Philosophy

"Working together to create a safe and inclusive place to play, grow and learn."

Cara Armstrong Kindergarten has had lengthy history and connections with the local community along with dedicated family involvement since 1945.

Our play-based curriculum encourages each child to be a competent and confident learner, and fosters communication, exploration, independence, respect for others, curiosity, imagination and creativity. The environment offers stimulating experiences and open-ended materials which we encourage children to use creatively rather than prescriptively. We support children to discover at their own pace in an unhurried atmosphere, where their discoveries and achievements are valued. We nurture each child to reach their full potential and we recognise that children learn in many different ways and styles.

Our staff establish respectful and warm relationships with children and families, and empower children to pursue their interests, extend their knowledge through experiential learning, and build foundations for lifelong learning. We encourage children to become independent, solve problems for themselves, and to be compassionate, respectful individuals.

We take a holistic view of children’s learning and growth, and our program reflects the interests, strengths and needs of each child. We are committed to creating a safe environment for children where the health, wellbeing, rights and best interests of every child are paramount.

Our learning program and practices are based on the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, and the Early Years Learning Framework, and our educators are also guided by Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the National Quality Standards.

Our Mission

"Belonging, Being and Becoming"

We strive to provide a quality learning environment where children, staff and families can develop a sense of...

Belonging  - knowing where and with whom you belong, and acknowledge our interdependence with others and the basis of relationships in defining identities.

Being - recognising the significance of the present, and knowing yourself, building and maintaining relationships, engaging with life's joys and complexities, and meeting challenges in everyday life.

Becoming - reflecting the process of rapid and significant change that occurs in the early years as young children learn and grow, and recognising that we continue to learn throughout our lifetime."

Parental Participation

As a community kinder which is run by a voluntary parent committee of management, we have a philosophy of parental participation and community building. There are many different ways that you can volunteer at Cara Armstrong to enrich our children’s learning and be part of our vibrant and inclusive community, including:

• Joining our committee of management

• Volunteering at fundraising barbecues, cake stalls and other events throughout the year

• Attending working bees to participate in the upkeep of the kindergarten

• Stay and play sessions with the children at kindergarten

• Organising social events for our kindergarten community

• Sharing your professional knowledge or unique skills – let us know how you can contribute!

By volunteering, you help shape our kindergarten and have the opportunity to connect with and be supported by our Cara families. Fostering this community is beneficial for our children’s development and sense of self, as well as their enjoyment and memories of their time at Cara Armstrong.