Goodstart Early Learning Red Hill is shining bright after being awarded an excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
‘The ACECQA submission process was an opportunity to engage in deep reflective practice and since being awarded the excellent rating, we have been feeling really passionate about sharing with other services,’ Centre Director, Renee Mitchell said.
The service was awarded the excellence rating by ACECQA for its:
- commitment to children that respects, reflects and celebrates culture and diversity, including place of origin
- inclusive partnerships with children and families
- positive workplace culture and organisational values, sustained commitment to professional development and support of educators.
Renee says their success has been a long-term project with many rewards.
‘I am really lucky to have had beautiful educators alongside me over my 20 plus years at Goodstart Early Learning Red Hill,’ Renee said.
The service was part of the
From the Ground Up leadership program delivered by QUT in collaboration with the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA).
‘We work really hard to have a genuine model of distributed and collaborative leadership with team members having an active voice in how they engage with children, families and our community.’ she said.
A commitment to taking it slow
Their go-slow culture has been designed within the service and is now deeply embedded.
‘We are known for our slow pedagogy and it is something that both families and educators seek us out for, to linger and engage,’ Renee said.
‘We encourage everyone at the service to be present, to slow down and mindfully interact with each other.’
Renee said there is a strong connection between the slow pedagogy and staff retention.
‘If you come to work in a positive and supportive environment you are more likely to stick around.
'It is so deeply embedded into our every day and we are really proud to showcase it done within an early learning service to benefit educators, families and children.’ she said.
Assistant Director and Educator Charmaine said it was a key reason she wanted to work at the service 4 years ago.
‘There is such a positive culture here, families and educators actively seek the service out and everyone who comes in the front door reacts with “It is really calm here, I just want to stay,”’ Charmaine says.
Giving our youngest a voice
Since 2022, the service has developed a Children’s Council involving the children in decision making to allow them to have an active voice.
‘We really believe in advocacy for children and with children: their voices matter and we want them to learn they can take an active voice and have a voice in influencing change in things that are important to them,’ Renee said.
‘The Children’s Council is part of our leadership model, it is a beautiful opportunity to get the children really involved in what is planned.
'The service has meetings of small groups of children around different topics and invites the community to get involved.
‘For instance, if the team is reflecting on meal times, we will talk to the children about their views and thoughts and take these into consideration.
‘For the youngest ones, it can be their first chance to be involved and to authentically learn their thoughts are important, they can speak their mind and give their opinion.
'We have received beautiful feedback from families as children have moved on to school, what a difference it has made in allowing them to speak up, especially when it is something they are passionate about.’ Renee said.
A sea of hearts
ACECQA also recognised the service for its commitment to respect, reflect and celebrate culture and diversity.
An example of this is the sea of hearts installation, which the service has been celebrating annually during Reconciliation Action Week for 4 years.
‘One of our cultural mentors, through Connecting the Dots Through Culture, created the sea of hearts as a heartfelt, community connecting version of the sea of hands.’
Renee said the event had become an annual favourite of both the children and families, and they had even been over to the Broncos to share their heart-decorating.
‘In our most recent Children’s Council meeting, we discussed the sea of hearts with a mix of both children who have been with us several years and children new to our service.
'Everyone gets involved decorating hearts: our children, our families and local community members,’ Renee said.
‘We have also met with our Children’s Council to involve them in the decision making for this year’s event and they all agree they want a festival, to go down to the creek and celebrate with morning tea among the hearts’, Renee shared.
Goodstart Early Learning Red Hill will continue to use their excellent rating as an opportunity to share with others. They have more networking opportunities in development.
‘To gain an excellent rating with ACECQA, you need to have an impact beyond your own service.
'We want to use it as an opportunity to give back and share as much as we can to empower all educators and services’, Renee said.
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