About us
Little Sunshine Long Day Care is a privately owned establishment that has been providing long day care and preschool services since March 2014. We cater to children aged from 8 weeks to 6 years, with a maximum capacity of 27 children per day.
Our services are offered throughout the year, excluding public holidays. We operate Monday to Friday, from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm. As a family-run business, we take pride in creating a nurturing environment that feels like a home away from home for your child. We collaborate with the local community to deliver high-quality early learning and childcare services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Our primary objective is to nurture and care for children while ensuring a consistent, healthy, safe, and secure environment.
Our goals & beliefs
The center places a high value on children's curiosity and their desire for knowledge. We operate in a mixed-age group environment where children of all ages can engage, play, and learn collaboratively.
We recognize the significant role that Little Sunshine fulfills in the nurturing and education of the children entrusted to our care. Through our commitment to staff development, we foster loving relationships grounded in trust and security. The well-being of your children is our foremost priority, and we are dedicated to addressing their needs.
Our objective is to create an environment conducive to the growth and development of children, allowing them to reach their full potential. Additionally, children cultivate independence by guiding their own learning through play, as well as by collaborating and sharing ideas, resources and space with their peers. Play serves as the primary means through which young children acquire knowledge. We provide a variety of engaging, challenging, and developmentally appropriate play experiences each day to facilitate the acquisition of essential skills.
For all parents, we strive to offer a flexible environment that accommodates your needs. Our operating hours are structured to ensure that you can fulfill your work obligations, with the assurance that your children are safe and secure in our care.
OUR DIRECTOR
Hello my name is Shama Baig.
With over twenty years of experience in child care, my commitment to delivering education and care to young children in a nurturing and stimulating environment has never been stronger.
As the head educator at Little Sunshine Day Care, I have established a secure, supportive, and effective framework that fosters the development of our young clients during their pre-educational stage, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the emotional, social and intellectual challenges they will encounter in the future.
The opportunity for your children to engage in a comprehensive early development program is central to my professional ethos, as I firmly believe that their capacity to navigate future challenges is significantly influenced by the quality of care, attention and support provided by their caregivers.
My professional journey includes extensive industry experience, complemented by a Diploma in Community Services, a Diploma in Centre-Based Services, and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Education and Care from the University of New England. My pursuit of further education has intensified, as I am currently enrolled in a Master’s program in Early Education and Care.
Additionally, I am enhancing my qualifications through a Certificate Course with ASPECTS (Positive Partnership) to deepen my understanding of working with children on the autism spectrum.
Our Environment
Little Sunshine Long Day Care offers a supportive and engaging environment for children. Our objective is to foster curiosity, exploration, discovery, and critical thinking, mirroring the developmental journey of each child.
The resources we provide are carefully chosen to enhance children's learning, interests, and abilities. They encompass a diverse range, designed to challenge and inspire your child, irrespective of their age or skill level.
Our Educators
Every staff member at Little Sunshine Long Day Care is thoroughly trained to provide the high-quality care that your child deserves. We also prioritize hiring individuals who possess a sincere affection for children.
It is essential that our employees not only have the skills to care for children but also a genuine desire to nurture them. The Little Sunshine team is dedicated to fostering and supporting the development of every child entrusted to us. For our educators at Little Sunshine, this role transcends mere employment; it is a significant responsibility and an honor to be part of this profession.
Our Curriculum
The philosophy of our room aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which we incorporate into our daily interactions with the children and our programming.
The EYLF consists of five Learning Outcomes that constitute its framework:
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Children have a strong sense of identity.
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Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
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Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
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Children are confident and involved learners.
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Children are effective communicators.
Our objective is to enhance the educational experience of children and positively influence their future lives in collaboration with their families. For preschool-aged children, we have developed a curriculum tailored to facilitate learning through hands-on experiences. Our aim is to ensure that children feel confident as they transition into kindergarten, equipping them with the essential skills needed for this next step. Through engaging play activities and experiences, they will be introduced to various concepts, becoming acquainted with academic ideas in a manner that is suitable for their developmental stage. These foundational skills will serve as the basis for all subsequent academic achievements.
Sustainability is important to us!
As child care facilities adopt a more comprehensive perspective on the environment, it becomes essential for children to develop an understanding and appreciation of practices that promote sustainability.
In response to this need, Little Sunshine Day Care has integrated sustainability practices into its internal policies and code of conduct, encouraging both staff and young clients to actively participate in fostering a safer and cleaner world.
While many still perceive "sustainability" as a set of public policies necessitating significant lifestyle changes to address the strain on the natural world caused by excessive industrial activity, we contend that younger children benefit from a simplified curriculum that frames environmentally-friendly activities as enjoyable and recreational.
These activities encompass gardening, composting, and the maintenance of worm farms, alongside discussions about the significance of recycling, the consequences of littering, and the effects of air quality and pollution. Such initiatives have proven effective in laying the groundwork for a deeper understanding of how they can help mitigate potential environmental harm.
Little Sunshine Day Care places a high priority on its environmental initiatives, rigorously adhering to Quality Area 3 of the National Quality Standards as part of its best practices. This commitment not only reflects our organizational policy but also underscores our belief that sustainability is a vital journey in children's early development, preparing them for future roles as stewards of the environment.