Kath Dickson Occasional Care Centre
At the Kath Dickson Occasional Care Centre we believe that all childre have the intrinsic right to a childhood full of joy. A childhood were children are supported by a community which respects their individual needs, and encourages curiosity, learning and play. A childhood full of natural wonder promoting an awareness, sensitivity and respect for the natural world.
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
7:30am to 6:00pm
About us
The Kath Dickson Occasional Care Centre is unique to the Toowoomba community, being the only centre to offer occasional care in a centre-based early childhood environment. We are a not for profit early childhood provider, and are a division of the Kath Dickson Family Centre.
We cater to families who require care on an hourly, casual or seasonal basis. Our families pay only for the care that they use.
We operate as a 44 place centre, we care for children from 6 weeks to school age.
There are three separate age groups;
Nursery - 6 weeks to 2 years
Toddler - 2 years to 3 years
Kindy - 3 years to 5 years
Our highly trained qualified staff all have several years experience working in the early childhood profession, and each hold a Positive Notice Blue Card.
Our Philosophy
All our interactions with children are underpinned by the colours Philosophy which is:
CONSTRUCTIVISM
The constructivist framework will encourage learners to think and explore. To achieve this learners must be given the time and opportunity to do so. COLOURS early childhood environments will be rich environments that guide children and their carers to become ‘critical thinkers’, thinkers who employ a hands-on, reflective ‘working in partnership’ approach whereby clear, meaningful and creative solutions are sought through thoughtful communications.
LIFE LONG LEARNING
Our aim is for children to participate in life-changing education that promotes and encourages learning beyond the classroom. Through the adoption of life skills such as problem solving, reflection, sensitive interactions, co-operation, relaxation, work and play the holistic child is nurtured to establish a responsive community member with a passion for learning.
REFLECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
We aim to promote and create an environment which supports respectful relationships between children, staff, families and community members. Children will be given time to make decisions, to choose materials, to accept challenges and to problem solve, to ask questions, and to carefully consider the social context of their own behaviours.
SENSORY SPACES
The Kath Dickson Occasional Care Centre provides a natural environment made up of sensory spaces. Children are introduced to living materials that promote reflective thinking and creative initiative within the ambience of an unhurried, uncluttered environment. Such environments promote opportunities to work alone or to work with others, to provide spaces for on-going play and work projects. We strive to create a home- like atmosphere with comfortable surroundings, Natural creative resources, appreciation of art, music, dance, and movement and beauty of nature.
Our Sustainable Garden Project
In 2007 the staff from Kath Dickson Occasional Care travelled to Brisbane to attend a conference at the Bond University.
All staff came away inspired and wanting to implement key elements from the conference into our program.
The major factor was the importance of educating our children on the environment. So with this in mind we decided to take up the sustainability challenge. Our aim was to support children to be social and environmental activists. The following steps are the beginning of a project that is now such an important part of our centre’s daily events.
STEP 1
We designed a vegetable garden that would be easy for the children to be actively involved in.
STEP 2
The children went on excursions to our local Bunnings purchasing the garden equipement. Within no time staff and children planted seedlings and so began “The Farmers Market” were children sold our natural produce!
STEP 3
Research began into our Worm Farm, which we quickly purchased and began to use . The children learnt what we needed to do to keep the worms alive.
STEP 4
MAINTANCE! Staff and children continue to work in the garden daily and the importance of sustainability continues to be a major topic of discussion at our centre. The project continues to grow as we became a chemical free centre, the addition of a compost, general recycling and the purchase of a tank.