At Edge we implement an inquiry based approach, where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas, and learn through play.
Inquiry based educating is all about dynamic learning where our Educators start by posing questions or scenarios to trigger curiosity and encourage children to investigate their findings. This type of learning is particularly beneficial in developing problem solving and communication skills.
Fostering these skills in a child’s early years allows them to develop stronger relationships with their peers and is excellent for confidence building and preparation towards starting school. At Edge, we also recognise that children thrive when there is strength in the partnership that supports a child’s participation in our early years program. Our team are committed to strengthening the relationship between families and caregivers.
We are passionate about the health and wellbeing of children, which is why our early learning program promotes healthy eating, active lifestyles, sleep, rest and mental wellbeing. We are conscious that healthy habits ingrained in a child’s first five years will set the tone for future wellbeing. On top of physical health, we also focus on supporting children’s positive mental health to provide opportunities for future success and achievement. This is why our program includes physical activity, mindfulness, and basic nutritional education, in addition to providing children with a sense of self.
Physical education is an important part of our early learning program. We focus on developing your child’s coordination and gross motor skills through activities such as ball games, team sports, obstacle courses and dancing. We are passionate about incorporating a range of different activities into our program to enable children to build physical confidence and social skills before starting school.
We practice yoga and mindfulness in many of our centres. These sessions are excellent at teaching children how to stretch, balance, and build coordination. Yoga also provides children with many additional benefits such as improving their ability to focus, enhancing their cognitive memory, and boosting self-esteem. We practice mindfulness through quiet times in the classroom which enables children to relax and learn to regulate their emotions. Our classrooms are also equipped with relaxation zones where children can go to wind down whenever they feel the need to throughout the day. This enables all children to regulate and care for their social, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Our passionate educators work with families and our local community to provide a safe and inspiring environment tailored to the children in our care. We value the relationships we have with our community partners and believe that incorporating these relationships into children’s learning will provide a stronger future as they prepare for school.
We also value our families and caregivers. At Edge, we acknowledge that they are their child’s first teacher. We believe the knowledge parents can share with us plays an integral part in how we create and implement our programs. This supports our educators in developing authentic experiences that connect our learning environment to the home setting.
We support our educators to embed their perspectives into our educational practices, so that their language and culture is accessible to all children. Edge Early Learning acknowledges the First Nations Peoples of Land, Sea and Air. As we work and learn on Country, we pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, recognising their continuing connection to Culture, Country and Community.
By accessing community knowledge and expertise, we are better able to understand the children and families within our centre and provide appropriate and meaningful learning experiences that are relevant. A sense of community plays an important role in the development of children’s feelings of belonging and security.
At Edge we are mindful about the world we live in and are passionate about teaching children the importance of sustainability. Practising sustainability in a child’s early years empowers them to construct knowledge, explore values and develop an appreciation of the environment and its relationship to their world. Our early years program encourages educators to place focus on sustainability as a line of inquiry or play-based learning, to encourage children to learn more about the interdependence between people, lands, waters, animals and plants.
In the classroom we are responsible about what we throw away, using recycle stations to learn about the different types of recyclable waste. When outdoors we are conscious about our natural environment and enjoy learning about our native flora and fauna and how we can help to preserve the natural wonders of our land.
As a company, we believe we can play our part in developing a more sustainable future. Our centres are switching to solar power, our cleaning products are environmentally friendly, and our nappies and wipes are made from biodegradable bamboo, which has added benefits for sensitive skin.
Edge Early Learning is committed to child safety and respecting the rights of each individual child.
Our dedicated team prioritises safeguarding children through daily practices, educational programs, and adherence to national child safety principles.
We pledge to maintain a secure and nurturing environment where the best interests of children are at the forefront of all our decision making.
Our Early Years Learning Program is guided by the integrated connections of Vision, Principles, and Practices. This is achieved in alignment with the Learning Outcomes of the latest version of Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia V2.0 (2022). Our dedicated educators keep children’s learning and development at the forefront of their planning and decision-making, with an emphasis on Belonging, Being and Becoming.
