Gulbiyaay!
Welcome to Winanga-Li Early Learning & Care Service

Our Philosophy

Our Children

Children have a safe and nurturing environment to play, be confident enough to take risks, take on new challenges and explore their capabilities which allows them the ability to learn and grow. We value and celebrate the individual personalities, abilities and backgrounds of every child at our service. We support each child to reach their full potential both during their time at our service and into the future.

Our Families

It is vital to build trusting and respectful relationships with our families from the beginning. We recognise that families are children’s first educators and aim to always communicate in a free and open way to work in partnership with families. Our educators are not only here for the benefits of the children but also for their family.

Our Educators

We take pride in providing a welcoming, safe and culturally sensitive environment for our children, families and our community. We work as a team to emphasise respect, support, collaboration and professionalism to provide high quality education and care. Our educators are committed to ongoing professional development and recognises that every day presents a new learning experience for us as professionals. Winanga-Li Early Learning and Care educators each have different strengths and we all strive for the same outcome of creating strong children and families.


Jessica Small Director	Deanne Kelly Administration Officer

Our Nuturing

We believe that children need nurturing in mind, spirit and body. Our educators are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment. We adapt our approach to the individual needs of children, including special diets and care.


Christine Dorrington Cook	Sonia Cameron Lunch covers

Our Community

Winanga-Li is a place for our whole community. We aim to strengthen our community by providing education and support for children and families whilst recognising, respecting and accepting differences in people. We embrace and value diversity of culture, backgrounds, disabilities and family structures. The children at our service belong to their family, the Winanga-Li family and the Gunnedah community which is why Winanga-Li endeavours to advocate on behalf of our children, families and the Indigenous community. Our advocacy will ensure that Indigenous views and concerns are heard and acknowledged.

Our Services

Our service caters for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. We are open from 6.30am – 6.30pm (Preschool hours 8.30am – 4.30pm), Monday to Friday 49 weeks of the year and closed on NSW public holidays.
Notice will be given in OWNA when these days occur.

Gaayli Room - 6 weeks to 2 years

Excursions:
Our children love getting involved in their community. There are constant excursions happening throughout the year to places of culture, interests, celebrations or invitations from the community. We visit places like Wallaby Track, Police/Fire/Ambulance stations, Nursing home, other childcare centres and many more.

All parents/Carers are welcome to attend excursions and/or volunteer to help out, we also encourage parent/carers input for ideas on excursions. Please don't hesitate to talk to us in regards to excursions.

Language:
Each month our Gaayli room focuses on specific learning modules around our Gamilaraay Language. This includes animals, numbers, colours, letters, words etc. This is complimented by pictures so children have visuals to learn with the language along with cultural symbols being used in our everyday routine.

We are currently working on 'We are one' in language across the whole centre which our children are learning quite quickly.

Rest Time:
As per Winanga-Li Early Learning and Care Policies and Procedures & the NSW National Regulations, all children are required to have at least 15minutes rest time. The Gaayli children are given either a bed or a cot (parent/child preference) with sheets labelled just for them, these sheets are washed weekly at the Centre. The children must rest for 15minutes, during this time the children are not made to sleep just rest. After the 15minutes, the children who are not asleep are able to have quiet table top activities set up for them to do until Afternoon tea time.

Please note, if your child falls asleep during this time we are not permitted to wake your child.

Developmental Milestones:
Each month across the Long Day Care rooms we focus on the 5 Developmental Milestones, Emotional, Social, Physical, Cognitive and Language. We complete checklists which then turn into observations and we are able identify areas needing support for each individual child to be able to achieve the milestone. If you have any particular skill you would like our educators to work on, please just come in and have a chat, we would love the new ideas.

What does your child need to bring for the Gaayli Room?
In the Gaayli room your child will need at least 5 nappies for the day unless toilet training, in that case we would like to encourage parents to bring children in 'pull up' nappies so we can begin to prepare them to wear undies. Your child will need at least 2 to 3 sets of spare LABELLED change of clothes in case of accidents. If your child requires a bottle, it must be LABELLED, cows milk is provided but if your child requires formula, you will need to provide this. Any sort of comforter that your child needs/requires for rest, please make sure this item is LABELLED.


Lisa Silver
Room leader

Danielle Turner
Educator

Maliyaa Room - 2 to 3 years

Excursions:
Our children love getting involved in their community. There are excursions throughout the year to places of culture significance, celebrations or invitations from the community. We visit places including:

Wallaby Trap
Police, Fire and Ambulance stations
Nursing homes
Childcare centres and preschools
Community events

All parents and carers are welcome to attend excursions. We also encourage input for ideas on excursions.

Language:
Each month our Maliyaa room focuses on specific learning modules around our Gamilaraay Language. This includes animals, numbers, colours, letters, words etc. This is complimented by pictures so children have visuals to learn with the language along with cultural symbols being used in our everyday routine. We are currently working on “We are one” in language across the whole centre which our children are learning quite quickly.

Rest Time:
All children have at least fifteen minutes rest time. The children have quiet table top activities after their rest. If your child falls asleep during this time we are not permitted to wake your child.

Developmental Milestones:
Each month across the Long Day Care rooms we focus on the Five Developmental Milestones:

Emotional
Social
Physical
Cognitive
Language.

We complete checklists based on observations and we are able identify areas needing support for each individual child to be able to achieve the milestone.

Rachel Rose

Room leader

Jordan Phillips

Educator

Dhiiyaan Room - 3 to 5 years

Excursions:
Our children love getting involved in their community. Excursions happening throughout the year to places of cultural significance, celebrations or invitations from the community. We visit places including:

Wallaby Trap
Police, Fire and Ambulance stations,
Nursing homes,
Childcare centres
Community events, and many more.

All parents and carers are welcome to attend excursions and we encourage parent and carers input for ideas on excursions.

Language:
In the Dhiiyaan room, Gamilaraay language is implemented through yarning time, craft, stories and the Winanga-Li Word of the Week videos. Each month our Dhiiyaan room focuses on specific learning modules around our Gamilaraay Language. This includes animals, numbers, colours, letters and words.

Rest Time:
All children have at least fifteen minutes of rest time. The children then have have quiet table top activities set up for them. If your child falls asleep during this time we are not permitted to wake your child.

Developmental Milestones:
We focus on the 5 Developmental Milestones of emotional, social, physical, cognitive and language. We complete checklists based on observations and we are able to identify areas needing support for each individual child to be able to achieve the milestone. Our Dhiiyaan room introduces school readiness activities to help further support the children going to school.

Tara Small

Room leader

Rowena Tunningley

Educator

Brooke Pringle

Educator

Insert Row Before

Dhirrabaa Burraburra

Excursions:
The Preschool have planned fortnightly excursions to the Gunnedah Library where they have the opportunity to sit in the Library and read books, do a craft experience and spend time with the beautiful ladies at the Library. Excursions happen throughout the year to places of culture, interest, celebrations or invitations from the community. We visit places like Wallaby Track, emergency services stations, nursing homes,
other childcare centres and many more. All parents and carers are welcome to attend excursions, we also encourage parent/carers input for ideas on excursions.

Language:
Each month our Preschool room focuses on specific learning modules around our Gamilaraay Language. This includes animals, numbers, colours and letters. This is complemented by pictures so children have visual prompts to learn with the language, along with cultural symbols being used in our everyday routine. Our Preschool room are often invited to do a language performance or do Welcome to Country, and we
are always honoured and love sharing our language and dancing skills.

Rest Time:
All children are have at least fifteen minutes rest time. After fifteen minutes the children who do not wish to continue resting are offered quiet play activites. If your child falls asleep during this time we are not permitted to wake your child.

School Readiness:
Our aim is to prepare the children for school. We are focusing on building skills that will give every child the best start. These include:

daily living skills such as washing hands & toileting, to supporting the development of
social interaction skills
number writing and recognition,
letter writing and recognition, name writing and recognition.

If you have any particular skill you would like our educators to work on, please just come in and have a chat, we love to hear new ideas!

Ashleigh Phillips

Educational leader, Room leader

Additional educators

Vickie Starke

Lahni Griffiths

Playgroups

Gunnedah, Narrabri and Wee Waa

Supported playgroups provide family support and target Aboriginal and vulnerable families within each community who may benefit from additional parenting support. The playgroups at Winanga-Li have a common goal which is to to enhance children’s learning and parental wellbeing. They are effective supports for engaging and working with children and families who might not access a community playgroups.

Transition to School Program

The Transition to School program is built around 4 key areas:

Stronger Families

Activities families can try at home to support their child’s transition to school
Strategies for coping with challenging behaviour
Ideas for healthy school lunches
The confidence to contribute to the school community

Stronger Children

Self-help skills
Independence and resilience
Early literacy and numeracy skills
An understanding of school routines

Stronger Schools

Encouraging Indigenous families and their children to attend the school’s Transition to School Program
Establish a positive relationship between indigenous children, their families and key support people within the school environment
To support each school to better understand the needs of Indigenous children and their families.

Stronger Communities

Strong connections between early education and care services, support services, families and local schools
Transition strategies that are responsive, flexible, respectful and welcoming
A positive transition from home to school for Indigenous children

The program focuses on working together collaboratively with schools, Early Childcare Services and Service Providers to deliver a program that supports indigenous children to transition to school.

Gulbiyaay! Welcome to Winanga-Li Early Learning & Care Service

Our Philosophy

Our Children

Our Families

Our Educators

Our Nuturing

Our Community

Our Services

Gaayli Room - 6 weeks to 2 years

Maliyaa Room - 2 to 3 years

Dhiiyaan Room - 3 to 5 years

Dhirrabaa Burraburra

Additional educators

Playgroups

Transition to School Program

Contact Us

Gulbiyaay!
Welcome to Winanga-Li Early Learning & Care Service