At The Discovery House we are committed to creating an atmosphere and environment that is warm, inspiring, safe and supportive. We believe that each child’s learning is individual to their interests, cultural background and abilities.
Child-Centred Learning and Play-Based Exploration
At The Discovery House, we foster a warm, inspiring, and safe environment tailored to each child's unique interests, cultural background, and abilities. Through play-based learning, children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and discover, shaping their knowledge and skills authentically.
Community Engagement and Inclusive Culture
We respect and embrace all cultures and community knowledge, fostering an environment of acceptance and inclusivity. Our Reconciliation Action Plan demonstrates our commitment to continuously building respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We acknowledge that it takes time and patience to learn from Elders and are committed to the life-long learning journey of our educators through professional development and building relationships.
Collaboration and Family Engagement
We value collaboration with families, considering them as children's first teachers. This true collaboration is done through shared decision-making, mutual understanding and respect for families. Educators work collectively, reflecting on practice and using the Early Years Learning Framework to create progressive and purposeful early childhood programs and individual planning cycles. Through continuous communication, we value and respect ongoing feedback and input from all stakeholders within the centre.
Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
Every child at The Discovery House experiences high-quality education and care in an environment that prioritises their health and safety. We have a strong emphasis on effective hygiene practices, nutritious lunch boxes, rest and relaxation. We ensure that all children feel safe, secure, included and nurtured within all areas of their development.
Connection to Nature and Sustainable Practices
Being surrounded by natural spaces and an abundance of native flora and fauna, we are able to demonstrate and instil respectful relationships for the natural world within our program. We incorporate sustainable practices and environmental awareness within our daily routines. Encouraging exploration and promoting the understanding of the interdependence between people, plants and animals fosters this strong connection and is explored within how we use and set up the different learning spaces within the centre.
Continuous Improvement and Social Justice
At The Discovery House, we prioritise continuous improvement to ensure the rights of every child are upheld at all times. Through open and honest communication between all stake holders we are able to challenge bias and promote social justice within our program. Our centres Code of Conduct is the guide followed by all educators to ensure best practice and respectful relationships are always upheld. The UN Rights of the Child also form the way in which we engage with all children, whilst also following all child safety standards as per The Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Team Consistency and Diversity
Our dedicated team of educators offer consistency, familiarity and trust for all our families and children. The value we place on ‘family’ is an area we pride ourselves on and helps ensure high retention of educators and continuous trust and respect for our families. We celebrate the multicultural backgrounds and experiences of our educators, enriching our centre’s diversity. Collaborative efforts with families promote respect, equity, and inclusivity within our service.