Philosophy

At Happy Feet Family Day Care, we believe that children learn through play. We endeavor to provide a secure, welcoming, interesting, loving and nurturing learning environment for children to explore and discover the world around them.

Diversity and inclusive practice:

• We recognise the significance of cultural diversity within Australian culture and respect diversity.
• Each family’s cultures, customs, languages, values and beliefs should be respected and embedded within the program.
• Children will be encouraged to explore a wide variety of cultural learning experiences throughout the day to develop positive attitudes towards similarities and differences.
• Additional support services and specialist equipment should be accessed to support a child with additional needs.

Purpose of a family day care

• We believe the purpose of a family day care is to provide high-quality education and care for children and families.
• The aim of my family day care is to support children’s holistic development and to help them reach their fullest potential by providing an educational and interest-based program and creative learning environment.
• A quality family day care is affordable for families.

Learning environment

• The learning environment promotes feelings of safety, security and belonging for children, families and educators.
• The learning environment is interesting, welcoming, inviting, stimulating, challenging and creative, where children are free to play, learn and explore.
• The learning environment nurtures children's positive self-concept.
• we value the natural environment, both within the service and in the wider community, by embedding sustainable practices in the program.
• we encourage families to bring in recycling household items for children to make art and craft.
• Children are encouraged to reflect on the impact we have on the world. 
• The learning environment is the “Third Teacher” (Reggio Emilia, 1998).

Roles of early childhood Educators

• Be an advocate for children.
• Be responsive to all children’s strengths, abilities and interests.
• Use teachable moments to scaffold children’s learning.
• Engage in intentional teaching to promote interest-based learning and implement strategies to extend children’s learning.
• Be a co-learner, learning alongside children, recognising reciprocity.
• Continue my professional development to ensure the best care and educational experiences for each child and to be contemporary in these practices.
• Children and families should have a 'voice' in the program.
• The program is developed with the holistic development of a child central to its delivery and is developmentally appropriate to all children’s needs.

Families

• Families are children’s first and most important influential educators.
• Developing meaningful and trusting relationships between educator and families is essential.
• Families are the most valuable source of information about the child and I aim to incorporate this information into daily programs.

Children

• Each child is unique, capable, and competent.
• Children learn through play.
• Children learn and develop best when exploring their world through stimulating and challenging learning experiences.
• Each child should be encouraged to develop their fullest potential at their own pace.
• Childhood is a time for fun, friendship, adventure and happiness.