Meet Dee - Service Manager at Sparrow Early Learning Ferny Grove

Hello to all of the educators, staff and families, I would like to introduce myself as I have accepted the Centre Director and nominated Supervisor position, and I am so looking forward to meeting you and starting my journey with the centre.

I was born in South Africa and moved to New York when I was 15 with my family. I met my Australian husband while travelling in the USA and eventually followed him to Australia. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year and we have two teenage children. I have lived in Australia for about 25 years.

Previous to working in Early Childhood I worked as a chef and decided to change careers when I got married. I have worked in multiple roles in Childcare and for the last approximately 8 years I have worked as a director of a long day care centre. I have a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood.

As a leader, my values that I stand by our collaboration, integrity, trust and transparency. My focus as a Childcare centre leader has always been my reason why I work in the profession, for children. Everything that I do and every decision that I make is for the best interests of
the child.

With that in mind, in order to achieve this goal, I must ensure that each educator that works with me and supports and guides children, needs to be cared for themselves so they can be their best at what they do, every day. My priority when working with a team and families is to make strong connections and build genuine relationships that foster trust and creativity.

I am a nature lover and my favourite hobby is to go camping at every chance I can get. I love to camp in remote places where I can connect with our natural world, rejuvenate my spirit and find peace and relaxation. I have camped with my family since before my children were born.

Other things I like to do is have close friends around for meals to share, take my gorgeous dog Oscar (he’s a staffy lab cross) for walks and dabble in watercolour painting when I feel inspired. I also like to explore photography.

“The Sparrow Way combines proven international early learning methods to create a unique and purposefully contemporary practice designed for today’s society. Guided by the principles of Reggio Emilia childcare and underpinned by The Early Years Framework for Australia, we embrace children’s inherent abilities to learn and develop, creating an environment for them to find solutions through exploration, discovery and invention, marveling in everything around them. The Sparrow Way is our method of working with children based on these beliefs and principles.”

- The Sparrow Early Education Team

The Sparrow curriculum is thoughtfully planned by our educators and shaped by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Being guided by the EYLF and National Quality Standards (NQS) ensures we offer high quality learning programs that are responsive to children’s ideas, interests, strengths and abilities.

Programs are play-based, child-driven and inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach with a strong emphasis on nature and outdoor learning experiences.  Educators carefully design environments that stimulate curiosity and provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences that are reflective of real life.

Play is viewed as a powerful tool for children to explore, discover and make meaning of the world around them. Activities are largely open-ended, providing a wide variety of natural resources and materials which stimulate imagination and foster creativity, problem-solving and meaningful interactions with friends and educators.

Children are encouraged to express themselves through various mediums, such as art, music and dramatic play, allowing them to develop a deep sense of autonomy, confidence and joy in their learning journey.

The Sparrow team values the role of families as children’s most important teachers and our educators foster positive and collaborative relationships with families. Parents are encouraged to contribute their ideas for programming, learning activities and the overall operation of the service.

Our inclusive open-door policy welcomes parents to visit our service, engage in discussions with educators and participate in children's learning. Our educators maintain open and continuous communication with families, ensuring a strong connection between the children's home learning environment and their educational experiences at the centre. During pick-up and drop-off times, educators are readily available to engage with families and gladly share insights into the children's progress, well-being and participation.

The use of the Storypark communication app provides daily updates, photos, and videos, fostering regular connections between educators and families. Parents also receive frequent communication through emails, newsletters, displays, notices, information evenings, special events, and Facebook.

• Planned and delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers
• Government Accredited
• School Readiness focus
• Transition to School program including school visits & transition reports

Sparrow Early Learning centres provide high quality kindergarten/preschool programs led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers. While the curriculum remains play-based, these programs follow a more structured approach to teaching and learning experiences to prepare children for transitioning into a primary school environment. There is a careful balance maintained between child-led and teacher-led learning activities.

Our Early Childhood Teachers cater to the individual needs of each child and in collaboration with parents, ensure that children are adequately equipped with the skills and experience required for a smooth transition to “big school”. Ongoing assessment of children’s progress and development is carefully documented and communicated with families and transition statements can be shared with future schools to facilitate a smooth transition to school.

Attending kindergarten/preschool at their familiar Sparrow Early Learning centre makes the transition from the long day care setting less intimidating and children can continue their early learning journey in a safe and familiar environment, surrounded by friends and familiar educators. It also means families can enjoy the flexibility of extended care hours and continued care during school holiday periods. All meals and snacks are provided, adding to the convenience for busy families.