APAC Insider- Australian Enterprise Awards 2024 | 36 Family-owned and -operated Happy Hippo Kindergarten and Childcare specialises in providing top quality early education services to children in three diverse and vibrant communities in and around the Melbourne area, namely Annadale, Brunswick, and Lovely Banks, with a centre in each. While it also offers fantastic care for babies, toddlers, and pre-kinder children, its kinder programme serves as the standout of this all-round exemplary curriculum. Through this offering, children between the ages of three and five are introduced to a syllabus that focuses on their development and shaping the bright future that they have ahead of them. We speak to Belle Spillman in order to find out more. Sound in the knowledge that development in the early years of a child’s life is crucial for their success later on, the kinder programme delivered by Happy Hippo has been meticulously crafted so as to provide a stimulating, enriching, and nurturing learning environment that revolves around personal development, particularly the areas of cognitive, emotional, and social skills. Available at all three of Happy Hippo’s centres, this exceptional kinder programme helps learning to flourish through an array of opportunities. As Belle tells us, these include, “engaging activities that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and pre-literacy [/] pre-numeracy skills, which help build a solid academic foundation.” On hand to deliver these sessions are a team of dedicated teachers, all of whom are wholly passionate about supporting young minds and working closely with the parents of these children so as to offer a well-rounded and impactful learning experience that exceeds just the classroom environment. Commenting on this, Belle explains, “we believe in fostering independence in learning and the development of self-help skills, which help children become more confident and self-reliant.” Such independence is brought about through the process of challenging and engaging the child, ensuring that not only are they ready for school, but that they are incredibly excited about going. This is just one of the many benefits of this kindergarten programme, with another such advantage being that it has been carefully designed so as to complement the long daycare offering also provided, so that children from working families can also have access to the content of these sessions the year before they have to start school. Along with teaching such skills as cooking, gardening, sports, and music; a big part of a child’s development stems from the weekly visits out-and-about to both the city and the beach, allowing the children to interact with the world beyond just their home or the classroom, setting them up for a life of adventure and exploration in this beautiful country. Over the past several years, Australia as a whole has come to approach the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in a new light, with people beginning to take notice of the vital role that these cultures played in the history of the country and developing the land into what it is today. On the back of this, Belle tells us, “[we] encourage children to connect with their country meaningfully. […] That’s why we have developed our Reconciliation Action Plan, which outlines our dedication to continually improving our knowledge, awareness, and teaching practices regarding recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their significance as the first landowners of Australia.” These shifts have also had a profound impact on the country’s culture as a whole, with an increasing number of Australian citizens pushing for a more inclusive society. Something that the team at Happy Hippo are more than willing to oblige, they strive to do this every day, all while managing the industry swings towards tighter governance and increased regulations when it comes to creating safe, healthy learning environments for children. Commenting on this, Belle tells us, “at Happy Hippo Kindergarten and Childcare, we take these commitments seriously. […] We aim to create a child-safe organisation where all families, regardless of gender, race, or ability, feel welcome, included, and have a strong sense of belonging.” Belle is passionate about all children being afforded the highest quality of education and care, in an environment where they feel safe and supported at every turn. In order to make sure that this is achieved, every member of the teaching team is wholeheartedly committed to improvement and an ongoing process of critical reflection. Primarily, this is achieved through attempting to think in new and creative ways, challenging the industry norm in order to provide as pioneering and impactful a teaching strategy as possible. As Belle explains, “this approach ensures that we can provide the best possible outcomes for all children and help them reach their full potential.” In addition to this, Happy Hippo prioritises training that covers the essential areas of food safety, sun protection, mandatory reporting, first aid, and other general training that aligns with the National Quality Framework that the business subscribes to. Moreover, the management team share this dedication, ensuring that a positive internal culture is in place whereby the favoured holistic teaching approach can be employed across the board. Belle nicely summarises, “our team members are driven by their passion for learning and development in the early years, and their unwavering commitment is the foundation of our success.” Leveraging the National Quality Framework, this commitment has naturally evolved to cover the recruitment process, and this is something that the team today take great pride in. Aside from the formal qualifications and industry experience, the business’ onboarding process is second to none, with a number of opportunities for professional development and an array of reviews happening over the course of the year to guarantee that employees are both happy in their jobs and able to perform to the very best of their ability. Accountability is key, and it is the role of educators to take charge in fostering an authentic, unique, and positive working environment that ultimately lends to the distinction of the overall organisation. Commenting on what the future has in store for Happy Hippo Kindergarten and Childcare, Belle tells us, “we remain dedicated to continuous improvement in all aspects of Early Childhood School Readiness Program Provider of the Year 2024 Jan24719
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