Practical Programming Support for Early Learning Teams

Stop Overcomplicating Programming. Build a Clear, Consistent Approach Your Whole Team Can Actually Use.

The Hourglass Time Programming Approach™ helps educators move from confused, overwhelmed, and inconsistent documentation to meaningful programming that feels achievable, intentional, and connected to children’s learning.

Through practical training, real examples, and our beautiful guidebooks, your team will finally understand:

  • What to document
  • How to connect learning
  • How to engage with the frameworks
  • And how to make programming feel purposeful instead of exhausting.

Most Teams Aren't Struggling Because They Don't Care. They're Struggling Because Programming Has Become Too Complicated.

Many educators feel:
  • Overwhelmed by documentation expectations
  • Unsure what assessors actually want to see
  • Confused about individual vs group programming
  • Disconnected from the purpose behind planning
  • Stuck recreating systems that don’t work
Child’s drawing of a person with a pink face, yellow and orange dress, long hair, and outstretched arms on a white background.
The
Result?
Programming becomes:
  • Inconsistent
  • Stressful
  • Compliance-driven
  • And disconnected from real learning work
Child’s drawing of a person with a long dress, black hair, and a smiling face, coloured with red, yellow, and blue tones.
Person holding a pen and an educator guidebook to programming at a desk with a mug, another notebook, and a laptop.
That's exactly why we created the Hourglass Time Programming Approach™.
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A Refreshingly Simple Approach to Capturing Learning, Development & Wellbeing.

Developed by experienced early childhood consultants Michelle Walsh and Amy Cram, this approach was designed to help educators:

  • Simplify programming
  • Strengthen intentional teaching
  • Understand learning deeply
  • And create sustainable systems that actually work in real services.
Two simple, hand-drawn flowers with oval yellow centres and differently coloured rounded petals on thin stems.
This isn’t
  • A One-Size-Fits-All Template
  • Complicated Academic Theory
  • Unrealistic Expectations
  • More Documentation
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This isn’t
  • Pratical
  • Pratical
  • For All Educators
  • Clear & Easy to Understand
  • Easy to Embed
  • Aligned to the Learning Frameworks & NQS
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The Hourglass Time Programming Package

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Two Practical Training Sessions + Beautiful Guidebooks Your Team Will Actually Use.

SESSION 1 — Individual Programming
2-Hour Team Training Session

Your team will be blown away by the simplicity and clarity of this approach.

  • How to capture meaningful learning
  • How to recognise deeper learning moments
  • Connecting observations to development
  • Documenting with purpose
  • Simplifying the cycle
  • Engaging with the frameworks naturally
Educators leave feeling:
  • Clearer
  • Calmer
  • Confident
  • And excited about programming again.
Included:

2-hour live training session

Your service – 1 book per service

Practical examples and real service application

Reflection prompts and implementation ideas

2-hour live training session

A circular flowchart shows six phases: Observation, Analysis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Critical Reflection. Stylised flowers are at the bottom of the image.
SESSION 2 — Group Programming
2-Hour Team Training Session

This session helps teams stop “planning for planning’s sake” and start creating responsive, meaningful group programming connected to children’s interests and learning.

We explore:
  • Creating intentional group experiences
  • Planning from children’s curiosity
  • Embedding the learning frameworks
  • Connecting learning across the service
  • Building consistency between educators
  • Making programming visible and purposeful
Included:

2-hour live training session

Your service – 1 book per service

Practical examples and real service application

Reflection prompts and implementation ideas

A collage of photos showing children exploring nature, insects, plants, and handwritten notes about their observations and questions.

Why Teams Love This Approach

Simple drawing of a flower with an oval yellow centre and eight brown petals, on a thin stem, against a plain background.

“we use the Guidebook every day”

"Programming finally makes sense."
"Our educators feel more confident."
"We're no longer overthinking everything."
"The whole team is finally on the same page."
"This has transformed the way we plan."
Five people sit at a round table in a bright room, listening attentively. Notebooks and pens are on the table. The photo has a border with flower and balloon drawings.

Training Is Only Valuable If It Changes Practice.

That's why HGT EDU can also support services with:
  • Implementation visits
  • How to recognise deeper learning moments
  • Reflective practice conversations
  • Room support
  • Leadership mentoring
  • and ongoing programming guidance.
We help teams move from:
"That was great training..."
to:
"This is how we work now."
Child’s drawing of a person with a pink face, yellow and orange dress, long hair, and outstretched arms on a white background.Child’s colourful drawing of a person with blue hair, orange and pink body, black lines for features, arms outstretched, and a simple smiling face.

Perfect For Services Wanting To:

“we use the Guidebook every day”

Three simple, hand-drawn flowers with yellow centres and pink, blue, and orange petals on thin stems.
  • Simplify programming systems
  • Build educator confidence
  • Strengthen intentional teaching
  • Improve consistency between rooms
  • Aligned with real service life
  • Reduce overwhelm
  • Connect documentation to real learning
  • Prepare for Assessment & Rating
  • Create sustainable programming practices
Book titled “Educator Guidebook to Programming” featuring a flowchart of educational phases and flower illustrations, standing upright next to a cartoon flower drawing.
Child-like drawing of a person with a blue head, yellow torso, pink legs, raised arm, and scribbled black lines for hair and facial features.
Ready to Make Programming Feel Simpler Again?

Help your team stop second-guessing and start programming with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Book a Free Discovery CallEnquire About Preschool Boost Funding

Practical programming. Clear direction. Sustainable practice.

Child’s drawing of a person with a round pink face, black eyes, pink lips, yellow hair, and a multicoloured background.
Child’s drawing of a person with a round pink face, black eyes, pink lips, yellow hair, and a multicoloured background.Child-like drawing of a person with a blue head, yellow torso, pink legs, raised arm, and scribbled black lines for hair and facial features.
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