Jindi Kindergarten And Extended Care Mernda

At Goodstart Early Learning, we have a unique approach to the way we work, which is based on our Goodstart Practice Guide (the Guide) and its ISTEP framework.
        
The Guide brings together the latest international research evidence of what works best for children and guides what our educators do in their everyday professional practice. It was written with an understanding of Australia's unique context and is underpinned by relevant state and national regulations and frameworks, such as Australia's Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards (NQS).
                    
Every educator in every centre in our network has a copy of the Guide, although the way in each implements the practices and applies the ISTEP framework, will be unique to their local context, and the children and families in their centre.
                    
The Guide recognises the importance of play, as the research evidence consistently shows that children learn best through play-based learning programs which allow children to explore new ideas and test emerging skills. Play can expand children's thinking and enhance their desire to know and learn.
                    
In Goodstart centres, our goal is for your child to feel safe and secure, to have fun and to develop the social-emotional, thinking, language, and physical skills that will set them up for success in school and in life.
                    
Our evidence-informed learning environments build on children's curiosity, growing abilities, and their inclination to engage with each other and the world around them.
                    
Our educators plan and observe their daily practices through (and you will hear them talk about) our ISTEP framework. There are five components to ISTEP:
                    
            1. Interactions and relationships
            2. Space, resources and materials
            3. Time, routines and rituals
            4. Experiences for learning
            5. Planning, documentation and evaluation