Our Philosophy and Approach to Early Learning
At Kindy Fun Childcare Centre, our philosophy and goals are represented throughout the centre’s curriculum and the interactions we have with the children, families and educators.
We believe that early childhood education lays a foundation for children’s future, takes full advantage of their abilities and respects their identity and language. This is acknowledged through the Code of Ethics and the Early Years Learning Framework.
Every Child Belongs to a Family and a Community
As educators, we recognise, support and understand that children belong first to a family, a cultural group, a neighbourhood and a wider community. At Kindy Fun, we want our children to feel a sense of belonging, being and becoming in many ways.
Inviting our families and children to bring their diverse experiences, knowledge and skills to their learning recognises that children are independent, dynamic, complex, social, emotional, personal, spiritual, creative, cognitive and linguistic in their learning.
Families Are Children's First and Most Influential Teachers
We aim to create a welcoming environment where all children and families are respected and actively encouraged to collaborate with educators about learning experiences that are meaningful to their child. Building positive and respectful relationships with families allows educators to gather information and interests to co-construct learning and progress each child’s learning outcomes.
Our aim is to build genuine partnerships where we value each child’s knowledge, build mutual respect and trust, and communicate freely to engage in shared decision making. Each partnership is unique and depends on each child’s specific needs, interests and communication style. Families are always encouraged by educators and management to participate in the daily life of the centre, to enrich the curriculum and foster a sense of community within the service.
Parents and Educators, Working as One Team
Our philosophy is based on the belief that parents and educators can come together as a team in making decisions about the operation of the service, to achieve the National Quality Standards and continue to improve the quality of Kindy Fun. Our aim is to ensure the guiding principles of the National Quality Framework inform the delivery of our early childhood education curriculum.
These Principles Include:
The right of the child is paramount
Children are successful, competent and capable learners
Equity, inclusion and diversity is clearly visible in all aspects of the service delivery
Valuing Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
The role of the parents and families is respected and supported
High expectations for children, educators and service providers
Based on Our Image of Children, We Believe the Learning Environment Should:
Honour the histories, cultures, languages, traditions, child rearing practices and lifestyle choices of the family.
Support the development of self-esteem, independence, empowerment and collaboration.
Embrace different theories about early childhood education, drawing on a range of perspectives including developmental, socio-cultural and post structural theories that challenge traditional ways in which children learn.
Value the importance of play based learning, and place great emphasis on the learning that takes place during play.
Allow children to make their own choices based on their individual interests, needs, ages, strengths and energy levels.
Take an active role in caring for the environment and contribute to a sustainable future.
Be safe in all aspects relating to the welfare of children, physically, socially and emotionally.
The Early Years Learning Framework Is the Foundation of Our Program
At Kindy Fun Childcare Centre, we have embraced the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) as the foundation of our programming. We follow the EYLF principles, practices and outcomes that build our curriculum, and we incorporate the five learning outcomes outlined in the framework, as we believe children’s learning is individual and ongoing, and each child’s progress is different but equally meaningful.
We believe that to provide a high quality childcare centre, educators play an active role in encouraging and maintaining a collaborative and innovative environment. Flexibility, communication and teamwork are the means to achieve this, and together with persistence at all times, our professional standards and practices will be met.
Educators adopt holistic approaches to teaching and learning, as we recognise the importance of the connections between children, families and communities, and we value collaborative learning and community participation. Educators use the Code of Ethics to critically reflect on ethical practices, guide professional relationships and inform individual and collective decision making. We see this as an essential professional responsibility.
See Our Philosophy in Action
The best way to understand how we care for and teach children is to visit. Book a tour of our Caringbah or Taren Point centre and meet our educators.