We follow the Early Years Learning Framework as per our Education, Curriculum and Learning Policy.
Our Educational Leader is Bruna Sardenberg Campista .
Our Centre has qualified and experienced Early childhood educators who provide a balanced educational program for the children.
We provide a comprehensive Preschool program which focuses on encouraging children to gain skills in pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, concentration, language, socialisation and independence.
If your child’s Educator feels there is an area of concern, they will inform you and advise where help may be sought, e.g. speech therapist. Educators are willing to discuss any aspect of development with parents.
Philosophy:
At St Stephen’s Children’s Centre, we respectfully acknowledge the Gadigal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land where we learn and play. We pay our respects to elders past and present, and we promise to care for the land, the animals and each other. This is and always will be aboriginal land.
We honour and uphold the rights of every child to learn, explore, and discover through play and interest-based learning. We believe every child can flourish when they feel safe, connected, and their many ways of learning and expressing themselves are recognised and nurtured. We see children as capable, curious, and active participants in their own learning. Each child is a unique individual with their own strengths, ideas, and voice, and we provide an environment that encourages them to express themselves, form relationships, and grow in confidence and ability. We view childhood as a valuable and unique stage of life, a time to be immersed in wonder, joy, and discovery. We are dedicated to creating secure and trusting environments that allow children to feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore their world.
Our curriculum is informed by the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia – Version 2.0 (2022): Belonging, Being and Becoming. This national framework guides our practice and supports our goal of nurturing children to become confident and involved learners, helping them go beyond achieving learning outcomes to become kind, contributing members of society. We are committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in our practice and fostering a sense of respect, understanding, and belonging for all children and families. We observe and document children’s individual interests, strengths, and learning to inform and guide our educational program, ensuring we meet each child where they are in their learning journey. Play is central to our approach, and we embrace spontaneous and intentional learning experiences that evolve from children’s interests and interactions.
Our indoor and outdoor learning environments are thoughtfully designed to stimulate curiosity and invite children to lead their own learning. We are proud of our nature-rich surroundings, which provide countless opportunities for exploration, inquiry, and autonomy. These environments support children’s creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving, while fostering a deep connection to nature and sustainability.
We deeply value the role of families as a child’s first and most important teachers. We foster respectful partnerships with families through open, honest communication, shared decision-making, and recognition of the knowledge and insights they bring. We encourage family participation in the Centre, including through our Management Committee, where parents can directly contribute to the governance and direction of our service. We embrace and celebrate the diverse cultural and social contexts of every child and family, creating a culturally responsive and inclusive environment where all children experience a strong sense of belonging and are supported to actively participate.
Our educators are committed, reflective, and collaborative professionals who continuously develop their skills and knowledge through ongoing professional learning. We work together as a team to provide high-quality education and care that meets the evolving needs of children, families, and our community. As a Child Safe Centre, we place children’s safety and wellbeing at the centre of everything we do. We uphold and advocate for the rights of all children, as defined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and teach children to stand up for their own rights and the rights of others. We take child safety seriously and are committed to continuously improving our practices to ensure every child is protected. Every staff member, committee member, and volunteer shares a legal, ethical, and moral responsibility to maintain a child-safe environment and culture, as we believe protecting children’s safety and wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility