A community shared vision
The review process started with the educator team dedicating time during staff meetings to reflect on why and what they do, how they came to early childhood education and unpacking the impact of their values and beliefs on their practice.A goal-oriented process
Reflective practice at Active Kids Moore Park is considered critical for taking informed actions. The educators, the children, families and wider learning community were involved.
Everyone’s active participation in reviewing the philosophy ensured its alignment with their commitment to respecting, valuing and responding appropriately to all voices.
Families and members of the wider learning community were invited to contribute their ideas.
Suzie Braumann, Service Coordinator at Active Kids Moore Park contacted their Be You Consultant, Carmen Huser for support.
Carmen highlighted Be You resources and tools the Be You Statement of Commitment and Planning for Empowerment to incorporate a strong mental health lens in the review process. Carmen offered guidance on involving young children in it to enable the connection between children’s rights to participation and their mental health.
The children’s voices
"Involving the children was also the most rewarding and satisfying part of the review process", says Suzie.
Whilst the leadership team sought involvement of key community stakeholders, the children's voices were the most crucial.
Suzie drew on their regular practice of children contributing to the educational program, daily routines, and their Quality Improvement Plan. After speaking to Carmen, Suzie took inspiration from the Be You Implementation story, Including young children’s voices.
With small groups of pre-school children, Suzie led conversations using big boards, visual aids and photos to drive the conversation. Soon children led the conversations.
Children’s authentic participation
The current philosophy statement had headings, such as vision, goals, and the stakeholders: educators, children, families, community. These headings, as well as, the principles underpinning the National Quality Standard formed the basis for the conversations with the children.
They provoked the children to talk about the diversity of families in the community; friendships; their rights; everyone’s feelings and wellbeing. The children’s interpretation of these significantly contributed to the new statement.
Positive relationships, knowing the children, trust and child-friendly time frames made this review process so successful.
The statement is now framed and proudly displayed at the early learning service for everyone to see.
Consider the voices in your service’s Statement of Philosophy: Listen and reflect on the In Focus webinar The voice of the child.