Philosophy and Goals
Our Philosophy
The rights of the child are paramount – PCYC OSHC believes that each child has the right to be an active member of the community in which they live; to have their individual and cultural identity recognised and respected; to express their opinions and have their views considered in any decisions that may affect them.
PCYC OSHC reflects Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the obligation of all those who work with children to protect children from harm, respect their dignity and privacy and safeguard and promote every child’s wellbeing.
Children are successful, competent and capable learners – PCYC OSHC believes that children are active learners from birth, constructing knowledge, meaning and understanding through their interactions, relationships and experiences. We believe that rich, engaging environments and meaningful interactions, where children’s voices are listened to and acted upon, build on this foundation for successful lifelong learning.
Equity, inclusion and diversity – PCYC OSHC believes that in a fair and just society the intrinsic worth of all children and their families, their strengths and their right to equitable access and participation in the community is clearly visible in all aspects of service delivery.
Valuing Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures – PCYC OSHC values Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures as a core part of the nation’s history, present and future.
The role of parents and families is respected and supported – PCYC OSHC believes parents and families are recognised as the child’s primary nurturers and teachers. They have both a right and a responsibility to be involved in decision making affecting their child. PCYC OSHC believes that respectful, collaborative relationships strengthen the capacity and efforts of parents and families and OSHC services to support their children and promote each child’s health and wellbeing.
High expectations for children, educators and service providers – PCYC OSHC believes that the best interests of children and their right to learn and develop in a safe and nurturing environment is the primary consideration in all decision making at the service and is visible in the actions, interactions and daily work with children.
The key to offering support to children is our belief in and our commitment to the value of the individual child.
Our Goals
We believe that satisfaction for both parents and children is paramount to conducting a great service. Our five service goals are:
- Children having a strong sense of identity– PCYC OSHC aims to assist children to demonstrate autonomy, inter-dependency , negotiating, problem solving and sharing behaviours by motivating and encouraging children to succeed when they are faced with challenges;
- Children being connected with and contributing to their world– PCYC OSHC demonstrates awareness of connections, similarities and differences between people and how to react in positive ways by encouraging children to listen to others and to respect diverse perspectives;
- Children having a strong sense of wellbeing – PCYC OSHC aims to assist children to show self-regulation and manage their emotions in ways that reflect the feelings and needs of others by showing care, understanding and respect for all children;
- Children being confident and involved learners – PCYC OSHC aims to assist children to use reflective thinking to consider why things happen and what can be learnt from these experiences by encouraging children to communicate their ideas and theories, collaborate with children, and model use of reasoning, language, and other skills; and
- Children being effective communicators – PCYC OSHC aims to teach children to convey and construct messages with purpose and confidence, including conflict resolution, by modelling language and encouraging children to express themselves in a range of contexts and for a range of purposes including leading and following directions.