Our Philosophy

Our philosophy has been inspired and guided by The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia – Belonging, Being and Becoming 2009

• Belonging –acknowledges children’s interdependence with others (family, a cultural group, a neighbourhood and a wider community) and the basis of relationships in defining identities
• Being – recognises the importance of the here and now in children’s lives
• Becoming – reflects the process of rapid and significant change that occurs in the early years
• Our acknowledgement of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation

IN RESPECT TO CHILDREN:

• The safety, wellbeing, resilience and mental health of children will always be our first priority; it is fundamental to their ability to learn and develop
• We support, respect and ensure the inclusion of all children
• Uphold the rights of all children to feel and be safe at all times
• Develop the child’s sense of Being and Belonging by positive interaction with children and listening to the children’s voice, so they feel safe, secure and supported
• We respect children as competent, capable and active participants in their learning
• That children learn best through play-based experiences in which they can explore, investigate, experiment and participate in shaping their learning in an open-ended environment
• We support children to make decisions that directly relate to their learning
• Children will be encouraged to develop a sense of respect for each other as unique individuals, the community, the diversity of cultures and the environment in which we live
• We will encourage children to engage in sustainable practices such as nude food, composting, reuse and recycling
• We encourage a healthy lifestyle through our healthy food, cooking and physical, active program

IN RESPECT TO FAMILIES:

• The role of the family is paramount in a child’s development
• We encourage and value the importance and involvement of the family in the learning process
• Families come from a diverse range of cultures with differing practices, values, languages and beliefs and these are to be respected and honoured by the preschool, educators and program
• We are committed to ensuring all families understand that child safety is everyone’s responsibility
• Encourage family participation in our sustainable practices

IN RESPECT TO THE COMMUNITY:

• We value the input and contribution of the broader community and the role it plays in the children’s lives – we recognise the learning beyond the kinder walls as a member of the community. Therefore, we seek opportunities to connect with the wider community and for the children to recognise they are part of the community
• We participate in a daily acknowledgement of country. All the children and educators participate
• We participate in sustainable practices with benefiting the wider community
• We use other community services and work with other professionals to support the child holistically

IN RESPECT TO STAFF:

• We will ensure that our practices and ideas are excellent, current and up to date through regular self-reflection, learning and ongoing professional development
• Have open communication and be responsive to colleagues’ ideas and needs – which fosters an environment of trust, friendship and mutual respect
• Reflect on sustainable practices and incorporate them into our whole of centre thinking
• Staff remain flexible and spontaneous at all times to suit the children’s learning

IN RESPECT TO PROGRAM:

• The main emphasis of our program is to encourage self-esteem, respect of others and develop social skills in a relaxed, fun and nurturing environment
• We will reflect the needs of the ‘whole’ child. We will provide a play-based program utilising the staff’s knowledge of numerous inspired theorists - program that is developmentally and age appropriate and that develops and extends (scaffolding) the children’s individual needs, strengths and interests
• Our environment and design are Reggio Emilia inspired
• Open-ended experiences will be presented to the children. This will encourage the children’s creativity and imagination and present opportunities for discussion and learning
• Allowing the children to develop at their own pace
• Opportunities of spontaneous play
• We have embedded sustainable practices into our program including providing opportunities for teaching sustainable practices and into the future
• The program will respect and be inclusive for all children. It will endeavour to reflect the cultural diversity of our preschool community
• We create child safe and child friendly environments where children feel safe
• We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people within our daily practices – to support the children acknowledge the traditional owners of the land.

WE BELIEVE:

The children will benefit best when educators and families work together cooperatively with a respect for each other’s knowledge and expertise. This partnership is not only crucial to the development of each child’s sense of worth, well-being and security, but also to the sense of community and belonging. We are committed to providing and promoting safe environments for all children. We believe that ongoing sustainable practices are essential for our preschool and the wider community.