Our Philosophy
At Mentone Pre School, we believe every child is capable, unique and innately inquistive about their world.
At Mentone Pre School, we believe every child is capable, unique and innately inquistive about their world.
Our pre school philosophy is a reflection of the Victorian and National Quality Framework. It is embedded in our principles and practices, to ensure the provision of a meaningful discovery-based program for children and their families.
We believe all the children have the right to explore their world and learn through play. We encourage open ended, creative play that is child directed, intentional and meaningful, promoting a sense of self worth, agency and satisfaction.
We value a learning environment that is underpinned by the building of respectful, reciprocal and inclusive relationships. We strive to create a sense of belonging for each child and family within the preschool by actively seeking family and community engagement. Embracing and celebrating diversity is vital to the connections and partnerships we develop and nurture.
Our legal obligations to provide a child safe environment that implements the Child Safe Standards, guides us to protect children from harm through all we do. We acknowledge and value the United Nations rights of the child and the fundamental importance of equity, diversity and inclusiveness in our society and are a strong advocate for the provisions of accessible and equitable Early Childhood Education for everyone.
The role of our teachers and educators is to facilitate experiences of discovery for children and to enhance their learning through intentional teaching. As educators, we are committed to developing collaborative and reflective practices to support ongoing professional learning and continuous improvement to our pedagogy.
Appreciation of life and living things, sustainable practices and environmental awareness is embedded in our program. We aim to create and foster a culture that respects and protects our natural environment by making positive steps to ensure our kindergarten has minimal impact on the environment. Our outdoor learning environment and ‘Bush Kinder’ program reflect these beliefs, ensuring that opportunities for the exploration of our natural environment are provided in the children’s daily experiences.
We celebrate the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Kindergarten is a wonderful place for children to interact and learn from one another. It provides countless opportunities to discover, think, plan and play. Each child is encouraged to explore the wide range of educational experiences available through a program developed on the basis of the teacher’s knowledge of the children as individuals.
This knowledge is gained through ongoing observations and the teacher’s interaction with each child. The focus is on enhancing their strengths and recognises that all children are different and should be allowed to develop at their own pace to reach their individual potential.
The Educational program at Mentone Pre School foillows the practices and principles outlined in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)
