Children's Programs - Babies and Toddlers
Planning for babies and toddlers occurs through relationship-based experiences and interactions. The emphasis is to promote and maintain a secure attachment between a child and their primary caregiver (see primary caregiving), as well as with other staff and the wider environment. We recognise and value the importance of a child's family and context and value opportunities to work closely with families. Relationship-based programming recognises that children need to feel safe and secure in a predictable and responsive environment. Programs are flexible and responsive to individual children's interests and take into consideration a child's emerging sense of autonomy ("I can do it"), wellbeing and belonging.
Staff and families work in partnership to offer children programs and routines that are individual as well as being learning opportunities. Staff use a programming cycle of noticing a child's experiences and communication (observations) and striving to understand and interpret these in a meaningful way. Staff then plan opportunities for children to extend and build on their learning. Experiences and planning for children revolve around children's secure attachment, their wellbeing and involvement in the environment and their primary caregiver's ability to be emotionally available to children as individuals.
Above all we recognise that children need to feel secure in their environment and to enjoy what they are doing in order to learn. Our play-based programs are able to provide this through skilled staff who access many training opportunities to extend their learning.
For many months now we have been exploring the idea of birth to three groupings. This would enable a smaller number of children at different ages and stages to grow and develop together without the need for constant change and transitions to other age groups. Research shows that this contributes to the provision of high quality care and education. Our programs are in the process of changing to this model.
