Early Childhood Learning Environment

Our Environment

Our beautiful childcare centres are purpose built with environmental and sustainable design features sympathetic to the local community and surroundings. Aurrum Kids centres allow children to be active decision makers through natural play and learning both indoors and outdoors.

Our centres are designed as an ideal early childhood learning environment that provides children with spaces that are physically safe, sensory rich and emotionally nurturing, blending all facets to create an open-ended learning experience for children.

Our play based learning environment includes large, open indoor spaces that incorporate natural light and warmth, and outdoor spaces that make full use of exciting playground equipment and kitchen gardens. There’s plenty to keep even the most inquisitive child busy.

We understand that both indoor and outdoor learning environments are of irreplaceable importance to children. That’s why we prioritise providing children with a safe and healthy learning environment that encourages them to learn about the world through natural play.

Sustainability

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world”

— Archbishop Desmond Tutu —

At Aurrum Kids we are committed to sustainable practices. We are conscious of our footprint in the world and protecting our environment for generations to come. An important aspect of our early child learning environment is inspiring children to adopt an attitude of environmental responsibility and a respect for nature.

Each centre has its own greenhouse and kitchen garden. Part of our commitment to the environment is teaching children where food comes from and supporting them to take responsibility for caring for the food that they grow to eat. Encouraging children to create and enjoy nutritious meals forms a core part of providing an ideal early childhood learning environment.

Sustainable practices are embedded in our  daily routine and the resources we use. We ensure each child learns the importance of sustainability in their day to day life by setting them a strong example. Examples of how we practice sustainability at our centres are:

• Using recyclable materials and environmentally friendly products where possible
• Encouraging children to use half flush on the toilets instead of full flush
• Sensor taps at all our hand wash stations to limit water waste
• Encouraging children to recycle paper and rubbish within their rooms, at home and when in the wider community.
• Talking with the children about electricity, explaining how sensor lights work and encouraging them to turn off lights when they are not needed
• Educating children in the natural decomposition cycle through exposure and participation in worm farms and composting food scraps in our gardens
• Educating children and having them participate in ‘playground to plate’ activities i.e. seed sprouting, weeding, vegetable gardens and cooking amongst other activities.
• Educating children on caring for our environment, plants and our waterways e.g. recycling water etc.
• Role modelling practices that encourage sustainability
• Recycling water from water play into the gardens
• Emptying the children’s drinking bottles onto the garden rather than down the drain
• Asking families to bring in recyclable items to use for arts and craft, with stations for collection found in the entry of each centre

Community Connections

Fostering a community within Aurrum Kids is critical to the development of a happy and thriving environment. The development of wider connections in the community is part of our ethos. One of the most popular ways we interact with the wider community at Aurrum Kids is through our Grandfriends program, which both our children and the residents at Aged Care Homes benefit from deeply by building lasting, intergenerational friendships.

All items sourced are hand-picked at Aurrum Kids, choosing where possible to support socially conscious suppliers. We are very proud to work with some of the best local suppliers who care as much as we do about the impact they are having on the environment and the communities within it.

Jarmbie Coffee will be one of the first local products used across all Aurrum Kids centres. Richard Young’s coffee brand is a bold endeavour which aims to grow indigenously owned businesses within Australia and internationally. Working directly with traditional owner/grower cooperatives in Papua New Guinea and Peru the coffee is roasted in Victoria by Totem Drinks (a proud indigenous business). Proceeds from the sale of Jarmbie Coffee go towards supporting at risk young people through the Be Deadly Camp. This camp enables young people to have fun whilst learning  about the importance of self-worth planning for a positive future.

The responsibility of providing children with an exciting and safe environment in childcare is one we take seriously. To find out more about how our team helps children develop by encouraging interaction with their natural surroundings, enquire about our early learning centres in Victoria.