Our Philosophy
At Stellar Start Early Learning, we are committed to ensuring that each child is nurtured and supported to reach their full potential. In order to achieve this, we provide a quality educational program delivered by passionate educators in a welcoming environment that is inclusive, warm and secure.
We believe that children to be unique and inquisitive individuals, with different interests, backgrounds, needs and strengths, who co-construct their learning within a social context. We foster the importance of children developing their unique sense of identity as they grow, develop and learn.
A Stellar Start
At Stellar Start, we believe that the initial five years of a child’s life are the most crucial for laying the foundation for future development. We respect that childhood is a journey of exploration and discovery, whilst also being a time to learn and experiment about life and the world.
Children inherently learn through their experiences with play, social interactions and self-independence. Therefore, their surrounding environment will stimulate their curiosity, provide independence and expose children to a strong emphasis on demonstration and role modelling. We recognise and nurture the fact that all children have the right to equal opportunities, regardless of culture, religion, gender, socio-economic backgrounds, special needs or abilities. We provide a friendly and all-inclusive environment that respects all children and reinforces and extends children’s home experiences that encourages the development of their self-concept through inclusive practices. We pride ourselves on giving each child the best start possible and in making a positive imprint on their lives.
Our Educators
At Stellar Start each member of our team is a passionate and dedicated professional, recognised for their individual set of skills, including their unique personal strengths, professional experience and diverse learning background.
When selecting the right members to join our team, we look for qualities such as empathy, patience, passion, creativity and an overall positive attitude. This is imperative in ensuring a positive and nurturing culture for learning and growth.
All team members have obtained formal qualifications in the field of early childhood and are consistently developing and refining their educational practices, attending professional development webinars, online learning sessions and additional training. All educators also strictly abide by a specialised code of ethics, ensuring that duty of care is successfully honoured at all times, and by strictly adhering to staff-child ratios for all age groups in accordance with regulations.
Our Learning Environment
Our goal at Stellar Start is to build resilient children who have confidence in themselves and who also demonstrate gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. Our learning areas are ever evolving, as we focus on where the children’s interests lie and where we can improve their day. Outdoor and indoor spaces are organised and frequently adapted to support every child’s participation in both built and natural environments.
We are highly focused on play-based learning and our resources, materials and equipment enable every child to engage and explore. Pivotal to our philosophy is the importance of children in expanding their knowledge of sustainable practices and in developing an understanding of their responsibility towards caring for our environment and sustainable practices. We foster an environment that recognises the importance of recycling and have earthworms, bees and various beautiful veggie patches. We also have guinea pigs which support and teach children to develop empathy for living things and become environmentally responsible.
Valuing Families
At Stellar Start we greatly appreciate that families are children’s first and most influential educators. We are also aware of the ever-changing family dynamics and are inclusive and sensitive to the diverse family groupings within our service and community. We very much encourage parents to be part of their child’s learning journey. We encourage feedback on the centre curriculum, centre policies, and in all aspects of our operations.
When we talk to families it is important to move beyond the daily greetings and farewells to develop deeper connections and understandings. We intend upon having our families welcomed into our classrooms to join in regular educational activities and we plan on hosting parent information evenings and special events in order to help our families to feel supported and empowered in their pivotal role as parents.
Acknowledgement of Country
We recognise and value the cultures, histories and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The educators, staff and children of our service strive to be custodians of the land and endeavour to create a culture of respect where we come together to celebrate the rich history of our amazing country as we broaden our knowledge and develop further understanding about the First Nations people. We acknowledge and pay our respects to indigenous elders past and present as the traditional owners of this land we play and learn.
