spaOur Philosophy

Slow, playful, and deeply connected to nature

Every choice we make at Cuddly Bear, from our daily rhythm to our garden design, is shaped by six guiding beliefs about how young children learn best.

Six guiding principles

These are the beliefs the whole team comes back to, every day, in every room.

spa Principle 1

Play is the work of childhood

Through play, children build language, problem solving, empathy and resilience. Our days are unhurried so deep, sustained play can unfold without constant interruption. We resist the urge to over-schedule.

park Principle 2

Nature is our second classroom

Children spend long stretches outside every day, in gardens, with loose parts, mud, sand and water. The garden is alive with vegetable beds, a creek bed, a chicken coop and trees old enough to climb.

favorite Principle 3

Relationships before routines

Secure attachments to consistent educators are the foundation of all early learning. We invest heavily in low staff turnover so your child sees the same warm faces, year after year. Connection always comes first.

auto_stories Principle 4

EYLF aligned, child-led

Our programs follow the Early Years Learning Framework v2.0 while staying genuinely responsive to each child’s emerging interests. Educators plan from what children show us, not from a fixed curriculum.

diversity_3 Principle 5

Family is part of the team

We learn about your child through you. Daily face-to-face handovers, shared photos, and collaborative goal setting keep families close to the everyday rhythm of the centre.

public Principle 6

Country and community

We acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional custodians of the land we play and learn on. First Nations perspectives are woven through our programs across the year.

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We do not rush children through their childhood. We walk with them, slowly, and let the learning happen on the way.

Sarah Mitchell

Centre Director

Aligned with the EYLF

Our programs are designed around the five learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework v2.0.

1

Strong sense of identity

2

Connected with their world

3

Strong sense of wellbeing

4

Confident, involved learners

5

Effective communicators

More about us

Keep exploring what makes Cuddly Bear different.

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Our Story

Twenty-plus years of unhurried learning in Woodlands.

See our philosophy in action

Tours include time in our garden and rooms so you can see how the philosophy lives in everyday play.

Book a tour

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