Country Kids Early Learning Stanthorpe Child Care Centre is now locally owned and operated by Brian and Mel Westerhout. The Country Kids Early Learning child care centre was opened in March 2006 with a licence for 65 Long Day Care children, catering for children from 6 weeks to school age, plus before and after school care and vacation care (school holidays). Country Kids child care centre is located centrally in the Stanthorpe Township with an experienced and friendly team headed by our new Director, Emma.
Brian, Mel, Emma and our great team of carers welcome you, your family and your children to what we trust will be a partnership in your child’s learning and development which is an extension of your home. By working together we will provide an environment that promotes quality care and education to each individual child.
Our Centre Vision " to strive to be as good as we can be"
To give the very best Child Care in a clean, safe and educational way
Our Vision for Children’s Early Learning and Development
In accordance with The Early Years Learning Framework our endeavour as Early Childhood educators is to concentrate on facilitating children’s learning and development as they participate in everyday life. This holistic view, allows children to develop their personal interests while constructing their own identity and understanding of their world.
Fundamental to this Framework is to view children’s lives in the three elements of Belonging, Being and Becoming.
Belonging:
- Acknowledges children’s independence with others and the basis of relationships in defining their interests.
- Relationships are crucial to Belonging.
Being:
- Recognises the significance of the here and now in children’s lives.
- Focuses on the present and children knowing themselves, building and maintaining relationships with other, engaging with life’s joys and complexities and meeting the challenges in everyday life.
Becoming:
- Reflects the idea that children are shaped by many different events and circumstances and the rapid and significant changes that occur in the Early Years as young children learn and grow.
This framework of Belonging, Being and Becoming in conjunction with the Montessori philosophy assists children within our centre to gain life-long skills. The Montessori philosophy is centered on enriching children’s interests and learning within play based activities both in individual and group settings during the absorbent phase of their lives. Our program allows children to establish learning connections between themselves and the world around them. Our centre program encourages children to “do the right thing” as they learn to work and play with and alongside others who share the environment. We encourage children to practice the important life skills of assisting in the care of their environment. To facilitate this practice we encourage the slogan, “take, use and put away”.
Please take time to review the Parent’s Handbook page, on this website, where you will find complete overview of our centre and how it will relate to your family