Our Mission and Vision
Our Focus
Our 3 C’s
Our Mission and Vision
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Our Mission
Little Footprints constructs a foundational culture of independent and critical thinking in an environment where children freely embrace their natural curiosity, creativity and compassion through play.
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Our Vision
Little Footprints’ vision is to create an space where The Child, The Environment, and Play is what structures learning; Where children feel safe and confident to explore and inquire into their surroundings at their own pace, thus supporting independent and critical thinking.
Our Focus
The Child, The Environment, Play
The Child
The Child is our main focus at Little Footprints. They are seen as the ‘Second Teacher’, full of wonders, and eager to learn and discover. They know what they want to do, and don’t want to do. They know how to use their interests to guide them and their curiosity to seek answers. This is why we follow a learner-centered and inquiry-based programme. We do not have set themes for sessions/months as we want to approach the child on their level and follow their interests in order to allow for the most productive learning environment. We as "The Teacher", have a lot to learn from each unique child, and how best to guide their learning pathway. This starts with listening and observing The Child, and using their interests as a way to provide an environment that is captivating and ensures questioning and optimal learning.
The Environment
The Environment is thus another core focus and is seen as the ‘Third Teacher’, with an essential role in captivating interests and stimulating their curiosity. At Little Footprints, we embrace nature as a main component in contributing to the ‘Third Teacher’. It is God's gift to us, and everything we truly need comes from it. We strive to use and incorporate nature and natural objects into our day-to-day activities and spend as much time outside as the weather permits. Many wonders and discoveries stem from nature, and it is those wonders and discoveries which flow into Curiosity, Creativity and Compassion.
Play
Play is our third core focus. We see value in different educational approaches, and seek to bring aspects of the Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Steiner philosophies into our educational practice, creating something unique. One value that is at the forefront of all three philosophies is the importance of learning through PLAY. Play that is inquiry-based, learner centered, and allows for freedom of movement, autonomy and choice, ensuring the development and extension of children's natural behaviours of Curiosity, Creativity and Compassion.
Our 3 C’s
Curiousity
Children are naturally curious. They want to understand their surroundings, and at Little Footprints we aim to encourage their gaining understanding through critical and independent thinking. We encourage children to ask ‘WHY’, forming their own perceptions, developing independent, critical thinkers who will be active participants in their communities with the ability to understand and challenge universal norms in the future.
Creativity
We strive to encourage children to embrace their naturally creative minds. Children in the early years are not bound by societal norms and expectations. They are free in their thinking and ideas, and with that, we believe possibilities to be endless. Children should see the strength in originality and thinking freely, and to leave their early years knowing the true value of their unique creativity. In a technologically driven world where new ideas are key to success, we aim to develop children to be prepared for the future through supporting their “out the box” thinking.
Compassion
This forms part of the foundation of Little Footprints, as we believe that from this, everything else should flow. We believe that if a child is able to be compassionate from a young age and truly understand how their actions and behaviours can impact those around them and their environment, then their curiosity, creativity, and independent and critical thinking will truly flourish.