Samford Community Kindergarten Philosophy

The team at Samford Kindergarten believes that childhood is a unique time of life to be valued and enjoyed. Children

develop their sense of belonging by celebrating the richness of the history of our Kindergarten, and the connections

we have with community past, present and future.

The rights and best interests of the child are paramount.

Play can provide insights into children’s interests, skills, beliefs and joys. A calm and nurturing atmosphere is

conducive to fostering positive self-esteem and developing life skills, which in turn, help children develop their sense

of becoming an individual.

Children are successful, competent and capable learners.

Educators provide a safe, caring and engaging environment where children are encouraged to make decisions about

their own learning. Children are supported to explore, discover and play with a ‘hands-on’ approach whilst developing

resilience and the skills to manage challenges and new situations with confidence.

Due to the rapidly changing world, in which children live, we encourage and promote listening, negotiating,

compromising, cooperating, sharing, respecting self and others, risk taking, problem solving and resilience – essential

skills in developing autonomous and competent life-long learners.

We value slow pedagogy and honour this special time in childhood

This approach prioritises connection, relationships and unhurried time which allows children to wonder, explore and

learn at their own pace. Our rich, open-ended spaces nurture children’s intrinsic motivation to learn and we resist time

pressures that prioritise measurable outcomes.

Equity, inclusion and diversity underpin the framework.

We acknowledge that children come from diverse backgrounds and bring unique strengths, experiences and

understanding of their world. It is these qualities that help give children their sense of being and we draw inspiration

from them to guide our daily program.

Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are valued.

We respectfully acknowledge the Wakka Wakka people as the traditional owners of the land. We embrace children’s

diversity as well as the culture of others in our community and the wider world.

We work and play in a beautiful, semi-rural environment which provides us with the unique opportunity to embrace

country life and connect with nature, with strong community involvement.

The role of parents and families is respected and supported.

We collaborate with families and acknowledge that they are their child’s first and most important teachers. We

encourage respectful relations with families and support strong connections built on trust and a sense of belonging.

Best practice is expected in the provision of education and care services.

At Samford Kindergarten we have created a nature play environment that provides authentic learning experiences.

We utilise our unique environment which also creates respect and appreciation of our natural world, sustainable

practices and First Nations culture. Our cohesive team of qualified staff ensure the C&K policies are followed, and

engage in ongoing professional development, continual professional growth and critical reflection. All staff are

respected as individuals, and we work closely to ensure respectful relationships are built and maintained.

Samford Kindergarten operates within the structure of the Education and Care Services National Law Act and the

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority National Quality Framework. The Queensland Kindergarten

Learning Guidelines and Early Years Learning Framework are embedded in our daily practice to ensure that children

receive the highest quality of education and care.