Our Philosophy

Our Role as Educators

We see early childhood as a critical time of growth, and our role is to nurture children’s confidence, support the development of positive dispositions toward learning, and honour each child’s unique voice. We create opportunities for children to engage in purposeful, meaningful experiences that reflect their interests, promote critical thinking, and encourage informed risk-taking.

Learning Through Relationships and Culture

We believe time spent in the natural world is essential to growth – spiritually, socially emotionally, physically and intellectually. Our programs intend to nurture the ‘whole child’ and foster a genuine love, care and respect for nature. We do this through bringing the natural world into our indoor environments and investigating the natural world in our outdoor environment as well as ‘beyond the fence’.

When we think about the child within their family, we do so in the broadest terms, acknowledging the diversity that exists within families and honouring the extended family members that are integral to the care and education of our children. We aim to foster strong, collaborative relationships with families building an enduring community within our preschool that is also firmly rooted in the broader community we support’.

Nature as a Teacher

We believe that time spent in the natural world is essential to a child’s development — spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Our programs nurture the whole child and help build a genuine love and respect for nature.

Whether children are harvesting native lillipillies from the garden to make jam, tending to compost and worm farms, or exploring beyond the preschool in local bush and beach excursions, we use nature as a foundation for learning and connection. We bring the natural world into our indoor spaces and take our learning well beyond the playground.

Learning on Country

Residing on Wandi Wandian Country, we acknowledge, value and respect the traditional custodians of the land, including the Dharawal and Dhurga language groups of the Yuin Nation. We have a deep responsibility to foster connection to Country, actively embrace reconciliation, and embed cultural learning into our everyday practices.

Our curriculum is led by what children are experiencing in their environment and community — grounded in real-world experiences and enriched by input from our local Aboriginal community. Through yarning circles, storytelling, seasonal planting, and shared cultural experiences, we build meaningful connections to Country and culture.

A Living Philosophy

Our philosophy is not static — it continues to grow and evolve. It is shaped by our values, informed by current research in early childhood, and grounded in the Early Years Learning Framework. We review it annually as a team, with input from our families, to ensure it continues to reflect who we are and what we believe.