Our Mission
The Mission of Mary Rice Early Learning Centre is to provide excellence in early childhood education and care for all children, in partnership with families.
Our method of learning and care focuses on partnership, independence, mutual trust and respect. It places importance on both individual achievement and collaboration, while developing the minds and hearts of all.
Mary Rice Early Learning Centre is a play based Early Learning and we believe that every child has the right to play.
” Play is at the centre of every child’s life. It is recognised as a right by Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and is essential to children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
Early Childhood Australia’s Statement on Play Page 8”
“Parents are viewed as partners, collaborators and advocates for their children’s learning.”
An Early Learning Centre in the Edmund Rice Tradition:
Mary Rice Early Learning Centre aims to be an authentic community in the Edmund Rice Tradition, which promotes excellence in learning and care. Our vision is built around our desire to help care, educate and provide children with the foundations to become independent, confident and resilient young people in preparation for their journey ahead.
We aspire to be faithful to the four Touchstones of the EREA Charter. We focus on the Gospel values of respect, compassion, and the fostering of wellbeing and confidence in every child, which in turn supports their spiritual development.
We aim to develop trusting, respectful relationships with all members of the community, so they feel a genuine connection and sense of belonging.
We aspire to excellence by being the best we can in everything we do for all children, families, staff and the community.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we live and work on, The Turrbal People, and aim to respectfully incorporate elements of the First Nations culture into our curriculum and learning environments.
We acknowledge that we live in a culturally diverse nation, and we will strive to provide and environment which demonstrates respect to each child, each family and each educator’s rich culture, traditions and backgrounds, and provide an inclusive environment for all. This will be achieved by offering and providing experiences and a learning environment that holds a strong link to the diverse world in which we live, to give children an opportunity to contribute and connect to their world.
Come and see what’s on offer – it’s like nowhere else!
Mary Rice Early Learning Centre is a special place where children are respected, play is valued, and community is key.
