We have been working with the families of Port Stephens since 1992 and offer our children an immersive play-based curriculum that embraces and values nature. Salamander Early Education, also known as Salamander Child Care Centre, has been rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standards on our past two Assessment and Rating visits. We are very proud to be an Exceeding Centre and our focus is on continuing to grow and deliver the very highest standards of Early Childhood Education. We are passionate about what we do and we are passionate about letting the children play. "Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." - Fred Rogers
The Early Years Learning Framework refers to play-based learning as "A context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations". At SCCC we focus on providing children with authentic experiences that represent their current context and harness their strengths. We continually go above and beyond to deliver the best possible experience for our children and their families. As a not-for-profit Centre, we are genuinely only focused on what is best for our community. This is evident in the way that we staff above ratio, and also through our partnership with Newcastle University. This partnership is funded by the Centre and means that we have a registered Occupational Therapist on-site for one day a week throughout 2021. Early intervention is key to setting children up for success and we believe that it should be available to all. Early childhood education is about supporting children's development in a safe and nurturing environment. It is about building trusting and reciprocal relationships with families. It is about creating a space where children are respected and valued for the individuals that they are. A space where everyone is able to and actively encouraged to flourish. Children really are too precious for profit. If you would like to come in and see the Centre for yourself, please use the contact details listed to arrange a date.
