At Pine Mountain Road Child Care, we believe that the foundations laid in the early childhood years are crucial to a child’s being, belonging, and becoming. We develop educationally appropriate programs that support the Early Years Learning Framework and Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines while acknowledging the importance of learning through play. It is our strong belief that each child is allowed to evolve and develop in an environment that supports and develops their individuality as well as nurturing their strengths, ideas, culture, abilities, interests, aspirations, and sense of self.

We aim to provide an inclusive environment that is open and friendly where all parents, educators, families, and children feel a sense of belonging and are accepted regardless of culture, religious and family beliefs, socio-economic status, gender, or abilities. We believe in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians through awareness and education. We believe that all children should be offered equal opportunities to access programs, resources, and activities without prejudice. We offer equal access to all children to allow them to develop and grow in a way that is meaningful to them and meets their needs, abilities, talents, and special requirements. We aim to provide a physically safe and emotionally secure environment where children feel protected. Where their healthy eating, physical activity, wellbeing, and comfort are promoted and encouraged.

In alignment with the approved learning framework, we recognise and value each child’s unique strengths and needs. Our commitment is to ensure all children have equitable access to participate in programs and activities, fostering a strong sense of belonging and community. This inclusive approach goes beyond simply enrolling children with additional needs—it involves actively adapting environments and practices to support their full participation in the service. This commitment is further supported through the implementation of both the Strategic Inclusion Plan (SIP) and the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which benefit and empower both children and educators.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Australia. We pay our respects to the Yuggera People as the Traditional Custodians of the Land our education and care service is built. We believe that a better knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures will help to develop an enriched appreciation of Australia’s cultural heritage, which will lead to reconciliation. These cultures are implemented and embedded around our service, in our daily routines, and in our educational program. We believe that children are the future leaders of Australia, and embedding this early in life is the key to reconciliation for years and generations to come.

Our commitment to the environment goes beyond just reducing our footprint – it’s about teaching your children the importance of caring for the planet they will inherit tomorrow. We incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our work, inspiring families and children to adopt practices that nurture both our world and our future. Our sustainability strategy emphasizes key goals to create lasting, positive change.

• Reducing energy and water consumption.
• Choosing eco-friendly materials and equipment.
• Minimising waste and promoting recycling.
• Caring for animals and integrating nature-based learning.
• Educating children and families on the importance of protecting our environment.

We strive to develop respectful and trusting relationships between educators, children, and families. We believe that positive, responsive, and meaningful interactions with children help to build trusting relationships and allow children to feel secure, confident, and included. We value the needs of the child as paramount and strive to remain open so that all voices can be heard, all possibilities are realised, and all potential is fulfilled.

We value what each individual has to offer to our service and encourage all to share. We recognise the family unit as the primary caregivers in a child’s life and value the role of this unit in the service program and policy decisions. We are committed to the care of all children and therefore maintain strong links with the wider community to ensure that the care we provide is based on current early childhood trends and facts. We value the diversity of Australian culture and actively encourage outside influences and ideas. We aim to make the transition from home to service

as smooth and meaningful as possible for both the child and family by incorporating home cultures into our educational program and service. We aim to communicate on varying levels with all parents about their child’s progress and accomplishments. We believe in open lines of communication based on mutual respect and a desire to promote each child’s learning and well-being.

We value the importance of critical reflection by reflecting on our current practices. This is done by all educators personally, professionally, and through our service’s self-assessment. This helps us in identifying ways we can improve which is done through our service’s quality improvement plan.