Glen Iris
Samantha's Childcare & Kindergarten Philosophy
At Samantha’s Childcare and Kindergarten-Glen Iris, we come together as a team to ensure each child in our Centre is safe and empowered by receiving not only an education but gaining life skills such as respect, confidence and a disposition for learning. We recognise that the behaviours and experiences we teach children in these early years have an impact on who they will become.
Through support and guidance, children can express their needs, and feelings forming positive habits and resilience along with building reciprocal relationships. Achieving this all while making memories together as we educate in a home-like environment where the best interest and safety of the children is our priority.
As Early Childhood Educators, we maintain high expectations of ourselves, through reflective practice, play-based learning and embedding the community; including the diversity of our local community, to respect and incorporate the perspectives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We endeavour to ensure each child feels a sense of belonging, being and becoming. Working in partnership with families, the sharing of cultures, ideas, knowledge, strengths and differences which helps shape our curriculum.
Our organisation has a strong commitment to child safety, wellbeing and protection, through implementing and adhering to the Child Safe Standards. Our commitment extends to all children in our community with an aim for children to feel safe, secure and supported, whilst supporting a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and harm.
Through the National and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development framework, we believe that children learn best through play. A balance of routine and spontaneity must be present to support development in self-help skills, language and literacy, physical aspects, respect for the environment and social interaction. It is also our responsibility to ensure sustainable practices are embedded into children’s everyday routines.
Our team encourages and provides opportunities for children to engage with their world, the natural environment and the wider community, creating a sense of belonging for children and families to be a part of. Through observing and understanding individual children’s developmental stages and their interests, we create a curriculum that empowers children to make choices, promote peer relationships and provoke thoughts and imagination.
At Samantha’s Childcare and Kindergarten, the team strive to be present in the moment, assisting children to embrace that mistakes and changes occur throughout the day as it demonstrates growth, continuous learning and commitment.
