6 wks to 12 mths
12 mths to 2 yrs
2 yrs to 3 yrs
3 yrs to 4 yrs
4 yrs to 5 yrs
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The philosophy that drives Jenny’s Early Learning Centre Strathfieldsaye is that learning is a part of the fun. Children are encouraged to explore their own interests while they learn.
The key values are as follows:
1) Educators
Consistency of care is paramount, and priority is given to nurturing the relationships between educators and children. Many of the passionate educators have been with the centre since it opened. Educators help children develop the skills of independence, confidence, responsibility and connection with others.
2) Community
Local relationships are a key focus for Jenny’s Early Learning Centre Strathfieldsaye, from primary schools, junior sporting clubs, the country fire authority, to the suppliers for the kitchen. The centre sees these connections as a way to facilitate a sense of belonging and identity for the children, as well as being a way to develop their social skills.
3) Children
A child is broadly connected to their family, community, culture and place, with the interactions between each providing a sense of self. Children develop and learn through these connections, with family being the first and most influential educators. The centre understands that children learn through play and that they find their own sense of identity and understanding of the world at their own pace.
4) Families
To ensure the best possible outcomes for children, Jenny’s Early Learning Centre Strathfieldsaye believes that families and educators need to be working closely together. The educators welcome input from families to help guide the curriculum based on each child’s interests and family heritage. The centre is a welcoming and respectful environment which teaches children how to work with others and to value their own independence.
Children are cared for, nurtured and kept safe, while also being challenged to find new ways to learn. The centre’s program is based on their ‘Play – Explore – Learn’ philosophy, which helps children feel challenged and engaged with learning.
PLAY
EXPLORE
LEARN
Jenny’s Early Learning Centre Strathfieldsaye supports local business by sourcing their ingredients from suppliers in the area, using organic produce where possible. Whenever they can, they use produce from their own veggie garden at the centre.
The in-house chef Melissa uses local produce to create high quality meals and snacks for the children, taking into account any food intolerances, allergies or cultural considerations. Menus are prepared in conjunction with the centre’s own paediatric dietician.
The children are given the chance to help with planting and harvesting produce from the veggie garden. The fruits, vegetables and herbs are then used by the chef to create the food for the centre.
The children enjoy morning tea such as fresh fruit platters, homemade granola and yoghurt; for lunch they can have hot meals such as a Rogan Josh curry, roasted vegetable pasta, or a tasty chicken paella; for afternoon tea Melissa might make some Hummingbird cake, an apple pear and raspberry crumble, or a chocolate and orange cake.
6 weeks – 2 ½ years
The youngest members of the centre, the children in the Joeys and Wallabies rooms share a large outdoor yard. Both rooms offer indoor and outdoor play throughout the day so they can choose where they’d like to play next.
2 ½ years – 3 ½ years
The children in this space are always busy playing, and enjoy a wide variety of experiences. The educators here are very skilled at ensuring that there are lots of wonderful activities to engage the children.
3 years - 4 years
The children here take part in the prekinder program. These children attend the Nature Play program once per week, and enjoy many literacy and numeracy games, art, music and sports.
4 years – 6 years
Nature Play is an integral part of the program for this age group, from term 2 onwards. The dynamic kinder program allows for many excursions and hands-on experiences as possible.
My son loves going to Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye and I cannot praise the carers there enough. They teach him so much and he is becoming such a kind, thoughtful, polite and smart little boy.
Lauren - Parent
The staff at Jenny's Strathfieldsaye are AMAZING! They all treat you and your family with respect, kindness and compassion.
The food program run by the centre is the best I have seen and it comforts me to know that my children are eating the most nutritious food possible.
Teagan - Parent
Highly recommend them to everyone!
Ashley - Parent
My passion is to create long lasting relationships and to ensure everyone who joins our Jenny's family feels valued.
I believe all children deserve high quality care and education and my team also share this goal. I feel very proud to do the work I do.
Sally Hicks, Centre Director, Jenny's ELC Strathfieldsaye
I love working for Jenny's as we are passionate about the families with us, ongoing relationships with second, third and even fourth children. We engage the children in a wide range of experiences, including getting out and about which is wonderful for their development.
Ashlee, Educator
It's the centre values, the way we like to be part of the community and value the families. It's amazing for the high quality care and education we provide and I love being part of this.
Jacinta, Educator
I love the value Jenny's holds not just for families but also for the educators who work here. I've always felt very supported in my role, my studies and also as a part of the team.
Brianna, Educator
Morning
Ellie is an 11 month old little girl who loves exploring the outdoor space at Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye. Today she is enjoying an activity set up by her favourite educator in the sandpit. She is loading the sand onto a big truck and moving it over to drop it off and make a huge sandcastle.
Lunch
Ellie sits with the other older nursery children to enjoy some pasta for lunch. After this, Ellie is ready for some stories and a nap in the sleeping area. Soon it will be time to play again!
Afternoon
One of the educators has set the little ones up on the rug while she plays some music and blows bubbles for them to catch. Ellie is using all of her senses as she joins in.
Morning
Josh is a 22 month old, and this morning he is outside with some friends and an educator. They’ve set up a large parachute which everyone is holding together, and they’re taking turns sending it up and down. Josh is so excited when he gets his turn to run underneath the parachute.
Lunch
Josh helps to set up the tables for lunch and serves himself some pasta. He loves sitting next to his best friend Freddy, and they decide to play with some blocks for their next activity.
Afternoon
One of the educators invites Josh and two other children to come and help out with the veggie garden. There’s lots to do, with watering, weeding and harvesting some of the carrots. Josh loves being helpful, and this is teaching him about where food comes from.
Morning
Frankie is an inquisitive three year old who learns so much from her educators. This morning they are all taking part in an interactive storytelling program, where they have fun singing, dancing, and listening to stories.
Lunch
After lunch, Frankie and her friends head outside to the playground, where they move between climbing frames, the sandpit, and cubby houses. They’re using their imaginations and pretending that they have to escape from the castle before the dragon comes.
Afternoon
This afternoon Frankie and the other pre-schoolers are taking part in the Nature Play Program in local bushland. They’re free to explore, collect sticks, climb trees, and learn from nature. Frankie makes a pretend campfire for her friends to roast marshmallows.
Care for children under school age, on premises especially built or adapted for early childhood education and care services. Private operators, local councils, community organisations, employers and non-profit organisations may run long day care centres.
Occasional, Casual or Flexible CareOccasional, Flexible or Casual Care Services provide short periods of care for children under school age. Families can access Occasional, Flexible or Casual Care on either a regular or casual basis a variety of reasons including, shift or part-time work, respite care, crisis and emergency care, shopping or attending appointments.
Pre-school / Kindergarten / PrepPre-school is a planned educational program for children in the years before a child commences school. Children are usually aged between 3 and 5 years of age. Pre-school may take place in a range of settings including a purpose built building, in a community setting, a school, as part of a long day care centre or a mobile or visiting service.
In January 2012 the National Quality Framework (NQF) came into effect across Australia.
The purpose of the NQF is to improve and standardise the quality of child care through a
range of measures including better staff to child ratios, higher staff qualifications
and an assessment and rating system designed to promote continuous improvement.
Under the NQF child care services are assessed and rated against the National Quality Standards (NQS).
The NQS measures the quality of early childhood education and care in Australia. It will cover
most long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten and outside school hours care services.
Under these standards child care services will be assessed and rated against the
seven quality areas, 18 standards and 58 elements that make up the NQS.