Our Philosophy

Our Image of The Child

At Belong Early Learning Cottage, we respect that children are whole beings from birth, whole beings who are wired for love, nurture and connection. We are guided by John Bowlby’s theory of attachment and aim to create secure relationships with children, providing them with a secure base from which to explore their early childhood environment and world. Valuing the importance of emotional development in the formative years, we are passionate about developing attuned relationships with children, fostering and supporting their sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Further to this, we view children holistically, recognising the systems in their life which contribute to their learning, growth and sense of identity. We view children as brilliantly capable, brimming with ideas, theories and rich perspectives. Thus, we aim to be co-learners with children, allowing them to be active protagonists of their own growth, learning and development.

We acknowledge the richness of children’s play and the 100 languages with which children explore the world and express their learning, as per the Reggio Emilia Approach. We value children as individuals with their own human rights. We honour the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child at all times, most specifically relating to children’s safety, wellbeing, education, and right to play. Children are the face of the future, and we respect their education and growth accordingly.

Our Image of The Family

Belong Early Learning Cottage is inspired by the work of Loris Malaguzzi, and as such, we view the family as the child's first and most valued teacher. We recognise the importance of building strong relationships with families, working collaboratively with them towards the best outcomes for their children's lives and learning.

We understand that we are caring for and educating someone for whom families have endless hopes and dreams. We aim to support each child and family authentically to achieve these goals. We recognise the theories of Urie Bronfenbrenner, and thus place great value on all the systems in the child's life, recognising both direct and indirect influences.

We believe in working collaboratively with the community to ensure families as a unit feel safe, supported and connected. We respect all families' contributing cultures, ideas, and values and view them as important stakeholders in both our service and children's education.

Our Image of Education and Environments

At Belong Early Learning Cottage, children’s welfare and wellbeing are paramount. We provide safe, interconnected, and inclusive environments which allow spaces for children to play, explore, express, as well as for rest and relaxation. We understand that emotional development provides the foundation for all other developmental domains and thus place great value on the pedagogy of active listening and sustained relationships.

We believe in education as a living organism that grows with the strengths and interests of each child and their family. It is a place of collaboration, inquiry, and co-learning, a place where curiosities can be fostered through careful and intentional observation, planning and reflection. We are guided by the outcomes, principles and practices of the national curriculum “Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework”.

“Education therefore, is a process of living, not preparation for future living” John Dewey.

We believe in a mindful approach to education that allows children to stay centred in the here and now, fully alive and awake, and recognising all opportunities in front of them. We recognise the connectedness of mind, body and spirit, ensuring a holistic approach to early education. We believe in honouring the traditional custodians of the land and aim to include First Nations culture within our curriculum, including the 8 Aboriginal ways of learning.

Our environments are dedicated to a play-based learning approach and inspired by Reggio Emilia’s principle of environments as the child’s third teacher; thus, they are designed to be rich with opportunities for learning. We aim to provide environments which are culturally diverse, reflective of the local community, are welcoming in nature and aesthetically pleasing. We aim to design our environments to encourage children’s innate sense of awe and wonder, where they can freely move between the outdoor and indoor settings and follow their curiosities. Additionally, our environments allow space to foster relationships, story sharing and sustained conversation.

Our Image of the Educator and Early Childhood Sector

The educators at Belong Early Learning Cottage are viewed as highly professional, attuned individuals who are avid researchers, co-learners and who value and respect the rights of every child. Our educators are dedicated and intentional, sincerely caring about children’s safety, wellbeing and overall development.

They are known for their ability to foster strong, secure attachments with the children and respectful partnerships with families and communities. As a team, we are passionate about seeing each child reach their full potential, grow their voice, and become active participants of society. Our educators will take the time to connect with each family, recognising the importance of collaboration, and fluidity between the service and home environments.

Educators take a proactive approach to their own learning and development. They have their own individual strengths, cultures and ideas which are recognised, respected and utilised within the service. Educators engage in ongoing reflection and mentorship to ensure best practice. Further to this, educators will be a voice for each other, advocating for the professionalism of the sector as a whole.