Our Philosophy
Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
At Toormina Community Preschool educators are passionate about building and nurturing strong and respectful relationships with children, families, colleagues, committee members and the broader community.
Educators work in collaborative partnerships with families and view them as a child’s first and most influential teacher in life. We believe these partnerships provide the best support for children as they make progress in the learning outcomes set out in the Early Years Learning Framework.
We aspire for all children, staff and families to gain a sense of belonging to our preschool and wider community.
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Equity, inclusion and respect for diversity
We provide a welcoming environment that embraces and respects diverse family dynamics and individual learning dispositions and needs. We believe all children are born belonging to a culture inclusive of traditional practices as well as family experiences, values and beliefs. We endeavour to embrace diverse ways of living, being and knowing within our curriculum and the routines of our day. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land the Gumbaynggirr people and we pay our respect to Elders both past and present.
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Our environment
The environment is a safe place where children are encouraged to take considered risks and are supported in learning to manage their own safety and that of those around them.
We embrace the rich learning opportunities offered in outdoor play, supporting children to engage daily with elements of the natural environment including trees, sand, rocks, sticks, water and dirt.
Sustainable practices are embedded in aspects of our daily routine and where possible recycled and environmentally friendly materials are used in the environment.
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Children’s learning
Our educational program planning stems from the children’s interests and is guided by the principles, practices and learning outcomes of the EYLF. We share a view of children as being capable and resourceful learners and work to ensure their voices are heard and their learning is supported through the provision of meaningful interactions and experiences.
We support children to engage their natural sense of curiosity and help it flourish into a love of learning which we hope will last them a lifetime.
We believe children learn best through meaningful, play-based experiences and educators use these opportunities to practice intentional teaching.
Ongoing learning and reflection
We are committed to regularly reflecting on the educational program and practices we provide. We set goals for our service which are guided by the National Quality Standards and commit to the process of continuous improvement in all areas of service provision. Our educators engage in relevant professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge over time.
