Starfish Early Learning Centre Essendon - Coming Soon

We offer a funded kindergarten program that may be available for your child. This program acknowledges the significance of the early years in a child's development and focuses on nurturing their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of learning.

Our kindergarten teachers hold bachelor's degrees in early childhood education and are highly qualified to lead our educational program. This program incorporates various approaches and theories, approved by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, to provide a well-rounded learning experience for children.

We recognize the importance of the three key teachers in a child's development: family, educators, and environment. Our approach is relational, emphasizing strong connections and open communication with families and educators. We strive to create a safe, enjoyable, and enriching learning environment, ensuring that all three teachers play a crucial role in a child's growth and development. We believe in the power of collaboration and partnership and work closely with families and educators to create a supportive community that promotes optimal learning and holistic development for every child in our care.

We believe in providing a comprehensive curriculum that caters to the specific needs and developmental levels of our youngest learners. Our educational program for children aged 0-3 years old incorporates a range of learning opportunities, including play-based learning and sensory experiences.

We understand the importance of creating a seamless transition for children moving from our 0-3 year old program to our funded 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs. To ensure this smooth progression, our 0-3 year old programs are designed in a manner that is consistent with our kindergarten programs in terms of approach and methodology. However, the content is tailored to suit the specific ages and developmental levels of these younger children.

This approach allows children to build on their learning experiences and developmental milestones as they progress from our younger rooms to the kindergarten program. By providing a cohesive and consistent educational framework, we aim to support their growth and facilitate a seamless transition into the next stage of their educational journey. We understand that each child develops at their own pace, and our curriculum takes this into account. Our educators provide individualized support and guidance to ensure that every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

Starfish Philosophy (2023)

Starfish is a child safe organisation, located on Wurundjeri land.

We are a community of learners where the voices of families, children and educators are respected and valued. Children are citizens from birth with rich intelligences.

As reflected in the Early Years Learning Framework (2022), we develop a sense of Belonging, Being and Becoming for all.

We are committed to providing opportunities of play for children to express their “hundred languages” by championing wonder.

Children

We uphold the rights of children as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and support every child’s right to education, to feel safe and to be valued for who they are.

Our image of the child is defined as strong, capable, and full of potential. Each child is a unique individual with diverse learning styles and cultural identities.

We empower children to be co-constructors in their own conceptual learning and celebrate children’s rich intelligences as they discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Responsive relationships and wellbeing are prioritised and integral to learning. We build children’s resilience so that they can better navigate challenges and adversity.

Families

Families serve as the child’s first teacher, and we respect and value their contribution to our learning community. Establishing respectful relationships fosters strong partnerships with our families and therefore, support and enhance their children’s learning.

We welcome and embrace different kinship systems and diverse ways of living and being, by sharing perspectives and celebrating together.

Community

We honour and pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the land in which we play and learn. We will endeavour to connect with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in our local area and advocate for their journey towards reconciliation and unity.

We strive to create opportunities within our community to share knowledge and experiences, through interaction and engagement. Children’s learning outcomes are enriched through partnerships with our community and connections to Country.

We are committed to social sustainability, through inclusive and fair decision making.

Contexts for Learning

Our image of the child is reflected in our contexts for learning, interactions, and pedagogical documentation.

The environment takes on the role of the third teacher; our educators provide flexible and aesthetically appealing contexts to provoke inquiry and exploration through natural, recycled, and man-made resources.

We value both indoor and outdoor learning contexts and develop them in collaboration with children, families, and educators.

We are committed to environmental sustainability, by caring for the natural world, and conserving resources for current and future generations.

Educators

Our pedagogical practices are guided by children’s wonder and our conceptual framework. We embrace and embed the Early Years Learning Framework and inspirations from the Reggio Emilia Educational Project.

We are unique individuals who collaborate for continuous growth and development. We participate in professional learning, reflective practice, and self-evaluation to broaden and innovate our pedagogy.

We recognise that we are all leaders in our role as educators and inspire others to reach their potential.