About Us
Philosophy
We are proud to be educating on Darkinjung land and acknowledge our diverse and inclusive community
We encourage children to appreciate and respect each other, fostering an environment that is culturally responsive and values inclusion through appreciation of each other’s unique culture, interests and diverse abilities.
Childhood is a significant time of life and children need time to just be
Play is central to our educational and pedagogical practices. Play promotes meaningful learning that makes sense to children through hands on exploration, investigation and meaningful expression.
Nature is embraced – inside, outside and beyond
As children immerse themselves in nature, their well-being is nurtured and strengthened to become confident, curious, resourceful and resilient individuals. We promote active citizenship by embedding sustainable practice as children take responsibility to protect and care for the future of our world.
It takes a community to raise a child
By building strong connections with families and the community, we are able to draw upon their skills, knowledge and experience to enrich our preschool program through collaboration and meaningful relationships.
Educators who are a team of professionals
As educator’s we acknowledge and draw upon each other’s strengths, diversity, knowledge and professional experience. We believe in advocating for children’s rights and for our Early Childhood profession, whilst upholding ethical standards.
Wellbeing is valued and supported
By providing an environment that is positive, inclusive and fosters a growth mindset, we aim to support children, families and educators in their emotional wellness, and resilience to achieve their best positive mental health.
Our Vision for Reconciliation
Wyong Preschool is situated on Darkinjung Land surrounded by waterways and wildlife. We recognise, value, and celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and aim to respectfully include perspectives held by Australia’s First Peoples in our pedagogy and practice. Our vision is to provide a culturally safe and welcoming environment, where children participate equally in quality early childhood education that includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
Reconciliation requires us to value these histories to guide us in building and developing trusting relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and work towards a contemporary Australia that respects and values the diversity, inclusion, and knowledge of First Nations Peoples. It welcomes equality and equity and promotes participation for all.
We aim to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples within our local and wider community to create a safe place for learning and community to come together. We aim to provide all children and families equal opportunities to reach their potential, building a strong sense of cultural identity and sense of belonging within our service.
Reconciliation requires us to learn true and authentic histories of Australia’s First Nation Peoples. Listening to, and learning the history allows us to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal language, the arts, spirituality, lore, and customs, and include these perspectives in our everyday teaching practices and authentic experiences that the children and families engage with.
Environmental Sustainability Philosophy
At Wyong Preschool we embrace our traditional land owners’ beliefs and practices in respecting and caring for our environment and country. This strengthens our connection and belonging to the stories of our land.
We believe that the three dimensions of sustainability – environmental, social and economic are interconnected and necessary for a sustainable world. We will support environmental sustainability by protecting and preserving the environment. We will support social sustainability by encouraging children to become active citizens in an equitable, inclusive and respectful environment. We will support ecomomic sustainability by conserving and reducing consumption and waste as well as sourcing ethically produced resources.
As educators for sustainability we aim to promote respect and appreciation for the wonder of nature and all life cycles. We value our place within the environment and understand our need to protect and care for our planet.
Educational Program
Wyong Preschool embraces the principles and practices of the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) as a foundation to our play based teaching philosophy.
This Framework has been designed to extend and enrich children’s learning, maximize their potential and develop a foundation for future success in learning. It has a specific emphasis on interest-based, strengths-based and play-based learning and encourages children to be active and engaged learners exploring their world with confidence.
The EYLF describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming. The most important part of “belonging” to our preschool community is feeling included, accepted and valued for “being” who we are; this in turn allows us to “become” confident, capable and independent people within our community.
Wyong Preschool educators are committed to equity believing in all children’s ability to succeed.
Our preschool provides an inclusive environment where children have the right to be treated equally and our aim is to develop children’s identity and self-esteem in a trusting and supportive environment. Our preschool embraces diversity in all its forms to help develop positive and accepting attitudes in children, and to help them gain a better understanding of their environment, community, country, and the world.
Our preschool aims to build connections and relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and elders in the community. These connections will assist children, educators and families to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, identity, histories, cultures and places of significance in the local community.
Our preschool values the importance of building strong connections with families and the community to ensure best possible outcomes for all children. Educators recognise that families are children’s first and most influential teacher’s and work collaboratively with families so that they are involved in shared decision-making about their child’s wellbeing and learning.
Our educators support each child and family in their transition to school. We promote a positive start at school for every child by completing Transition to School Statements and liaising with local schools throughout the year.
Our Team
Our team at Wyong Preschool are passionate about providing the highest quality education for all children.
The preschools employs highly qualified educators with many years’ experience in early education. We pride ourselves on staff longevity and consistency. Our educators engage in regular professional development to keep up to date with current research, practice and pedagogy.
Education and Care Quality Rating
The NSW Department of Education:
"Wyong Preschool Kindergarten Association Incorporated goes beyond the requirements of the National Quality Standard in at least four of the seven quality areas."