Our Centre Philosophy

Connections

We strongly value the connections between our educators and the children and families who become part of our centre community. Through effective, personalised communication and an appreciation for the uniqueness of children, families, educators, and the community, we strive to build meaningful and long-lasting connections.

We also appreciate the importance of familial connection in a daycare setting and encourage siblings to visit each other as well as build relationships with peers their own age throughout their days at the centre.

Opportunities

Our service believes that on any given day there are hundreds of opportunities, just waiting to be embraced. We believe that children should have opportunities to play and simply BE children and as such, provide an environment and program that is engaging, respectful and play focussed. Our environment supports children to make choices about their play and lead their own learning. We believe that our educators should have opportunities for ongoing professional development, supporting them to reflect, grow, and to advocate for children.

Nature

We value a deep connection with the natural world and believe that it is crucial that children are encouraged to appreciate, engage with, and fully experience the wonder of the natural world. This value is embedded in our physical environment, our program and our way of being with children.

Nurture

When we build nurturing, supportive relationships that are mutually respectful and understanding, both children and adults are able to feel secure, confident and a sense of belonging. We nurture each child’s sense of wellbeing by nourishing healthy bodies and minds. We promote physical activity, healthy lifestyles and positive social, emotional and mental wellbeing. We are also a “Be You” centre. Be You, which is overseen by Beyond Blue, is a national mental health initiative for educators which aims to promote and protect positive mental health in children and young people in Australia.

Explore

We believe that children thrive when they are given time, freedom and opportunities to explore their world. This is reflected in our program, which promotes lifelong learning dispositions.

Community

Community is at the heart of our service. We believe that not only are we our own small community, but that we are also a part of the larger community. As such, it is important for children to make connections with other members of the community. We aim to involve the wider community in our service in meaningful ways.

Teamwork

We believe that teamwork is crucial to our ability to provide a high-quality service for children, families and the community. We value relationships that are respectful, collaborative and honest and feel that when educators work together with a common vision, everyone benefits.

Interactions

Interactions that are meaningful and positive set the tone for a harmonious environment for children, families and educators. We believe that interactions with children should be genuine and respectful, supporting children to feel valued as individuals. Our approach to supporting and guiding children’s behaviour is underpinned by this belief. Intentional and responsive interactions are imperative to the quality of our programs.

Open

We have an open-door approach, which welcomes children, families and the community. We value open and honest communication between families and educators. We also believe that an open-ended environment and resources are important for encouraging freedom, imagination, and the joy in children’s play.

Not For Profit

We believe that children are too precious for profit. As a proud community-based Centre, our financial decisions are made with children and the community at the forefront. We seek and value the family and community involvement and collaboration that are essential aspects of not-for-profit services. We are advocates for the rights of children and for community-based childcare.

Support

We believe it is important for children, families and educators to feel supported and have a sense of self and place in our service. Diversity is embraced and we value each person’s unique beliefs, culture, and experience. We respect and encourage each person’s interests, skills, abilities, learning styles and needs. The Early Years Learning Framework supports us to ensure that learning is inclusive, engaging, and meaningful for all.