Farrar Early Learning Centre

We are committed to high quality education and care in the early years of a child’s life. We develop programs using innovative and inspirational approaches to children’s play and learning. Our commitment to continuous improvement and reflective practice sees a service that is dynamic and highly responsive to children’s needs and the diversity of our setting.

Rationale: Underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, our philosophy is to include all children in our Early Learning Centre and make a positive contribution to their future success by delivering high quality education and care. We acknowledge that contemporary research has made explicit the connection between the quality of relationships in children’s early years and their future positive cognitive and social development.

At Farrar we are Family: We welcome you into our caring community of families, children and educators, where we provide a safe and nurturing environment for everyone. We believe families are the first and most influential teachers in a child’s life. Together we will develop strong and supportive relationships built on honesty, trust and respect where everyone feels a sense of Belonging.

At Farrar we put children first: Early childhood is a wonderful time of self-discovery in a child’s life, and we respect the rights of children to participate in their own learning at their own pace. Good physical health and feelings of happiness maximise children’s learning potential and we work closely with families to develop a strong sense of wellbeing in children. From birth children communicate their needs and desires to others in many ways, we take time to listen, to respond and to help them express. We give children time to grow and develop in their own unique and special way to enjoy everyday experiences and to just enjoy Being.

At Farrar learning is fun: We see everyday as an opportunity to play and learn alongside children to help them see their full potential and become active members of the community. Our beautiful natural indoor and outdoor environments provide children with many opportunities to explore, experiment and create. Children’s interests and their discoveries inspire our programs. We work closely with families to understand individual needs and set goals for learning and development. We aim to foster positive attitudes in children for learning, such as enthusiasm, curiosity, persistence, confidence, optimism, cooperation and the ability to reflect. When children are actively engaged in meaningful learning experiences at Farrar ELC they are Becoming more capable, competent and confident learners.

Our Commitment: We are committed to high quality education and care in the early years of a child’s life. We develop programs using innovative and inspirational approaches to children’s play and learning. Our commitment to continuous improvement and reflective practice sees a service that is dynamic and highly responsive to children’s needs and the diversity of our setting.

Throughout the year we will collect regular observations, art work samples and photographs to form the basis of your child’s Learning Journey. The purpose of these learning journeys is to celebrate where your child is at in the here and now and also to showcase their achievements and engagement as they negotiate their way through a year of development.

All life experiences present an opportunity for a child to learn. From routine experiences to play and everything in between. We view all experiences, activities, routines and events as an opportunity to guide children towards lifelong skills and learning outcomes. By viewing all children as capable we can unlock their hidden talents while developing and enhancing their sense of identity, who they are and where they fit in. Our Curriculum is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF.) The emphasis of the EYLF is on Belonging, Being and Becoming – and the guiding principles, practices and outcomes. Here at Farrar we value the unique talents of each child and as such we ensure that we are inclusive towards all children and families.

From birth, children are connected to family, community, culture and place. Farrar Early Learning Centre recognises the family as the child’s first and most influential teachers and we view our role as that of a supportive extension of each child’s family and culture. We strive to work alongside each family to acknowledge and explore diverse culture practices, lifestyle choices, home languages, background and traditions to assist the child/ren to feel connected with their world and develop a strong sense of identity and a sense of belonging. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as our countries first people and we strive to build strong community links between our service and the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including the Child Australia Bagot Community OSHC.

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to take on an active role in your child’s learning and development while they are here with us. Some examples of how you can do this are:

• By sharing information with us about what your child/ren are enjoying at home so that we can extend upon this learning.
• Spending some time engaged in play with your child’s group.
• Sharing stories of a family holiday or outing.
• Joining us for centre events, working bees and family fun days.

We welcome all input so please let us know how we can assist you in your parenting role. We look forward to a continued positive partnership together in educating and caring for your child!