An Indigenous herb garden greets families and children as they arrive each day Goodstart Caboolture Smiths Road.
The centre, which has an exceeding rating in all seven categories under the National Quality Framework, has expanded learning areas and opportunities from the indoors by planting and maintaining both the herb garden, and a vegetable garden.
Caboolture Smiths Road centre director Tess Barry says providing big open areas for children to play in encourages them to move, challenge themselves and take healthy risks.
It also provides children with a connection to nature and encourage curiosity.
“I think having a great centre is all about using your budgets to ensure all resources are the best possible that you can afford,” Ms Barry said. “From outdoor plants and soil, to indoor toys and equipment, it’s essential that all children have plenty of activities.”
Ms Barry said the gardens were just one part of the secret to the centre’s exceeding success.
The team at Caboolture Smiths Road also focus on their communication with families, ensuring parents are well informed about what is happening, how their children are going, and what they got up to during the day.
“We email the parents a bit of a blurb about their child for the week and attach photos, and make sure we have a consistent roster, because they want to see the same faces every day.
“We see the parents as part of a family so building those relationships is important, as is staff retention so that we’re all on the same page.”
The NQS Assessment and Rating Report is issued by Australia's Children Education and Care Quality Authority.
The centre, which has an exceeding rating in all seven categories under the National Quality Framework, has expanded learning areas and opportunities from the indoors by planting and maintaining both the herb garden, and a vegetable garden.
Caboolture Smiths Road centre director Tess Barry says providing big open areas for children to play in encourages them to move, challenge themselves and take healthy risks.
It also provides children with a connection to nature and encourage curiosity.
“I think having a great centre is all about using your budgets to ensure all resources are the best possible that you can afford,” Ms Barry said. “From outdoor plants and soil, to indoor toys and equipment, it’s essential that all children have plenty of activities.”
Ms Barry said the gardens were just one part of the secret to the centre’s exceeding success.
The team at Caboolture Smiths Road also focus on their communication with families, ensuring parents are well informed about what is happening, how their children are going, and what they got up to during the day.
“We email the parents a bit of a blurb about their child for the week and attach photos, and make sure we have a consistent roster, because they want to see the same faces every day.
“We see the parents as part of a family so building those relationships is important, as is staff retention so that we’re all on the same page.”
The NQS Assessment and Rating Report is issued by Australia's Children Education and Care Quality Authority.