At Sandstone Lakes Early Learning Centre, we strive to provide positive environments and experiences that allow children to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging. Children need time just to ‘be’ – time to play, try new things and have fun. Children are active seekers of knowledge with a natural curiosity to learn about themselves and their surroundings. Therefore, we believe in providing children with the highest quality of care. We aim for each and every child to reach their full potential by enhancing all areas of growth and development through a holistic approach, accepting each child for who they are, embracing and acknowledging their cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

In acknowledgement of each child’s uniqueness, we respect and are responsive to the choices and decisions made by each child as effective communicators. We aim to provide a flexible learning environment that is responsive to the children’s individual needs. We aim to provide opportunities for choice and decision making, which encourages children to develop their capabilities and interests at their own pace, according to their individual needs. We value children as confident and involved learners, who are actively involved in the learning process. We endeavour to meet the needs of children’s natural curiosity by providing a range of opportunities for them to experiment, discover, solve problems and think critically, and to find out about their world through play.

As educators we encourage play and appreciate play as a child’s natural way of learning. By offering a learning program that includes both intentional and spontaneous experiences, children will be provided with activities and play opportunities that welcome, interest, stimulate and challenge. Children will be able to find their wildhood! We aim to develop children’s independence and self-esteem through positive expectations, encouragement and approval in a supportive and caring environment which allows children the confidence to extend themselves without fear of failure.

The staff at Sandstone Lakes Early Learning Centre are caring, motivated, qualified educators who are responsible for meeting all the children’s needs and interests; working in partnership with the children, parents and wider community to develop the children to their fullest potential. We treat every child and their family with respect and consideration. We strive to develop positive and secure relationships based on respect, mutual trust and open communication. We encourage parents to play an active role within the Centre, sharing their culture, language and beliefs, and to be a part of the ongoing learning and decision making process as we collaborate and work in partnership to guide children’s learning and development.

 We strongly believe in the importance of the partnership between children, staff, families and the wider community fostered through personal and technological communications. We aim to foster respectful, reciprocal relationships to ensure that all know that they are valued as an individual and as an important member of the Centre community. Together, we will work towards a common goal – providing a positive, welcoming environment which is inclusive of children of all abilities, cultures and their families, is accommodating to each child’s individuality, and encompasses the importance of play to children’s learning and development.