Binnowee philosophy
At Binnowee our vision is to create a nurturing environment that partners with families and the community and holds value in children and their learning.
We aim to provide a quality preschool where children, families and staff feel a sense of belonging and value in a collaborative and inclusive environment.
As the welfare and wellbeing of each child is paramount, Binnowee aims to prioritise children’s safety and instil a child safe culture by implementing the Child Safe Standards.
We believe that each child is unique and a capable learner.
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We recognise each child as an individual who is valued and treated with acceptance, respect, consideration and care. We acknowledge that each child brings a diverse range of experiences, perspectives, knowledge, skills and interests which contribute to their learning. We see children as strong, capable, resourceful and resilient learners and encourage them to be active participants in their own learning.
At Binnowee we respect children as capable learners by including their contributions in the program and encouraging children to make choices and follow through on their own learning and interests.
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We believe all children have a right to quality education and care
We aim to provide children with a stimulating educational program that supports play based learning. Our program is designed to foster a love of learning; harnessing children’s natural curiosity about their world, in an environment with plenty of scope for the imagination. Our pedagogical approach is informed by a strong understanding of child development, how young children learn and current early learning frameworks and theories.
Opportunities for ongoing learning are developmentally appropriate, child focused and open ended.
We aim to provide flexible routines where children have time to immerse themselves in play; exploring their interests, building on strengths and discovering the satisfaction of mastering skills at their own pace. Through intentional teaching, planned and spontaneous experiences children are empowered to make independent choices in their explorations as they discover, create, investigate and imagine.
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We believe in fostering deep and equitable relationships with children
As educators we support children in developing a strong sense of wellbeing through nurturing and trusting relationships. We believe that through the development of secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships, children feel valued and supported. At Binnowee we aim to create a culture of inclusion and belonging where children practice and master a variety of skills and extend the boundaries of their world with the guidance of their educators.
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We believe in fostering mutual, respectful partnerships with families
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We believe that quality early childhood education is enhanced by the successful partnership between families and the Binnowee team where there is understanding of each other’s perspectives and values.
At Binnowee we partner with families to provide a quality preschool that is collaborative and where everyone has a sense of community and belonging. We believe that parents are children’s primary educators and carers, and that family is the most important influence in a child’s growing years. We respect and honour the histories, cultures, languages, traditions, child rearing practices and lifestyle choices of families. We believe a successful partnership is built on cultural responsiveness, trust, open communication, shared insights and shared decision-making. We encourage each family to participate in the preschool community and we support and welcome their interest, contributions and involvement.
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We believe in supporting children to have respect for the environment and the world around us.
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The natural environment at Binnowee offers open ended learning opportunities and we believe this green place needs to be nurtured and respected to ensure long term environmental sustainability. We embed sustainable practices into all aspects of our preschool and believe that involving children in the care, maintenance and sustainability of the natural environment instils value and respect for our world. Investing in the future of our world and caring for country starts in early childhood.
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We believe in a sense of belonging to the local and wider community.
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At Binnowee we hold value in recognising the traditional custodians of the land, the Dharug people; their knowledges, perspectives and cultural practices. Binnowee is named from the Aboriginal word meaning “a green place”.
We aim to ensure that children at Binnowee have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the significance and importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and ways of being. We honour the traditional custodians of the land by pronouncing an Acknowledgement of Country as we gather as a preschool community.
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We believe that the wider community plays an important part in children’s lives and we aim to collaborate with people, services and agencies to support children and families at Binnowee. We believe that fostering relationships and community connections and their ongoing evolution leads to enhancing positive outcomes for everyone at Binnowee.
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We believe that dedicated educators provide quality early childhood pedagogy
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We acknowledge that our team members are professionals who are committed to providing excellence in early education. The team brings diverse experiences, strengths, cultural knowledge, talents and interests to create a stimulating pedagogical environment that is based on a culture of encouragement, collaborative leadership and respect.
We have a commitment to continuous improvement and ongoing professional learning, along with a commitment to current pedagogical theory. At Binnowee we engage in critical reflective practice to build on our knowledge of the profession and to support continuous improvement. Our preschool environment is a place of collaboration, trust, respect, robust conversations, honesty and professionalism and we value the strong culture of belonging and positivity we foster.
Updated February 2024