At A Place to Grow Early Learning Academy, we provide a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential. Our philosophy is influenced by the Reggio Emilia Approach, fostering the growth of the whole child, respecting their unique capabilities, and emphasising the importance of relationships, creativity, and community.
Warm interactions & promoting self-worth
We recognise and respect the rights of the child to access a warm and trusting environment. Our nurturing interactions at A Place to Grow Academy support each child’s development, recognising the significant impact of positive relationships on their growth, settling-in process, learning, and well-being. Our approach is rooted in respect and empathy, always seeking the children’s consent and respecting their feelings, emotions, and words. We cultivate trust and confidence among educators and children, empowering them to express themselves authentically. By valuing their consent and emotions, we help them develop a strong sense of self-worth and healthy relationships, laying a solid foundation for their future well-being and growth.
Intuitive learners
We respect young children’s intuition and see them as active participants in their own learning process. Our goal is to help them stay connected to their intuition, presence, and sense of wonder by adhering to these principles:
- practising intuitive awareness
- allowing children a safe space to trust and be themselves
- offering deep listening
- educating and affirming to promote self-worth and trust
- promoting independent decision-making
- helping children to make choices that are aligned with their authentic self
- co-creating with the child
- promoting creativity
- intuition-based choice of language
- encouraging free self-expression
- slowing down & breathing
- providing free-unstructured time
- letting children grow and learn through play.
Through recognising children’s intuition, respecting their choices, and fostering independent decision-making and interest-based play, we help them to sustain their innate curiosity for learning. We empower children to lead their learning, make decisions, and freely express themselves in a nurturing environment.
The importance of play and risk taking
We recognise the significance of play in early childhood development. Play is a natural way for children to understand the world, develop cognitive and social skills, and express emotions. Our play based curriculum fosters imaginative play, problem solving, and creativity. We also encourage risky play to boost confidence and perseverance when facing challenges. Play helps children develop communication, relationships, and essential knowledge, enabling them to make informed decisions and adapt to challenges. We prioritise supervision, risk assessment, and creating stimulating yet safe environments for holistic child development.
Honouring uniqueness
At A Place to Grow Academy, we embrace children’s uniqueness, including their strengths, interests, learning styles, and development pace. Diversity is a fundamental part of our community, and we ensure that all children feel safe, included, and respected. Our educators use various teaching methods, role modelling, and differentiated instruction to meet each child’s diverse needs. We provide tailored support, scaffolding, and enrichment to ensure individualised progress and engagement. Our curriculum and teaching approaches encourage hands-on learning experiences that align with each child’s developmental needs.
Holistic Development
We focus on nurturing holistic child development, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Our program incorporates diverse activities to develop motor skills, social interaction, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. We emphasise resilience, independence, positive self-esteem, empathy, kindness, and respect for others.
Partnerships with families and the wider community
We value strong partnerships with families and the community. Collaboration and open communication between educators and families are essential for children’s well-being and learning. We actively engage families in their child’s education, encouraging participation, shared decision-making, and regular feedback. We also connect with community resources, including guest speakers, excursions, and real-world experiences in our program.
On-going professional development
We seek passionate educators dedicated to children’s best outcomes. Our staff actively pursue self-reflection and professional development to enhance their expertise. Together, we regularly assess and adapt our practices, curriculum, and environment to align with research, best practices, and evolving child and family needs.
Educator Wellbeing
A Place to Grow Academy prioritizes educators’ well-being for holistic child development. We support their physical, emotional, and mental health, recognising its direct impact on education quality. Through professional development, a supportive community, and self-care initiatives, we empower educators to thrive in their roles while creating a nurturing early childhood environment and workplace.
Strength Based Program
We wholeheartedly embrace interest, play, and strength-based learning. Each child is unique with their passions and talents. Our approach nurtures and celebrates these interests and strengths, building self-esteem and a lifelong love for learning. By valuing and supporting each child’s diverse interests and strengths, we aim to create an environment where they thrive academically and develop self-confidence and enthusiasm for exploration and discovery.
Natural & Low Tox Environment
At A Place to Grow Academy, we prioritise natural and clean learning environments. We use plant-derived essential oils for air purification, low-tox mineral-based sunscreen, and organic, non-toxic cleaning products.
Children engage with nature through play, gardening, animal visits, and nature walks. We emphasise whole food choices for learning and the link between a healthy body and a healthy mind.
Sustainability
We believe in sustainable living, which means minimising our impact on future generations and addressing various aspects of our environment, community, and culture. We continually review our policies to reduce waste and involve children in environmental stewardship. Through hands-on experiences and engagement with the local Indigenous Community, we nurture children’s connection to the environment. Our educators encourage creativity and critical thinking for informed decision-making about the future.
Reconciliation
We embrace First Nations culture through daily practices and community engagement, educating children and families with culturally appropriate Indigenous histories. Yarning circles promote respectful interactions and deep listening skills. Children learn about Australian Native Plants and the Dharawal language, fostering respect for Indigenous culture. We commit to Reconciliation for improved well-being and cultural outcomes.
At A Place to Grow Academy, we create a nurturing, enriching environment for each child’s growth through play-based learning and individualised instruction. We value strong family relationships and strive to provide an inclusive, supportive community where every child thrives.
Read more about our curriculum by clicking here.