- Forming positive relationships with families/caregivers
- CARL /Child Safeguarding reporting
OSHC Assistant Director
YMCA
06.2020 - 11.2020
- Support learning outcomes under the EYLF and NQS
- Plan and purchase products for weekly snack menu
- Plan, document, deliver and evaluate children's daily care routines
- Encourage children to contribute views and ideas to enhance the service and support the philosophy of the service
- Implement the Positive Behaviour Management Procedure
- Collaborate with staff in observing, supporting and extending children's participation in the program
- Oversee and lead other staff to implement a recreation and leisure program based upon recognised School Age Care Framework (My Time, Our place)
- Build the capacity of staff by supporting and mentoring others to take on leadership roles
- Assist the director with the development of staff including performance development plans and training requirements
- Provide support to director including reviewing reports, Vacation Care programs, site procedures
- Support director during food safety audits from Council
- Ensure all cash management is carried out according to organisational protocol
OSHC Educator
YMCA
01.2020 - 06.2020
- Delivery of quality care and children's programs
- Implement positive behaviour management procedures
- Interact with children in a positive, sensitive and respectful manner
- Work with individual children with particular needs
- Meet the additional needs of children with complex health support needs, including personal hygiene and feeding, under direction
- Assist in the implementation and evaluation of developmentally appropriate programs for children
- Participation in the development of strong team work skills and a supportive team environment
- Support compliance with the appropriate reporting procedures and requirements
- Assistance in the implementation of routines
- Report observations of individual children or groups to qualified staff for program planning purposes
- Implement daily care routines under direction
- Prepare snack/food in accordance with food safety regulations
- Support the inclusion of children with additional needs
- Active supervision of students
- Cleaning
- Assist with First Aid and administration of medications
- Complete Incident Reports
Education Support Officer
St Thomas School & Preschool
07.2019 - 12.2019
- One on one ESO for a preschool student with, ASD
- Toileting with transition from pull ups to toilet trained
- Encourage and assist with the development of language including conducting speech therapy activities
- Behaviour management
- Assisting with eating
- Assist with social skills
- Daily communication with parents
- General supervision, interaction & support of all preschool students
OSHC Educator
Prescott College Southern
07.2018 - 12.2018
- Responsible for groups of children from all age groups during excursions
- Responsible for children with allergies
- General supervision/support of children
- Assisted with the implementation of program
- Performed duties as requested by the Director
- Cleaning and food handling
SSO
Prescott College Southern
02.2018 - 12.2018
- SSO for 2 x Year 1 and Foundation classrooms assisting teachers with administration and general class assistance
- Assist students with the use of ICT
- Communication books daily
- Put together and compiled work for individual student profiles
- Testing:
- PAT
- Phonics
- Scan C Testing - Auditory Processing
- Spelling
- Maths
- Reading - Running Records
- Took 3 x groups to complete MiniLit classes/program
- Took Lexia groups and provided individual help as required by the program and requested by teachers
- Behaviour Management for multiple students who identified as having ASD and ADHD
- Operated/sales for small student canteen on a weekly basis
- Yard duty (including providing First Aid) at recess and lunch times daily
- Provided supervision and support for students in supported play area during meal breaks
- Provided supervision to students during swimming lessons, excursions, incursions, assemblies, chapel
- Aided teachers and students during evacuation, invacuation and fire dills
- Supervision of students completing BGL Testing (including liaising with caregiver if required)
Home
Duties
01.2001 - 01.2017
- Caring responsibilities for my children/family (child has ASD)
Theatre Technician
Westminster School
01.2000 - 01.2001
- All operations of the Performing Arts Centre including:
- Organising, setting up and managing productions
- Co-ordinating the hire of facilities for external clients
- Coordinate schedules
- Stock management including ordering
- Administration work as delegated
- Working with students involved in the theatre production technical group (Year 8-12)
Education
Yr 12
Cornerstone College
12.1998
Certificate III Education Support
MADEC
12.2017
Certificate III Early Childhood Education & Care
MADEC
12.2019
Diploma Early Childhood Education & Care
Kool Kids Training College
Skills
- Working to budget
- Effective leadership
- Behaviour management
- Ability to communicate effectively
- Strong ability to follow specific instruction & procedure
- Advocacy skills
- Sensory Integration
- Cultural safety, awareness and inclusion
- Ability to work effectively within a team environment
- Organisational skills
- Conflict resolution
Certification
● HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting - 01/2023
● HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – 01/2023
● Working With Children Check – 06/2020
● Child Safe Environments - 07/2017
● RAN Refresher – 07/2021
● SMART training - 01/2018
● Fire Warden Training – 08/2020
● Trauma Responsive Practice – Education – 06/2021
● IncludED@OSHC – 04/2022
● I'M ALERT Food Safety Training 03/2023
● Making it a Success - Teaching & Behaviour Support Strategies For Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Sue Larkey) - 11/2018
● Bringing Up Great Kids Program - CAMHS 11/2013
● Incredible Years School Age Program - CAMHS 03/2014
References
Simone Kim
Edge Early Learning - Royal Park
2IC & Acting Director
0417 045 806
Gabii Bradock
YMCA
Service Director
0427 731 655
Lisa Batters
NIDO-Paradise
Centre Director
0407 738 631
Timeline
Room Leader - Nursery
Edge Early Learning
06.2023 - Current
Educator Level 3
Edge Early Learning
11.2022 - 06.2023
OSHC Service Director
YMCA
11.2020 - 11.2022
OSHC Assistant Director
YMCA
06.2020 - 11.2020
OSHC Educator
YMCA
01.2020 - 06.2020
Education Support Officer
St Thomas School & Preschool
07.2019 - 12.2019
OSHC Educator
Prescott College Southern
07.2018 - 12.2018
SSO
Prescott College Southern
02.2018 - 12.2018
Home
Duties
01.2001 - 01.2017
Theatre Technician
Westminster School
01.2000 - 01.2001
Yr 12
Cornerstone College
Certificate III Education Support
MADEC
Certificate III Early Childhood Education & Care
MADEC
Diploma Early Childhood Education & Care
Kool Kids Training College
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