How it all started and our motto!!
Little Darlings was my dream and together my sister and I made it a reality!! With her business background and my knowledge in teaching and early childhood education we began Little Darlings.
I have completed my Degree in Bachelor of Teaching - birth to 8 years as well as a Diploma in Child Care. As well as this I am constantly expanding my knowledge through seminars and workshops as I believe there is always room for improvement.
My sister has a Degree in Business and has successfully run and started several businesses of her own and now all our effort and passion is in our family business Little Darlings.
My sister and I started out on this venture with our father in trying to find the right property and location as we are a close family and believe very highly in helping each other.
Our mother Mary Mitropoulos is also part of the centre by taking control of the cooking and ensuring all our Little Darlings eat only the best. My mum believes in home cooked meals so there is nothing processed at Little Darlings Child Care Centre.
As a family each having our specific roles to do we opened Little Darlings Child Care Centre on 19 May 2003. In May 2006 we expanded our dream and began Little Darlings II.
OUR MOTTO
CARE RESPECT EDUCATION AN EXTENSION OF THE HOME
I believe success and achieving goals is easy if you have a passion for what it is you believe in!
Little Darlings is our passion and therefore we provide a high standard of care and education in the children entrusted in us and nothing less.
Little Darlings Child Care Centre can be summarised by our motto CARE RESPECT EDUCATION AN EXTENSION OF THE HOME.
We put this motto into practise in our new, clean, warm and professional environment with quality staff that work to the highest standard.
To view our aims, statement, philosophy and structure please click on the links below.
PHILOSOPHY Reviewed annually
At Little Darlings Child Care Centre we believe in providing children with the highest quality of care allowing each and every child to reach their fullest potential, by enhancing all areas of growth and development, in a warm caring and home like environment.
We strive to do this through providing a highly positive environment where all members such as staff, children, families etc are made to feel welcome and are considered to share an important place within the centre regardless of gender, race, culture or religious belief.
Staff are encouraged to work as a team supporting each other with open communication, motivation and acquiring new skills through workshops / inservices. The experience gained will benefit children within their care.
Staff interactions with children aim to give high praise of efforts, encouragement to help develop children’s self confidence, self-esteem and independence.
We at Little Darlings Child Care Centre recognise children as unique individuals and aim to enhance all areas of development. Staff will therefore provide an individualised programme, which caters for children according to their age and stage of development.
The programme offers choice as well as a balance of structured / unstructured activities, outdoor / indoor experiences, quiet /noisy, music play, story time, multicultural, drama play and the list goes on. The programme promotes play as this emphasises learning through a process of exploring, problem solving, social interaction, role play, communicating, and most important listening to children which enables children to enhance skills I n areas such as their language, self help, cognitive, social interaction and fine / gross motor skills.
A reliable routine is put in place, which is provided in a home like environment that meets each and every child’s needs. Children will warm to a consistent and familiar service making them feel secure.
The development of strong relationships between staff and parents as well as parent involvement within the centre, maintains a high quality of care within the service. This enables children’s needs to be met more effectively, through the exchange of information about the child. This strong relationship between parents and staff facilitates teamwork and open communication which maintains consistent care from the home environment to the centre environment. The children feel safe and secure because of this.
Parents are encouraged to be involved within the centre in ways they feel comfortable. Whether it be taking part in the routine i.e. cooking a multicultural meal with the children or simply providing materials for art and craft.
Parents will be kept up to date and informed of their child’s day, centres policies and procedures or any changes regularly through meetings, newsletters and notice boards. The centres policies will be displayed for the parents view.
