Our Philosophy
Queen Street Early Learning Centre endeavours to create a safe, secure, and nurturing space that encourages children to be active and engaged learners. The educational focus promotes an inclusive and spontaneous environment, reflecting the Early Years Learning Framework to extend each child’s strengths, satisfy their needs, and reach their potential. Children are always encouraged to connect, explore, and construct their schema.
Connect
We believe creating meaningful connections with others is essential to the development of children’s rapport, teaching them the importance of listening, sharing, and empathy. With our open-door policy, families are encouraged to take an active role in the education process through meaningful collaboration. Continuous communication between the families, educators, children, and families outside of our immediate community, are fundamental in creating a rich, equitable, diverse, respectful, and all-inclusive learning environment.
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We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach where children are motivated to explore and respect their surroundings. This also places a strong emphasis on family and community with the belief “it takes a village to raise a child.” At Queen Street Early Learning Centre, educators work closely with the families and our community to provide the best possible education and care for each child.
Explore
At Queen Street Early Learning Centre, we pride ourselves on offering rich opportunities for children to appreciate and respect their environment, and its relationship to their world, by incorporating sustainability as part of our daily curriculum and pedagogy. Our natural indoor and outdoor learning spaces are organised to offer children uninterrupted independent and group play.
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Fostering creativity is paramount to our values. Through different modes of creative expression such as art, dramatic play, music, and dance, the children guide their own education which can lead to the discovery of a passion, interest, or talent. This encourages children to develop as individuals, reflect on their abilities, and respect other’s beliefs, ideas, and preferences.
Construct
As each child’s development is unique, we offer open-ended learning opportunities and inquiry-based teaching. This flexibility allows children to experiment, discover, create, investigate, problem solve, and construct their ideas safely. At Queen Street Early Learning Centre, our educators tailor the educational programs to suit the individual needs of each child, focusing on enhancing their strengths and improving their weaknesses. Our educators are encouraged and supported to further their skills to better empower, inspire, and nurture children throughout their most formative years.
The Reggio Emilia Philosophy
Using a self-guided curriculum, children are allowed to express themselves in different ways as they develop their personality. Activities such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and drama are encouraged, as these are all seen as “languages” children use. By allowing children to engage in meaningful learning experiences, the Reggio Emilia approach helps to instil a love of learning, enhances early education and prepares children for the transition into school.
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Under the Reggio Emilia approach, children are viewed as active, capable and valuable members of the community. They are encouraged to explore, question, and interpret the world during the first five years of life, as creating a solid foundation of experiences during these early years helps each child reach their full potential. Educators using the Reggio Emilia approach believe that children should have some control over their learning. Children have many languages in art, music, and drama, and they should be encouraged to learn through experiences like listening, moving, touching and observing.