At Little Stars Early Learning Pakenham, they recognise the importance of quality early childhood education and care practices, acknowledging this as a priority in providing children with stimulating play experiences and learning environments that will positively enable all children to develop towards their full potential.
Joining the Achievement Program in February 2023, Little Stars Early Learning Pakenham aimed to reflect, implement, and improve the centre’s practices to provide a quality, safe, and welcoming environment for their children, staff, families, and community. With the help of the whole centre, Little Stars Early Learning Pakenham completed all six health priority areas. They’re continually reflecting on these, making necessary changes, and working on the climate and health pathway.
One of the biggest changes made in the centre is changing how staff dinners are served at their monthly meetings. The team now purchases ingredients and cooks a homemade dinner at meetings rather than buying takeaway. Cooking helps ensure staff serve food that’s nutritious and delicious. Little Stars has always been focused on providing healthy and nutritious meals for the children, with all their menus meeting the menu planning guidelines and approved by FoodChecker; however, with the help of the Achievement Program, this now includes staff.
The service has built much knowledge in the priority areas, particularly the Safe Environments priority area. Staff are now showing a huge amount of recognition of risky play and creating safe environments for children as they use these to play and explore. Maintenance and safety processes have improved, increasing knowledge and hazard identification in the service.
This service has reflected on its journey through the Achievement Program and would advise other services to view improvement recommendations as positive. Reflecting and amending is critical; it shows that you want a better environment for all.
The service has recently received feedback and reviews from their families, with one parent, Renee (F), sharing the following: “You know it’s been a childcare day when your child comes home grumpy, starving, unkempt, and exhausted, right? I have put two children through other centres and assumed this is normal everywhere. My youngest attends Little Stars and never comes home in this state.”
Congratulations to Little Stars Early Learning Pakenham on their work on the Achievement Program. If your service is looking for support with working through the Achievement Program, you can learn more or contact us.