About Us
"Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be" - Rita Piersen
Philosophy
Just 4 Tots acknowledges that we play and learn on the lands of the Dharawal people, and we pay our respect to the elders past and present.
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Diversity and inclusion is at the core of Just 4 Tots and is reflective in our mission statement which is: “fun, play, love, learn and care for all”. The service aims to provide an environment that regardless of gender, culture, ability, or age every family and visitor is welcomed and feels safe and secure.
Just 4 Tots recognises that children are unique individuals that bring a variety of knowledge, ideas, beliefs, skills, abilities, and culture to the service. This allows children to be active participants in their learning environment. They are provided every opportunity to feel secure and supported to not only take control of their learning but are also encouraged to voice their thoughts and ideas, and their requests and opinions so they can guide educators to identify what they already know and what they would like to learn more about.
Our belief that children learn through play is seen through our program with a mix of child-led experiences that encourage children to ask questions about what interests them and teacher-initiated experiences to provoke children’s interests and wonder and extend their thinking and skills.
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Families are recognised as playing an important role in their child’s development and are involved and encouraged to participate in many activities and decisions at Just 4 Tots. The role of family input in critical decision making is valued and drawn upon to improve the quality care provided at Just 4 Tots through open communication and feedback.
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​The Just 4 Tots environment encourages learning through play and exploration. It is organised in such a way that children are given a wide variety of spaces to play that include opportunities to play with friends and spend time in quiet, independent play. The environment promotes independence not only in providing choice, but also encourages children to independently care for their environment.
Sustainability is about empowering children and investing in their future from recycling, conserving water and re-using products. Just 4 Tots promotes the awareness of our environmental responsibilities by recognising that learning about caring for our environment starts with everyday practice. Through caring for our learning environment’s resources, children are introduced to ways that they can make a difference to their world. As children develop environmental awareness, they begin to reason why practices are needed and to understand the impact that their actions have on the planet. This understanding is further developed by promoting sustainable practices through educating and working with the children, families, and wider community.
Just 4 Tots is committed to fostering a rich and inclusive learning environment that reflects the diversity and cultural heritage of Australia, particularly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We intentionally integrate elements of Aboriginal culture, embedding symbols, artwork, and artifacts across various areas to provide children with authentic and engaging opportunities to explore and appreciate Indigenous perspectives. We aim to create a seamless and immersive experience for all children. We understand the importance of celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures regularly. We incorporate meaningful cultural activities and discussions into our daily routines, ensuring that children of all ages have regular exposure to diverse perspectives. By fostering a sense of respect and understanding from a young age, we believe we are sowing the seeds for a more inclusive and culturally aware future for our children.
Community events and participation is an integral part of our service. The children are given many opportunities to not only welcome the community into the service but also interact with the community outside of Just 4 Tots through our weekly playgroup, visits to other educators and excursions that encourage learning and socialisation. We encourage children to learn the value of "giving back" to the community through several initiatives with local charities and our wider community.
Practices at Just 4 Tots are based on both scheme policies and government regulations and frameworks. The National Quality Framework is implemented across all aspects of the service. Just 4 Tots is committed to regular critical reflection on our practices to ensure that the highest level of quality care is provided. Just 4 Tots is committed to the Child Safe Standards which allows the opportunity to take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety. By remaining sensitive and responsive to the needs of children and families, Just 4 Tots fosters a culture of trust and understanding which ensures each child feels nurtured and supported to safely disclose any risk or perceived risk of harm. By providing supervision, safety checks and implementing regulatory requirements Just 4 Tots ensures the physical environment is as safe as practicable while continuing to allow for the risk-taking required for children to thrive and develop to their full potential.​
Reflection takes many forms. Just 4 Tots participates in regular professional development sessions to ensure that knowledge and skills reflect the latest research and development. It involves collaborating with scheme management and staff and fellow educators to discover new ways of thinking, teaching approaches, and continually improving the quality of care provided to children and families.
Child development theorists have played a major role in directing early childhood research and development. At Just 4 Tots we use a variety of theorist approaches in our practices – for example Malaguzzi, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner, and others. These theories help us to recognise the importance of our learning environment, our teaching approaches and how the people and systems around our children affect their learning.
Your Educator
Nadia's career in early childhood education began in 2004 in Family Day Care. Since then she has completed her early childhood teaching degree and a graduate certificate in special education. Her life experience includes her greatest achievement being her four children. It is this life experience that allows her to connect with families as they journey together through parenthood. In addition to Family Day Care, Nadia has also worked in long day care settings for just over 2 years, gaining a broader range of knowledge and expertise. Nadia draws on and puts these experiences into practice to ensure that your children are given the best possible start to their learning.
​Apart from experience and education, Nadia has a tremendous love for children and places a high standard on learning. She enjoys being with them, celebrating their discoveries and achievements, laughing and learning with them. In 2018, Nadia was awarded State Winner, Educator of the Year in the Australian Family Early Education and Care Awards and has been named Regional Winner for the South West/M5 Corridor in the Family Day Care Educator of the Year Awards for 2013 and 2014. (She has been nominated in this same awards every year since 2016)