Embedding our First Peoples’ culture and perspectives.
Fun fact: The words ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ are mentioned 70 times in Guide to National Quality Framework (ACECQA, 2025) and 82 times
A philosophy explains the values and beliefs around learning, educating and supporting the children we encounter in our work. It comes about through discussion, analysis and communication related to the context, location, service type, clientele, staff skills and interests, and other factors that make up your unique learning community. A philosophy is really a statement of best practice and ideals about quality and offers a broad foundation on which to build practice.
The philosophy underpins everything that happens in a service.
Does your philosophy currently tick the “boxes” according to what ACECQA (2025) asks of us?
Use this list as a form of review:
• Was it developed/reviewed by all stakeholders?
• Does it align with policy and procedural information of the service?
• Does it reflect the values of the service?
• Does it support and encourage inclusion and respect for diversity?
• Does it connect with the unique locality of the service?
• Is it communicated to families at orientation? And regularly through newsletters, conversations and documentation?
• Can educators articulate what the philosophy looks like in their everyday practice?
• How do you document/show evidence that is it reviewed regularly?
• Is the EYLF and beliefs about children’s learning evidenced within the document?
• How do you display the service philosophy? What visuals can you add to support engagement with it?
• Does it support continuous improvement ideals?
• How does it inform planning, curriculum decision making, continuous improvement and everyday practice?
“Space has to be a sort of aquarium that mirrors
the ideas, values, attitudes, and culture of the people who live within it”
(Malaguzzi, in Edwards, et al., 1998).
References:
Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority [ACECQA]. (2025). Guide to the National
Quality Framework. www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-01/Guide-to-the-NQF-250101.pdf
Malaguzzi, L. (1998). History, ideas, and basic philosophy: An interview with Lella Gandini. In C. Edwards,
L. Gandini, & G. Forman (Eds.) (2011). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia
Approach (pp. 49-97). Ablex Publishing Corporation.
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Fun fact: The words ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ are mentioned 70 times in Guide to National Quality Framework (ACECQA, 2025) and 82 times
Embedding the child’s voice into the way in which we support and are responsive to learning, development and growth in our environments has become increasingly