The Tree of Life
To the community of Malvern Early Learning and Childcare Centre, our philosophy is best expressed by the ‘tree of life’, a symbol of the interconnectedness and growth of the children, families, educators and management.
It is a symbol and visual reminder of our personal development, uniqueness, and individual beauty. Just as the branches of a tree strengthen and grow upwards to the sky, we too grow stronger, striving for greater knowledge, wisdom and continue to deepen our bonds with the children, families, and team members as we grow together as a community.
In 2019, as we strengthened and developed our philosophy, it became important for us to bring our tree to life! We brainstormed and collectively gathered the words that represent the pillars of our centre.
The design and materials were chosen to reflect the homely and nurturing aesthetics of our service. As an intimate and connected community, contributions came from Educators, children, families, and the extended family members through knitting squares of different colours and sizes.
When mapping out the placement of the pillars as branches, we placed the Educator’s section in the roots of the tree as we feel that the Educators are the foundation of MELCC.
This then led to the construction with hand sewing the squares together, making leaves with relevant words and constructing the tree.
The final piece was to place a mirror onto the trunk of the tree so that the children can see themselves. This is important so that they can see that they are part of our Philosophy also.
Our tree now hangs proudly in the hallway of our centre, for the children, families and educators to pass daily and be reminded of the connectedness and growth that we all share.
Educators, Committee and Families contributed to the development and review of the centre philosophy, reflecting our belief in open communication and inclusiveness.
“We are all linked as a community, learning from one another, and growing on our journey together. ”
“When reading and thinking about our centre’s philosophy, it is true that the tree does represent family and community, but I think it also represents our growth as Educators and professionals. Through critical reflection, professional development, and discussions, as Educators we are forever growing, learning, and changing much like a tree does over time.”
“I really feel so comfortable and enjoy every day!
Nurturing Independence
In all rooms our children are very independent in what they are doing or playing. in the baby room, babies try to spoon-feed themselves and we encourage them to pack up the toys before meals, clean their hands with wipes and so on. And, either in groups or individually, they independently play and discover toys and activities. They can make decisions about what they want to play and really focus on it. Providing them opportunities to develop independence is immensely important for building a sense of self and self-esteem.
We value children’s sense of belonging in here
The first impression I had of our children is that every one of them is very settled and happy here. Their beautiful smiles is the best evidence. That’s why I think in MELCC, developing our children’s sense of belonging is at the heart of what we do and what we strive to create for every child in our care. I can see every educator provides endless care and attention for each child. They interact and communicate with them all the time which is why children here always feel valued and respected.
Family focus of mealtimes
When Sam brings in the morning tea, she always stays a while to say good morning to everyone and we talk about the food they have for today. During their lunch as well, we sit around the table and chat about what colours we can see from the plate and we encourage the children to try the variety of food on their plate. To let children have quality mealtime is not just about the food, but also about the way children have their meals in the Centre. In here, the children eat together as a family. Through sitting with them, chatting with them, and listening we create the opportunity to build self-esteem and build our relationships together.”
