Our Philosophy
Origin – The team at Banyan Tree is led by our founding director Ms. Sonika Kohli, an experienced childcare professional. She is dedicated to building the ideal environment for young children as her key focus.
Mission – Our team of caring and trained professionals endeavour to create a safe and nurturing environment for every child at BTELC, to promote healthy habits and expand their inquisitive minds through focussed care. We recognise the importance of the early years of childhood and will do our best to help your child spend these years learning, through our reliable staff and innovative resources that foster a robust foundation within them, ensuring that they become confident through their engagement in their learning journeys.
Vision – We aspire to be the trusted child care provider of choice, in the diverse communities we serve. Our vision is to ensure children develop an understanding of themselves, peers, and their surroundings through promoting inclusivity, security, trust, and confidence. We believe safety is paramount in ensuring that children experience and learn valuable life skills, attain their full potential and perceive our service as a second home.
Children’s learning – Our educational program is based on the ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework’: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/national-law-regulations/approved-learning-frameworks
We incorporate play-based learning as a valuable tool/instrument in allowing children to express themselves vocally and physically and mould their curious young minds to absorb and reflect upon their experiences.
We recognize the curious learner that lies in each child and stimulate them through fun, individual and group learning experiences tailored to each child’s unique needs and talents. This provides opportunities for them to experiment, create, discover, explore, investigate, practice, problem solve, make decisions, express themselves, take on calculated risks and practice the skills they acquire.
To facilitate independence, autonomy and self-esteem within our children, we adopt active listening to learn about each child’s persona, current lifestyle and desired path. We then adapt our initiatives and experiences to provide specific growth journeys, with periodic reflections and assessments to ensure children progress towards their desirable destination.
Through our implementation of the Munch & Move program, we enhance children’s balance, flexibility, fine and gross motor skills, fitness level and body awareness.
Families and Community – We acknowledge the Darug people as the traditional owners of the land which we stand on. We also pay our respects to Elders both past and present and preserve a commitment towards nurturing First Nation’s children, who are the Elders of our future.
We value multiculturalism and welcome all heritages, cultures and religions in our diverse community. Parents’ input is invaluable as they become our extended family and community for our children, with a lively, playful and secure atmosphere. We perceive this collaboration as essential in positively shaping children’s experiences and outcomes; integrating unique values and behaviours that different families and cultures may wish to impart to their children.
We also offer various learning activities (reading sessions, chess, drawing, colouring, movies, trivia for children, hop-scotch, sewing, dance, face painting, open days for new children) that promote synergy between different families and their children, to help develop our ‘Banyan Tree’ community. These activities not only strengthen relationships but also acquire novel ideas from families to develop the centre and implement relevant activities and experiences for the benefit of all children.
Ongoing communication and feedback are a critical asset in supporting children’s development. This process encompasses informal and formal communications as listed below:
- Informal communications- during pick up and drop off routines; and phone calls
- Formal communications- emails; daily journals; communication books; daily communication charts, newsletters, observations via the digital platform; children’s learning and developmental journeys via mid-year and end of the year parent-teacher interviews.
- Parents are also invited to arrange interviews at their convenience with our educators, staff or management with survey forms being provided to the parents prior to the interview.
Staff – Our passionate, experienced and qualified staff members are committed to continuous learning and professional development. We synergize our effective resources and teaching styles to cultivate appropriate opportunities and facilitate effective theme-based learning experiences for all children at our service.
We support and respect our children, their families and our employees, promoting a safe environment for all. Our service embeds the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. We ensure all employees adhere to our Code of Conduct.
We take all relevant measures to protect children from any abuse, harm and neglect whilst promoting their sense of security and belonging. We understand our responsibility and are obliged by our statutory duty of care.
Our educators, staff, students and volunteers are mandatory reporters as required by law under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection Act 1998). We maintain currency through regular training on child protection law and the Child Safe Standards.
Environmental Sustainability – Through implementing sustainable practices within our learning environment, we encourage children to develop love, respect and appreciation for the natural environment. This fosters a positive and proactive attitude towards safeguarding the environment and acting sustainably. We encourage our children to reduce, reuse and recycle within and outside of our centre.
We model environmental sustainability by using renewable energy sources, such as, Solar Panels; reducing water usage through auto stop taps, half flushes, a rainwater tank for gardening; buying equipment and resources produced responsibly with environmentally friendly materials.
About Us
A long day care that exudes a sense of family, a sense of home and is a place that your child looks forward to spend time at – if that sounds like a place your child, your family would love, then look no further.
Banyan Tree is your ideal learning centre that will make your child feel at home from day 1, and carefully nudge and guide them towards self-development in a fun filled environment.