Philosophy

• The Centre promotes a balanced view of the world, one that communicates peace, respect for others and the environment, while encouraging an enthusiasm for learning.
• We strive to achieve excellence in everything we do. We also aim to provide an affordable, high quality child care service to meet the needs of children and their families.
• We foster a climate that promotes equity and discourages bias. Staff of the Centre will take an active role in challenging any kind of prejudice or stereotyping based on gender, race, culture, ability or disability.
• We believe in providing a physically safe and emotionally secure setting where children can explore and experiment with a variety of materials and experiences, in a supportive, confidence-building atmosphere.
• We acknowledge that the small size of the Centre offers many advantages for families particularly in providing a close-knit environment for building friendships and links to the community.
• The Centre will develop and nurture positive and supportive relationships with families, based on open communication and sharing of skills and knowledge. We encourage and support parents to contribute to the development of the Centre.
• The Centre recognises staff as our most valuable resource and we will provide them with a satisfying, stimulating and safe working environment. We believe that together the staff and parents create a partnership that provides for the best interests of young children and families. We expect professionalism from staff at all times.
• The Centre aims to equip the children with life skills that will enable them to experience fulfilling and rewarding participation within their community, through providing opportunities for children to work together co-operatively, to explore human relationships and to resolve conflicts in a non-violent way. Staff will use a positive approach in guidance and discipline.
• The Centre will provide a program that is culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate, based on individual needs. It recognises that each family is unique in its structure, culture and values and respects the special relationship that parents or guardians have with their children.
• The Centre will develop and implement programs that will achieve its objectives and embrace its philosophy. Features of the programs include:
• Encouragement of social development by providing opportunities for developing friendships, resolving conflicts, problem solving, helping others, co-operating on projects and building self esteem.
• Fostering emotional development through encouraging expression of thoughts and feelings (verbally, through art or other means), experiencing rules and limits, experiencing kindness, and recognising and accepting emotions in others.
• Teaching children to accept responsibility for their own actions by encouraging self-help, for example self dressing, bed making, etc. Children will be provided with opportunities to develop independence further.
• Development of fine and gross motor skills through provision of activities appropriate to each individual.
• Encouragement of creativity by offering many types of materials and frequent experiences in music, art, drama, and literature.
• Encouragement of interest in language through stories, puppetry, music, games, and drama.
• Stimulation of intellectual development by widening the child’s experience in order to increase knowledge, basic concepts and skills.