Our Philosophy

At Epping Views Kindergarten, we highly value honest and open communication between staff, children and their families.  We highly regard the connection and involvement we have with a range of different community groups and organisations, including Whittlesea Council, Child and Maternal Health, Epping Views Primary School and local businesses and services, as well as families of the children in our care.  We believe staff, children and families should experience a positive and inclusive environment of respect and trust, regardless of their differences.  We use the Victorian Early Years Framework and the National Quality Framework to guide our planning and program implementation. Everyone has the right to a warm, caring environment that is safe, secure and hygienic.  It is important that children are engaged in their learning through a range of indoor and outdoor play and learning experiences.

What is our shared understanding?  What are our common goals?

At Epping Views Kindergarten we strive to provide a learning environment where children are free to learn, develop, play, grow, feel happy, safe and secure and gain confidence.  Our purpose is for children to have fun, learn life skills, gain independence, build relationships with each other and be the best they can be. 

We aim to:

• Create a sense of belonging where all children, families and staff feel welcome and supported in the learning environment

• Provide a high quality education for children, fostering learning and development and building a strong foundation in Literacy, Numeracy, Science and Digital Learning

• Prepare children for the next stage of their formal education at primary school, through strong links with Epping Views Primary School and our transition program

• Spark and direct children’s curiosity, creativity and natural love of learning, building a strong sense of self esteem in each child

• Promote healthy eating and active lifestyles that are continued throughout each child’s life

• Plan programs using input from staff, children and families and reflect and evaluate our practices and programs

• Build knowledge about and establish a sustainable environment that is transferred into each child’s everyday life

• Utilise the indoor and outdoor learning spaces in a connected way to enhance the learning of our children and provide them with choices about their experiences

• Cater for the needs of each individual child and ensure they are provided with opportunities to achieve a high level of success, celebrating new attempts as well as learning new skills. We will work collaboratively with local community, Allied Health and support services

• Work together as a positive and supportive staff team, collaboratively planning high quality learning experiences for children and reflecting on our practice to ensure continuous improvement

• Build upon children’s understandings of diversity, specifically Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through embedded practices of exploration, promotion and celebration.  

• Build upon children’s sense of agency through awareness of their needs and rights of others within the kinder community

• Actively involving and encouraging our parent community in participating in kinder events, fundraising, parent partnership and well being

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Our Values

At Epping Views Kindergarten, we ask our staff, children and families to show the values of:

Acceptance:    Accepting others as they are, regardless of differences

Belonging:        Having a sense of belonging to the group and community

Caring:                Feeling and showing concern and empathy for others     

Respect:             Showing consideration to other people and property, treating others how we would like to be treated