MORE ABOUT US!!!
OUR ROOMS
Little Whalers is licensed for 38 Children per day.
Our Centre is broken into 3 rooms which enables our little ones to grow in their own space and move up when they are developmentally and age appropiately ready to do so.
We have a 3+ room which is called our Sea Urchins. We are licensed for 20 Children per day in this room.
Our middle room is for the 2-3 year olds. This room is called our Dancing Dolphins room. This room is licensed for 10 children per day.
Our littlest people are catered for in our 0-2 year old room. We call these gorgeous little ones our Water Babies.
This room is licensed for 8 children per day.
ONLINE PORTFOLIO'S
Every child will receive an online portfolio incorporating photo's, Learning Stories, Group Activities and Artwork. All children have the opportunity to participate in each experience and will have their outcomes and observations recorded for you with a clear plan of the program's aims and objectives.
As the portfolio is designed to incorporate joint participation from Educators and Families, we ask that you take the time to record your comments and you are now able to do this via smart phone or your computer.
With this computerised system, parents now have access to their child's portfolio on a daily basis. This does of course come at a cost to the parents of $10.00 per year. This is payable on your child commencing care with us. This then becomes a wonderful record of your child's development and of what they do and learn at child care that can be shared with the whole family.
You will find your child's weekly/ monthly program displayed in their playroom.. We invite you to have input into the program development especially in relation to the multicultural issues, music and storytelling. Any suggestions you have can be put into the Suggestions box in the foyer or discussed with your Child's Educator.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Little Whalers encourages involvement within the wider community.
We aim to have annual Incursions and sometimes excursions from the local Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade. We also aim each year to join in with the Denmark Town Christmas Parade where we encourage our families to join us walk in the parade itself.
Little Whalers encourages our Local Clinic Health Sister to come in once a month to do Developmental Checkups etc on our little ones at their parents request. We have found that this ensures that the children of working/studying families still can have their regular Checks with the Health sister without Mum and Dad needing to be away from Work.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Each Age Group at the Little Whalers is provided with an Early Learning Program based on the Early Years Learning Framework and designed to provide experiences that are developmentally appropriate to the needs of the children in that group. Children may participate in the program above or below their age group within 6 months either side of their birthday if staff and parents agree it would be developmentally appropriate The appropriate Educator to Child Ratio would apply.
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The Educators are responsible for creating an atmosphere and environment which is responsive to the Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Social and Special Needs of each individual Child and to the group as a whole and reflects the Philosophy and Goals of the Service. The Program is Child Centred. Children are encouraged to learn through their play and interests and take a "hands on approach", with Educators acting as facilitators who create an environment and experiences which are stimulating, safe, nurturing and fun. The program will include indoor and outdoor learning experiences, quiet and active times, individual and group interests, children's special needs and be flexible enough to allow for spontaneity and the unexpected.
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The program is developed as a result of observations made by the Educators during the time the children are at the Centre. Children are encouraged in a positive ad supportive manner to explore their environment and try new experiences.
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We have a Qualified Early Childhood Teacher on Staff. This enables us to provide our children with programs that can be based on School readiness while the children learn through their play.
We have a 3+ Early Education Program running in our 3+ Room.