The Walker Learning Approach 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 WLA which will gain successful results and outcomes for children requires accurate information and ongoing mentoring.

The success and widespread interest and introduction of the WLA from pre-school to year 8 across Australia is very exciting. 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 where the teachers do not have a rigorous understanding of the approach and are not embracing the core "not negotiable" elements of the approach.

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 WLA. We are becoming increasingly concerned that some schools or teachers are assuming that the WLA 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. The design and development of the WLA has taken many years of rigorous research and trialling within schools. Teaching teams and leadership require a rigorous understanding of the philosophy and core elements of the approach to be able implement the approach appropriately and successfully.

Furthermore, the WLA is the Intellectual property of Kathy Walker and cannot be legally reproduced in any way without authorisation. If you are interested in or have started to explore the WLA 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 WLA in 2009 we commenced a teacher accreditation process who have had at least 20 hours of professional development and mentoring with our organisation and are following the key principles and incorporating the core elements of the approach.

The accreditation criteria and the list of schools with WLA accredited teachers can be accessed via the the Walker Learning Schools menu item.