Ngala Child Centred Approach

Ngala Early Learning and Development Centre’s philosophy is based around a child-centred approach, meaning the child’s needs and wishes are central to how they develop curriculum and care for the children. Entwistle (2012) likens the child to the sun in a child-centred approach, suggesting that education and practises should be organised to gravitate around the child like planets in the solar system rotating around the sun. The child is the centre of attention rather than attention being directed to a checklist of curriculum goals. My own philosophy takes a child-centred approach. Biology permitting, the average child will reach developmental milestones when they are biologically ready, however nurture, or environmental factors also impact on a child’s learning. By knowing the child holistically, how they learn, their interests and prior knowledge, an educator will be
The philosophy at Ngala is redone every year so that the content can be reviewed and added to so that it stays current and reflects the educators, families and community’s values and beliefs. The service’s philosophy guides all interactions that educators have with children at the centre. The Centre Director describes the philosophy as the centre’s bible. The educators do not do anything that does agree with the philosophy.
The Ngala philosophy values children, family and the community (Ngala, 2009). This semester has had a focus on early childhood development and I have learnt a great deal about how children develop language, communication skills and the importance of socialisation on this development. Babies are born learning. Through observations of facial expressions, gestures, listening to the language of their culture babies learn, they are “wired to connect to others” (Clinton, n.d., p. 2). My growing awareness of the importance of socialisation for development means that my philosophy also values not only the needs of