Learning at LCK

We are committed to inclusion, embedding the ideas of equity and equality for all. Our goal is for children and families to feel welcome, safe, valued and respected. We recognise the potential and appreciate the individual nature of each child, who along with their families, possess their own set of values, attributes, and strengths to be nurtured. We prioritise the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) as fundamental to creating an environment which recognises, respects, and celebrates diversity.

We believe learning is holistic and integrated, and takes place when ideas, concepts and theories are shared. Children develop independence and grow as citizens through respectful, supportive, and co-constructive encounters with others and their environment. We are committed to working closely with families as children’s first teachers, as an integral part of building community and supporting children’s sense of being, belonging and becoming. Our inquiry-based curriculum documentation provides deep insight into children’s learning, contributions from families and the wider community. At our annual ‘Community of Learners’ Art Exhibition, the children’s creativity, thinking and skills are celebrated through their artistic, musical, and intellectual achievements.

We practice an emergent, inquiry-based approach to learning, designed by the children’s wonderings, discoveries, strengths and curiosities. Children are supported to share their interests, thoughts and ideas, ensuring their voices are heard on matters that affect their lives. We encourage children to experiment, be imaginative and inventive in how they explore their surroundings and communicate their ideas, and our programs highlight appreciation and expression through the Arts. Our thinking is guided by the Reggio Emilia approach and Loris Malaguzzi’s theory of ‘100 Languages,’ as a metaphor for the extraordinary potential of children and their ability to think, understand and make connections in a multitude of ways.

We consider the environment as the ‘third teacher’ and strive to provide a safe, inspiring, and democratic space where children can explore, discover, and grow with confidence and happiness. We support children as active participants in their own learning and encourage them to take calculated risks, as they connect with Country. We nurture children’s development of sustainable practices and holistic wellbeing by embedding nature play into our everyday learning experiences. Through their interactions with the environment and its elements, children are able to explore, move, imagine, appreciate and experience the sensory wonders of the world around them.