Our Currawong Early Childhood Service team loved beginning 2022 by welcoming new children and families into the Currawong community.

 Whenever a new child joins the services, the educators have in-depth conversations with their families to understand each child’s interests, needs and stage of development. This helps form important relationships not just with the families but also with the children, as the educators use their interests to bond with them and develop trust.

 The team understands that families can experience anxiety when sending their child to a new service, especially if it is their first time in an early learning service. To reduce this anxiety and support smooth transitions for families and children, the Currawong educators have been in frequent contact with the parents/guardians, including sending welcome letters using our online learning platform, OWNA, as well as regular emails and phone calls.

 To help children settle in, the Currawong team created a family photo tree in their foyer. This has created a sense of belonging and community for children and families, as children point to the photos of themselves or ‘introduce’ their friends to their parents.

 Next to the family photos, the team has displayed pictures of the educators. At the end of each day, the children are keen to share their daily activities with their parents/guardians and point to the photos of educators involved. This process is important in reconnecting with children after a day in our service, which is beneficial to both children and their families.