Our philosophy
At Elonera, childhood is honoured through play, relationships and a deep connection to people, place and community. Our community gathers on Boon Wurrung Country. We acknowledge and learn from Aboriginal perspectives, building respect for Country, culture and history.
At Elonera, we are committed to offering rich play-based learning that supports every child to thrive.
We see children as capable and competent learners. Each child is respected as a unique individual, with the right to belong, to be heard and to grow into confident and thoughtful members of our community.
Relationships are at the heart of our work. We build safe, respectful and collaborative partnerships with children, families and each other. We value kindness, respect, honesty and inclusion, and these values guide how we interact, learn and grow together.
We support every child to develop a strong sense of wellbeing and belonging. The connections between children, families and the wider community are recognised, strengthened and celebrated.
Our curriculum is play based, intentional and responsive. It is shaped by children’s ideas, interests and experiences, and strengthened through inquiry, reflection and collaboration.
We value learning through connection with nature. Through our Bush Kinder program and outdoor environments, children develop a sense of wonder, responsibility and care for the natural world.
We create opportunities for children to express themselves in many ways. Our learning environments are thoughtfully designed to invite exploration, creativity, risk taking and sustained shared thinking, as we believe children deserve beautiful, engaging spaces in which to learn and grow.
Our educators are reflective, intentional and committed to ongoing learning. We lead together, drawing on each other’s strengths, and continuously grow our practice through research, collaboration and professional learning.
We are advocates for children, families and the early childhood education profession. We are committed to equity, inclusion, ethical practice and social justice.
We are a connected community. Educators and our Committee of Management work in partnership to ensure a strong, sustainable and responsive kindergarten. Every member is valued, and together we create a culture of trust, respect and collaboration.
Our philosophy reflects what our families told us matters most; kindness, respect, honesty, inclusion and a strong sense of community.