At Smileys Childcare, our programs recognise that every child learns and develops at their own pace and we value each child’s individual needs, interests and diversity. We offer a range of experiences to complement a variety of learning styles and aim to help children become confident and involved learners.

The curriculum is delivered via a comprehensive early childhood programming, documentation and portfolio management system, Earlyworks. Using Earlyworks is convenient for families to access and helps them to understand the time and effort that our educators put into caring for their children and documenting their learning and development. It has also helped us to reduce our carbon footprint and become more sustainable.

The curriculum encourages children to not learn only what we already know, but to become creative and innovative, capable of discovery throughout their life. (Jean Piaget)

The Early Years Learning Framework describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.

BELONGING …

…is the foundation for living a fulfilling life. Children feel they belong through their relationships with their family, culture, community and place. We cherish our role as your extended family and part of your child’s community.

BEING …

…recognises the importance of the here and now. Our curriculum reflects the value we place on childhood, a time to simply ‘be’ – to play, investigate and enjoy an unhurried time to pursue their own interests.

BECOMING …

…is about the wonderful learning and development that young children experience. We recognise the knowledge, understanding, identity, skills and potential that your child brings with them to Smileys.

Our programs embrace the ‘Emergent Curriculum’, which works with a child focus and involves teaching in a creative and thought-provoking manner while ensuring spontaneity always has a place in the setting where children play and learn. Our educators aim to stimulate curiosity and open mindedness to prepare the brain for learning and to provide the children with pathways and questions that will inspire them in their own learning. Educators provide different levels of support and feedback to meet children’s individual needs, which allows them to perform at a higher level than they would independently.

‘Play is the work of the child.’
Maria Montessori

Children from an early age are motivated to take risks and try new things. They will find their own, often quite ingenious, physical challenges and in doing so, learn about their own strengths and limitations by taking risks. We provide experiences in an environment that enables children to safely make judgments and understand their own capabilities. We believe that children learn through play. Opportunities are provided through programs and routines that will allow each child to learn self-discipline and independence while feeling free to choose the areas of interest in which they will participate throughout the day.

‘We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play.’
Charles E. Scaefer