Guardian Childcare & Education says more than two years of investment in learning, safety, nutrition and centre environments are coming together to create a unique early learning experience.
Guardian CEO Warren Bright said the organisation had reached a “defining moment”, with a series of major initiatives now operating as one integrated approach across its national network.
Mr Bright said Guardian was now moving beyond the rollout of individual projects and into the next phase of its development.
“We have spent the past two years building the individual pieces,” he said.
“They are now coming together as one Guardian experience — and that represents a defining moment for our organisation and, we believe, also for childcare and early learning generally.”
Mr Bright said the result was a unique early learning experience built around age-specific learning, strong centre leadership, higher safety standards, nutritious and interesting food and calm, inspiring, consistent centre environments.
“For the past two years, we have been deliberately strengthening every important part of the Guardian experience,” Mr Bright said.
“We didn’t want to simply introduce another learning program, another leadership course or another safety initiative.
“We wanted to create an experience where everything works together around the child and gives families confidence that every part of their child’s day has been considered.”
Exclusive age and stage learning
At the centre of the approach is To BE Me, Guardian’s exclusive age-and-stage learning program, which provides a tailored learning journey from infancy through to school.
It recognises that babies, toddlers and children preparing to begin school are at very different stages of their development and need learning experiences specifically designed around their age, interests, strengths and readiness.
To BE Me is complemented by specialist programs including Guardian’s Baby Ambassador-led approach for its youngest children and A Flying Start to School, its two-year preschool and kindergarten program.
“Children don’t experience learning, nutrition, safety, their surroundings and their relationships as separate things,” Mr Bright said.
“Those elements come together to shape how safe they feel, how confident they become and how willing they are to explore, learn and try new things.
“Our aim is to make sure they are seen as individuals, challenged at the right level and supported to become curious, brave, imaginative and ready for what comes next.”
To BE Me brings the learning journey to life and provides families with greater real-time visibility of their child’s learning and development.
Mr Bright said families should be able to understand not only what their child had done during the day, but what they were learning, why it mattered and how educators were helping them progress.
The Thrive approach to consistent centres
The learning programs are supported by Thrive, Guardian’s framework for operating its centres consistently and to a high standard.
Thrive establishes clearer roles, routines and ways of working, helping centre teams spend more time focused on children, families and the quality of the learning experience.
The broader Guardian approach also includes SafetyPlus and BeSafe, which are designed to take safety expectations beyond minimum regulatory requirements, and Nutrition for Life, which helps children build positive relationships with nutritious food from an early age.
The Guardian Leadership Academy has also been established to develop current and aspiring Centre Managers through professional learning, practical experience and confidential coaching.
Alongside the Academy, Guardian is developing clearer pathways for educators and continuing a major program of investment in its centre environments, learning spaces and resources.
A strong point of difference
Mr Bright said each initiative was important, but Guardian’s point of difference would come from the way they reinforced one another.
“The unique part is not any one program,” he said.
“It is the combination of outstanding learning, strong leadership, higher safety standards, nutritious food, inspiring environments and capable, supported educators all working together around every child.”
“For families, that means greater confidence in what their child is learning and stronger connections with their educators.”
“For our people, it means clearer expectations, better development opportunities and the ability to build a fulfilling career while doing work they are proud of.”
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