At Dernancourt Kindergarten we aim to provide a safe, nurturing and adventurous learning environment that fosters children’s curiosity, wonder and awe. We partner with families and community as equals, recognising the wealth of expertise they bring to each child’s learning and development.
We believe children to be competent, curious and courageous learners from unique and diverse backgrounds. We value Aboriginal perspectives, and in partnership with the children, families, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people embed these throughout our program to deepen our own understanding of cultural connection to the land. We support children’s right to express views and opinions freely and have these taken into account regarding any matter affecting them. We strive to meet the needs of the whole child by providing opportunities to develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language skills. We aim to foster the development of the whole child through a play-based program which is flexible, accessible, challenging, developmentally appropriate and which promotes high engagement, involvement and intellectual stretch. We value time spent in nature and use this as the conduit for deep learning across all curriculum areas. We provide children with opportunities for uninterrupted time in nature with passionate teachers facilitating inquiry-based learning.
At Dernancourt Kindergarten we develop authentic, inclusive and respectful relationships with families and the local community. We provide families with the opportunity to work in partnership with educators, to participate in their child's learning and development, to share decision making and to contribute to and/or access resources to support family wellbeing. The kindergarten is managed by a family run voluntary Governing Council in conjunction with guidelines set by the Department for Education. We value the diverse strengths and interests of families/members of the community and invite them to teach/share any expert skills or experiences to complement and enrich our learning program. We aim to work alongside community groups, agencies and services to share resources, provide education and develop support networks. We value the connection Kaurna people have with the land and seek to engage with members within the Aboriginal community.
Educators prioritise working collaboratively to support and enhance children's learning, wellbeing and development. We do this with respect, honesty and through trusted relationships. We value the unique skills and contribution of each staff member, learning from, and with each other. Professional development is actively sought, engaged in, and supported to achieve best practice.
Dernancourt Kindergarten, a community of learners committed to working together in order to achieve best outcomes for children, families, and the wider community.
