What we Believe - Our Philosophy
Our core values are embedded in our practice
Advocate: For children to grow strong healthy minds and bodies, be resilient and develop lifelong skills and knowledge.
Respect: Educators / staff acknowledge that all children have an individual path to their learning and development. Educators respect parents and families as their child’s first most influential & knowledgeable educators.
Honesty: Clear and open communication in a culture where everyone is valued and respected. Nurture: We provide a safe and empowering educational kindergarten for children (aged 6 weeks to school age) and families.
Our educational play-based program draws from “The Early Years Learning & Development Framework for Australia V2.0, 2022, The 3a Abecedarian Approach Australia & STEAM education.
Our kindergarten program runs from birth to 6 years of age. Information is collected about each child’s culture/ spirituality & the things that are important to their family. Educators reflect children’s culture, by reading stories and setting up play themes. Children have a strong connection to their culture. Families are encouraged to speak their first language at home.
We believe that every child has rights and expectations as members of our kindergarten and local community. Children are taught to be strong, capable, clever, happy, active and social beings. We value, respect, and see families as children’s first educators. Children’s choice /agency is supported through flexible and predictable routines. The voices of children are heard, recorded & implemented when the children & educators plan & set up play themes.
Educators use the information collected from families to plan interesting and engaging learning experiences. Transition and orientation plans are developed & planned with families. Our STEAM education is embedded in our educational program. Science/ technology / engineering / art & mathematics activities are planned daily for each age group. Children are nurtured to grow a secure attachment with educators. Educators guide children to learn that practice and perseverance build resilience & success. Children learn to be active communicators and story tellers. Children are guided and taught self-help & life skills, that they will use in their everyday lives.
Our therapy dog, LoLo greets the children/ families and educator each morning. She is always on her lead, so that the children can choose whether they want to come and say good morning to her. The children are taught how to safely approach, pat and interact with dogs.
Play is a road map for children’s wellbeing, growth and development. Educators guide and support children to grow their intelligence & to be part of the conversation in their learning. Children are taught to ask questions to extend their knowledge & be active, healthy & adventurous risk takers. Our indoor / outdoor educational program has a flexible routine. Children are immersed in a social/nurturing & stimulating play / learning environment. Our large garden areas are a place where good old-fashioned play takes place every day.
Through play, each child has many opportunities to learn, refine & master skills and learn new knowledge. Educators take the time to form a secure attachment with children. Children are allocated a primary educator so that educators can have fun & play games & attend to their need to eat/ sleep/play & toileting needs.
Our community enhancement programs are embedded in our weekly/ fortnightly excursions to the Mill Park library/ Pit gymnastics & Blue Fit swimming. The staff welcome the children & educators on each visit. Early literacy / numeracy & gross motor skills are embedded in the extra curricula activities. Children learn to be active members of the larger community. Mealtimes are a social occasion. The children meet in the dining hall/ outdoor eating areas to eat in a relaxed and friendly area. Many conversations are had at mealtimes. Siblings can eat their meals together & have a play.
We believe that our educators are important people in the daily lives of children, families, and managers. We work in partnerships with stake holder to create a unique educational play-based learning environment. Educators, families & children have a shared dream that their child be the smartest & capable person they can be. Our children will grow to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Educators work with outside agencies to grow their specialised child development knowledge. This drives our educational program and supports the individual need of each child. Families, educators & management create a culture & a shared understanding, that each child will take a unique path to their learning and development.
