Our Philosophy

Our Mission

To provide a high quality, caring, inclusive, stimulating, educational environment where children are supported to develop skills and values that are the foundation of life long learning.

What Makes Us Unique

  • Our hidden gem of a Kindergarten, tucked in behind St John’s Lutheran Church is small and beautiful. Your child will not be lost in the crowd.
  • Our Staff are well educated and strongly connected to the Kindy. We provide consistency of care and attention.
  • We value families. The Kindergarten is owned and run by parent volunteers. We are here for you.
  • We are part of the community. We encourage families to make connections and get to know each other. We have strong connections to the local environment. Children are supported to learn about community, developing skills for a safe and healthy life. Connection with family, community and environment is vital for a child’s sense of belonging and wellbeing.

We Believe

  • Early Childhood is a unique time of life, laying the foundations for future life trajectories. Time at Kindergarten has its own value. Children develop at their own pace.
  • The Kindergarten experience comes during a time of developmental transition. Children learn best at school when they have been prepared by an effective Kindergarten program.
  • Every child has the right to play. Play can be taught, extended, guided and scaffolded. Learning at Kindergarten is co-constructed through interactions between children and their educators. Children are their own best teachers and learn important life lessons from each other.
  • Consistent, predictable routines and procedures support a child’s sense of belonging and safety.
  • As adults we are mindful of our importance as role models and inspirations to the children and to each other. We strive for Kindergarten to be a fun, caring and supportive learning environment.
  • Developing strong and healthy bodies, minds and spirits is essential as children progress through each stage of their lives. Healthy, respectful, nurturing, caring relationships are foundational to this process. We respect the capability and competency of the children we work with.
  • Engagement with our Nation’s past and present allows for a process of reconciliation and healing that promotes a peaceful, compassionate and just society.
  • Engagement with the natural world in early childhood builds a deep love of nature. The children with whom we work inherit a world in environmental crisis and it is our responsibility to turn the tide towards a more sustainable future.

We are guided by

Our knowledge and understanding of the curriculum: the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline (QKLG) and the National Quality Framework. We observe the Early Childhood Association Code of Ethics, the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and the guidance of our Affiliate body; Lady Gowrie Qld.

In our work with children we:

  • Promote a love of learning and an eagerness to engage with the world.
  • Support children to help each other, learning pro-social and communication skills that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.
  • Encourage a wide variety of creative self-expression so that children can express their ideas, thoughts and feelings in ways that are effective for each individual and support the transition to the formal education system.
  • Foster self-awareness and skills for life including self-regulation, resilience, independence, team work, persistence, openness to new ideas and awareness of different points of view.

Working in partnership with families we:

  • Recognize families as a child’s most important and influential teachers.
  • Respect and value individual backgrounds and cultures of all families.
  • Build genuine reciprocal relationships with families that are strengthened over time.
  • Work to promote a sense of community within Kindergarten families, encouraging families to make connections and build networks.

As a community of learners we:

  • Promote sharing of information and expertise between parents, educators and children.
  • Encourage children’s learning through providing an inviting, welcoming, comfortable, well resourced, personalized, predictable yet challenging and dynamic learning environment.
  • Use documentation as a way of sharing our reflection on and understanding of each child’s learning.
  • Reflect on our practice, the environment we create, decisions we make in order to constantly refine and improve our practice.
  • Engage in regular professional development, sharing the knowledge and skills of each educator and providing a safe, healthy and sustainable working environment for all.
  • We are accountable to our Parent Management Committee, Affiliation body Lady Gowrie and to all regulatory bodies.

As part of our wider community we:

  • Advocate for the importance of Early Childhood and our Profession. We network with other educators, community members, professional bodies, community organisations, educational institutions and services for families.
  • We strive to build strong connections with our neighbourhood and to be recognised as an integral part of our community.