Burnett House Early Education & Kindergarten Philosophy
Mission Statement
It is our mission to ensure that our curriculum, environments, and relationships enable children to grow and fulfill their potential, actively learn through play and engaging intentional teaching. We aim for inspiring programs and strategic planning to contribute, influence and shape the development of our children, educator’s and community.
Our philosophy, developed in conjunction with Educators and families, reflects and upholds our beliefs and values.
Diversity
We value every child as a unique individual who brings his or her own special qualities to our campus. Educators recognise diversity as a valuable resource and actively listen to each child to learn what is important to them and respond to their interests. We strongly advocate for all children to receive equal opportunities regardless of socio-economic background, ethnicity, sex, race or physical ability. We support children to understand, appreciate, and respect various social and cultural diversities within their community. We acknowledge and are committed to teaching the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have a unique and enduring relationship to the lands and territories now known as Australia.
Relationships
We strive to provide the highest standard of care and education in a secure and trusting environment in which children feel a sense of belonging. We support children to form positive relationships with peers, educators and environments, while recognising their existing relationships with their family and community. We prioritise building strong partnerships with our families to extend on home experiences and meet individual family needs and beliefs, supporting each child’s growth and development.
Curriculum
We are guided by the Early Years Learning Framework and the Framework for School Age Care (My Time, Our Place) in developing programs that support children to develop in a holistic manner, including socially, cognitively, emotionally, physically, and morally. Our curriculum promotes play-based learning whereby children lead the program through their evolving interests and abilities to navigate learning experiences through their chosen play. We view children as capable and active contributors in their own learning. We support them to explore, research and investigate the world around them to support their curiosity and foster a positive attitude towards lifelong learning. Read More >
Environment
Our environment is designed to evolve with the children’s interests, ideas, play and developmental capabilities. We endeavor to create an extension of the child’s home; a place where they feel safe, secure and comfortable. Environments promote multi-age play and experiences, supporting peer interactions and collaboration. The indoor and outdoor spaces allow children to feel connected to the natural world, fostering a sense of responsibility to contribute to a sustainable environmental future. The environment is enriched with possibilities that allow children to construct new experiences, make new discoveries, and develop and acquire new skills. Read More >
Professional Development
High standards are held of all our educators at our campus. The expectations are that educators embody integrity, compassion, respect, and motivation for high quality service delivery. We are committed to continuous practice improvement. Our team embraces critical reflections and are encouraged to professionally challenge themselves and others. We provide opportunities for continuous professional learning to keep up to date with new and innovating ideas about pedagogy and practice.
Advocacy & Leadership
We uphold the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We advocate for children’s right to play, providing the time, space and freedom to play, take risks, and navigate everyday life. Our team provide encouragement and support for all children to participate fully in our program. We demonstrate respect for children by collaborating with them to provide meaningful play and learning opportunities which support their wellbeing and development. We believe that sharing what we do with the community and inspiring innovation in others, we are advocating for a better future for all children.
