An innovation refers to learning and teaching practices which are different in an identifiable way from typical programmes within the early childhood sector. The nature of innovation is something which takes the best of the knowledge we have and uses that to take practice forward to the leading edge.
Staff and management of services which choose to apply for COI designation need to be able to explain the defining characteristic/s of their approach to ECE learning and teaching processes and how it relates to the research focus area of the round for which they are applying. In addition, they need to identify any cross-cutting themes which their approach may have.