Philosophy Statement

Staff

Staff work in a collaborative way sharing knowledge and experience. We work with children to discover ideas, provide opportunities for learning and are researchers alongside the children.

We acknowledge the work of the educators in Reggio Emilia and we incorporate the NSW Curriculum Framework into our centre.

We recognise the importance of communication, team work and collaboration between families and us, and strive to form positive relationships with all. We acknowledge that learning is life-long and are committed to professional development.

Families

We work to support families in their parenting role and share with them information of benefit to their child’s development. We encourage families to be active participators in the life of the Centre. Through sharing cultures, ideas, knowledge, strengths and differences, we develop a partnership with the families that is beneficial to the child’s learning and development. We incorporate a model of family grouping allowing siblings to be together.

Children

We believe that children are resourceful learners who are capable of constructing their own knowledge of the world around them. We aim to promote relationships that support children to:

Feel a sense of belonging
See themselves as constructive contributors to the community
See themselves as valued, unique and powerful
Engage in relationships of caring and respect.

Environment

We aim to create a positive indoor and outdoor environment that is inviting, inclusive and rich in possibilities, one that reflects the local community and the families who use the service and one that promotes respect whilst being safe and healthy.

Curriculum

We set up areas using a variety of media to empower children to make choices, promote peer relationships and to provoke thoughts and imagination.

By observation and listening to the children, we question and suggest new possibilities and encourage them to search and explore meaning in whatever they do. Recording of this information leads to informed decision making about the provision of materials and future experiences for children.

Documentation

Documentation involves using a variety of methods to record children’s thinking and learning. Methods such as photos, drawings, written comments and accounts of a child’s development are tools for understanding learning and allow ideas to be revisited in the future. Documentation shows a child that their work has value and is a powerful medium for sharing with families.

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