Glen Education Aspendale North 

Creating safe spaces through our daily routines and relationships 

By Kay Lee, Early Childhood Teacher 

During Term 1, most children have become very familiar with our classroom routines and are following them with confidence. Daily routines help children feel safe, secure, and supported in their learning environment. This term, our educators are focusing on creating a culture where every child feels safe, supported, and valued. As we continue embedding child safety into our daily practices, children feel valued and protected within our community.

At pack-up and pick-up times, the children are taking responsibility for helping to tidy the indoor and outdoor environments. It has been wonderful to see many children independently putting away resources and caring for our shared learning spaces. Some of the older children are also supporting younger children by being positive role models—showing them where items belong and helping them pack away. This supports:

EYLF Outcome 1, as children develop a strong sense of identity through cooperation and responsibility.  

In our outdoor environment, children are also learning about safety through hands-on learning experiences. For example, the children help change the pole protection covers when needed, which helps them understand how we keep our learning spaces safe. Through this experience, they begin to recognise that everyone plays a role in creating a safe environment.

The monkey bar area is one of the most popular spaces in the outdoor environment. Here, children are learning to take turns, wait patiently, and look out for one another so that everyone can play safely and enjoy the equipment. Through these experiences, they begin to recognise that everyone plays a role in creating a safe environment. This supports:

EYLF Outcome 3, as children develop a strong sense of wellbeing while learning to manage risks and keep themselves and others safe.

Through these experiences, children build problem-solving skills, social connections, and confidence, while learning how to care for themselves and others in our community.

We look forward to continuing this journey together, supporting every child to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe and caring environment at Aspendale North Kindergarten.