Goodstart Hope Island

Our vision is to inspire a love of learning through nurturing relationships.

What is our Centre Philosophy?

At Goodstart Hope Island we want our Philosophy to be more than just a section of text that we update annually because we have to. We want our Philosophy to be at the forefront of everything that we do. We want it to guide our practice and communicate to everyone, exactly what they can expect from us.

Goodstart Hope Island would like to acknowledge the Kombumerri people who are the traditional custodians of this land. Thank you for the sky. Thank you for our earth. Thank you for our friends.  Today we play, learn and grow on Kombumerri land. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Relationships

Our belief is that as a community we raise a child.

And in accordance with the Code of Ethics for Early Childhood we stand by our vision that through nurturing relationships with children, families and communities we support and share responsibilities for children’s learning development and wellbeing.

Environment

We strive to provide aesthetically pleasing environments where learning goes hand in hand with having fun, building secure attachments, having a sense of belonging and most importantly enjoying the learning process. We place high importance on outdoor play and spending time with nature. We encourage children to be environmentally responsible and teach them the importance of sustainable practices. We believe in a holistic approach that combines all aspects of sustainability. We envision a generation connected to nature who will be more likely to value and protect it.

Safety

The safety and wellbeing of all children under our care is central to our practice. We are committed to providing a child safe environment through our policies, practices and routines, which are guided by the Child Safe Standards, National Law and National Regulations. The rights and best interests of the child underpin all practice. Their safety, health and wellbeing are paramount. Each is respected without discrimination or bias and has a voice in matters that affect them.

PLAYBASED LEARNING

We are committed to supporting each child to fulfil their potential by nurturing them and allowing them to grow and develop skills through a stimulating program based on their interests and play. We establish deep relationships with children by embedding key educator relationships. Having a secure relationship with one person supports children’s emotional wellbeing and enables them to feel confident within their environment.  Every child is supported to participate in the program where each child’s agency is promoted, enabling them to make choices and decisions and influence events and their world, therefore our children are active participants in their learning.

CULTURE

We value and respect diversity, equality and celebrate differences in families and people. We believe each person and their family’s values, culture, beliefs, abilities, gender preference and language should be acknowledged and accepted. Our service understands that it is a part of a broader community. We strive to work in collaboration with our community. We value families, their cultural beliefs and ways of being and doing. Our Educators strive to introduce and include opportunities to explore our community and the cultures within it.

TEAM

Our staff team reflects a diversity of education, training and life experience, as well as a range of multicultural backgrounds and languages. We ensure we employ staff who possess a passion for working in early childhood, are active listeners and role models. We recognise that educators are role models for the children and that they learn from us. As a team we strive to provide the best for the children and their families. We promote positive staff interaction as we believe it is essential in creating an environment and atmosphere where staff are valued, and their contribution is acknowledged.