Our preschool is committed to providing a warm, innovative and welcoming place to learn, encouraging children to develop to their full potential, gaining independence, taking initiative, and developing a positive self-esteem in a stimulating, aesthetically appealing and well-maintained play areas.
Our educators are committed to building strong partnerships with families. We recognise families as children’s first and most influential educators. We strongly believe that each child’s family is unique in its experiences, culture, customs, and beliefs.
Diversity within our preschool, families, educators and wider community is respected and celebrated so we can play a role in fostering and developing a social conscience among children.
We recognise and acknowledge our Indigenous culture and honour the traditional custodians of the land, the Cabrogal clan of the Darug Nation.
“We value space because of its power to organise, promote pleasant relationships among people of different ages, create a handsome environment, provide changes, promote choices and activity, and its potential for sparking all sorts of social affective and cognitive learning… the space has to be some sort of aquarium that mirrors the ideas, values, attitudes and cultures of the people who love with it.” (Loris Malaguzzi. Founder of Reggio Emilia schools)
Our program is holistic and inspired by pedagogical influences including aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach with opportunities for children to undertake collaborative group projects and encourage them to think deeply and critically.
We provide children with the opportunities to practice and consolidate their skills in key learning areas including language and literacy, creative and expressive arts, mathematics, science and social and emotional development which work towards learning outcomes as expressed in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)- “Belonging, Being and Becoming.
As intentional teachers we believe “Learning and teaching should not stand on opposite banks and just watch the river flow by, instead, they should embark together on a journey down the water. Through an active, reciprocal exchange, teaching can strengthen learning and how to learn”. (Loris Malaguzzi)
We believe in all children’s capability to succeed and that children progress well when we hold high expectations for them.
“The principle goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men and women who are capable of doing new things”. (Jean Piaget)
We aim to prepare children for formal schooling, providing a variety of spontaneous, interest-based activities and structured teacher initiated learning activities that focus on all developmental areas.
We believe that implementing routine and structure to your child’s day gives children a sense of control, improving their focus and organisation.
At Joey’s Cottage Preschool we have introduced the PreLit Program designed by Macquarie University. It is a skill-based, early literacy preparation program for preschool children in the year before school.
At Joey’s Cottage we are committed to ensuring a sustainable future for all children. Educators and children actively participate in caring for our environment and we promote sustainable practices through educating and working with the children, families and wider community.
Our educators work as team, supporting each other to ensure the opportunity for growth and personal development of a well-trained and caring group of educators.