Uniting Dove Cottage Early Learning Bankstown recognised for Excellence

Date awarded 23/09/2016

Valid until 22/09/2019

Uniting Dove Cottage Early Learning Bankstown in Sydney’s west has been awarded the Excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.

ACECQA Chief Executive Officer Karen Curtis congratulated the service, the 11th in New South Wales to achieve the recognition, which is the highest rating a service can achieve under the National Quality Framework.

“It is clear that children’s thoughts, ideas and opinions are valued at the service, and they are given opportunities to have an active role in making decisions that affect them,” Ms Curtis said.

Educators view children as active citizens and as a result of a meeting with a senior NSW Government official, their thoughts and ideas about pollution have been included in the NSW Strategic Plan for Children and Young People.

Children at Uniting Dove Cottage were also included in the process to recruit a new cook by providing questions for applicants. Responses to these were shared, helping to quickly develop bonds. The service actively promotes early childhood education and care in its community. Its role as a lead member of a transition to school program, which worked to build capacity of families to support children moving into primary school, has been influential.

“Uniting Dove College has helped local Bankstown families in the transition process to school, which can often be difficult. This was in response to data showing that children in the area had a poor start to school compared to their counterparts in other NSW areas,” Ms Curtis added.

The philosophy of the service is reflected in a strong team of educators who are encouraged and supported to develop trusting relationships that provide a collaborative, happy and healthy environment. Staff from the service have also presented at a number of conferences and workshops and shared their learning by writing for sector publications.

“I congratulate Uniting Dove Cottage on this achievement which is recognition for their exceptional practices and the leadership they have shown within their sector,” Ms Curtis said.

Services that receive an overall rating of ‘Exceeding the National Quality Standard’ can apply for the Excellent rating.

More information is available on the ACECQA website and the Uniting Dove Cottage Early Learning Bankstown website.