Glen Education Caulfield Primary
Cultural Identity & Cultural Responsiveness
Embracing Cultural Diversity
The team at Caulfield Primary Kindergarten are fortunate to engage with children and families from many different cultures and backgrounds. With a Japanese programme and dedicated language teachers, we are well versed in providing a warm and supportive environment which embraces the cultural backgrounds of all families.
The Importance of Culture in Early Learning
A child’s culture is central to their feelings of identity, belonging and sense of self. Cultural responsiveness means we accept and celebrate that children and families may have different backgrounds, values, beliefs, customs and social behaviours to each other and our own. When we demonstrate cultural responsiveness, we help all children and families to feel welcomed and supported in the Kindergarten environment.
“Educators who are culturally responsive respect multiple cultural ways of knowing, doing and being and celebrate the benefits of diversity.” (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, 2023)
Learning About Families from the Start
Developing awareness of cultural identity happens before the children begin Kindergarten. Our Getting to Know You form enables families to tell us about their culture through their languages, celebrations, important people in their lives and goals for their children. This information helps our team to learn about our families and begin to shape the environment in response to the diversity of cultures.
Reflecting Identity in Our Environment
Once children have started at Kindergarten, we endeavour to develop a sense of belonging and connection by having children recognise themselves in our environment. Examples include displaying family photos and sourcing books, play activities, puzzles and music which reflect our various cultural backgrounds. Educators will even attempt to learn specific words and phrases which will support children to feel safe and secure in our environment. Some of us are very multilingual!
Celebrating Cultural Identity
We have a strong focus on Japanese cultural identity at Caulfield Primary Kindergarten, and have celebrated in many different ways, including Japanese Children’s Day, making mochi (Japanese sweet snack) and exploring Japanese taiko drumming.
Examples of ways in which we have celebrated many other cultures include Harmony Day celebrations, Diwali and ANZAC Day experiences and inviting parents to share their language and culture through reading, songs and art.
Embedding First Nations Perspectives
Educators are also committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into their practice. On a daily basis we offer our Acknowledgement of Country in Japanese, and use the traditional Yorta Yorta lullaby Inanay to signal transitions between activities, as well as incorporating Indigenous culture through play experiences, books and puzzles.
To further our learning, we have enjoyed dance, music and storytelling incursions and we are currently liaising with the Early Years Unit of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association.
An Anti-Bias and Inclusive Approach
We are conscious of using an anti-bias approach in our programme, and strive to understand, respect and celebrate the differences between cultures and our families, creating an inclusive and positive environment. We reinforce these values through discussions, stories, books and songs, where children love to recognise themselves and their friends.
Continuing to Learn and Celebrate Together
The team at Caulfield Primary Kindergarten are curious to learn about and celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds of our children and families. This supports us to provide a respectful, inclusive and rich learning environment in which children feel safe, secure and a strong sense of belonging.