About Us

Offering play-based learning, nature exploration, and a global arts program in an inclusive community.

Nurture Early Childhood Education Centre

Guidance & Philosophy

At Nurture we believe that children are active citizens who are capable and competent, with an innate desire to participate in and give back to their community. As such, we believe in a responsive based practice that views relationships as cornerstone to the early learning experience.

Relationships are fundamental to our work with children, and in order for us to nurture them our team is anchored by four main principles of guidance:

  • The physical environment is as much a teacher as the educators within our classrooms. We believe that a space that invites curiosity, wonder and exploration is a space in which children feel confident to engage in new experiences. Experiential learning nurtures children’s developing sense of place, belonging, and encourages autonomy.

    Our classroom environments are designed to invite children to move freely, explore and engage in meaningful moments with their peers, educators and their learning environments.

  • While we have created a daily schedule, we often refer to our schedule as a rhythm of the day. No two days are alike, but we understand that children thrive with continuity and a sense of knowing what is next to feel secure and safe within their learning environments. 

    While we strive to keep aspects of our day consistent, we also believe that flexibility and responsiveness allows us to engage in meaningful experiences with children that are responsive to their unique needs and dispositions!

  • Educators demonstrate respect, democracy, compassion, understanding and kindness in their everyday interactions with children and with each other. Children are active participants in their learning, and through sharing time and space with others we believe these life skills are nurtured from the very beginning. Collective living and learning brings along challenging experiences. Educators use modelling to guide children through opportunities for problem solving.

    This may look like providing verbal guidance and prompts for children when they feel frustrated or are having difficulties articulating their thoughts and needs. For example, an educator may kneel down to a child’s level and say, “I see you really want the ball that Sanjeet is holding. It is frustrating to have to wait. I wonder if we can ask Sanjeet for a turn together?” Moments like these allow educators to scaffold children’s learning, as we navigate what it means to co-exist. 

  • Throughout the day, children are provided with opportunities to express agency and engage in democracy, choice and agency. Whether it be the materials and toys they choose to play with or explore, the food they choose to snack on in their lunches, or the books and songs we share with one another throughout the day; we encourage children to be active participants in co-creating our daily experiences.

    Our educators believe in modelling democracy in social relationships with each other and the children. Children are active citizens so we believe in creating a space in which self expression, exchanging ideas and perspectives and engaging in reciprocal relationships is nurtured and encouraged.

  • The world is a diverse place and Nurture believes in the power of fostering early years connections to our local and global communities. We do this by creating an environment where we can learn about the vastness of human experience. The International Code of Ethics for Educators sets a foundation of principles that we adhere by.

    As such, we create a non-denominational space and do not host activities that adhere to dominate cultural ideas (such as Christmas, Fathers day etc.). This practice ensures that all children and families from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds are included. We are an inclusive centre and honour and respect each and every families personal religious or non religious views.