Welcome to Cherish Early Years Learning

As a small, boutique, privately-owned centre, we are proud to serve the Byford community. We create nurturing environments where children and families feel welcome, respected, safe, and valued, while inspiring curiosity, learning, exploration, and play.

The Cherish Way

Outdoor Fun Every Single Day

With 95% of our outdoor area undercover, children enjoy safe, sun-smart, all-weather play every day of the year.

Nutritious Meals Inspired by Ayurvedic Approaches

Wholesome, balanced, and seasonal meals for healthy living to support children’s wellbeing and growth.

Mindful Moments Inspired by Gurukul Values

Mindfulness, gratitude, breathing, and grounding inspired by Gurukul values help children become calm, confident learners.

Parents & Educators as Children’s Gurus

Children learn best with guidance from trusted adults. At Cherish, parents & educators work together as the child’s first Gurus; supporting growth, connection, and knowledge.

Inspired Learning Environments

Our environments and practices draw inspiration from Reggio Emilia, Magda Gerber (RIE), Gurukul traditions, and Maria Montessori—creating spaces that are respectful, child-led, purposeful, and rich in learning possibilities.

Our Motto:

Happy Children 🌟 Happy Families 🩷 Happy Educators 💙

Philosophy

The backbone of our Service is our Philosophy. It guides our educators in their practices, interactions with families, and collaboration with the wider community.

At Cherish Early Years Learning, we believe:

• Children are curious, capable, and full of potential.
• Our educators, the children’s Gurus, provide a nurturing and respectful environment where learning happens through exploration, play, and meaningful relationships.
• Inspired by Reggio Emilia, RIE, Gurukul, Montessori, EYLF & MTOP, we support each child’s journey, encouraging independence, imagination, and resilience.
• We consider parents as children’s first Gurus. By partnering with families and communities, we strengthen each child’s identity, sense of belonging, and role in their world.
• We honour Australia’s First Peoples by embedding respect for Country, community, and traditions, and celebrate multicultural diversity.
• We balance freedom and structure, providing security while allowing space for curiosity, creativity, and discovery.
• Our goal is to nurture the whole child, mind, body, and spirit, so they feel safe, respected, confident, and connected, inspiring a lifelong love of learning.

Inspired Approaches:

🌟 Aspect	🌿 Reggio Emilia	👶 Magda Gerber (RIE)	🧘 Gurukul	🏫 Montessori	✅ Similarities
Child-Centred Learning	Children lead learning through projects & exploration	Children are capable; learn at own pace	Individual development & self-discipline	Self-directed learning with hands-on materials	Every child is respected as a unique learner
Respect for the Child	Ideas & voices valued	Observe & respect children	Guru guides with respect	Educators facilitates, not imposes	Children treated with dignity & agency
Role of Educator / Teacher	Co-learner & facilitator	Observer & minimal interference	Mentor & guide	Guide / directress	Adults guide rather than dictate
Environment	“Third teacher” inspires exploration	Calm, safe, predictable	Structured for learning & rituals	Prepared with practical, hands-on materials	Environment supports independence, safety & exploration
Learning Through Experience	Hands-on projects & sensory experiences	Play & daily routines	Practical life skills & moral stories	Real-life, sensory & practical activities	Learning is experiential & meaningful
Community & Relationships	Collaboration with peers, families, community	Strong parent-teacher partnerships	Guru-children & family bonds	Peer respect & community involvement	Relationships central to learning
Holistic Development	Intellectual, social, emotional, creative	Emotional & social competence	Mind, body, spirit & moral growth	Cognitive, social, emotional, physical	Nurtures whole child—mind, body, spirit
Freedom Within Structure	Flexible projects within framework	Freedom within safe routines	Structured guidance with space for independence	Choice within prepared environment & limits	Balance of independence + structure fosters confidence
Observation & Documentation	Observe to inform teaching	Observation central to understanding child	Guru observes progress & character	Educators observe to guide learning	Careful observation ensures individual support

Discover Our Programs

At Cherish, our core philosophy is “Playful Learning”. Every child’s learning journey is unique, and our programs provide an inclusive, nurturing environment that supports holistic development, laying strong foundations for success in school and beyond.

We follow the Australian Government’s National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which recognises early childhood as a crucial period for learning and development. Through EYLF, we partner with families to support children’s growth, focusing on Being, Belonging, and Becoming in a play-based learning environment.

Age Groups

6 weeks – 2 years

In these early months and years, every child is unique and deserves respect, support, and gentle guidance, inspired by Magda Gerber’s RIE philosophy. Our program focuses on helping children adapt to their new environment, enhancing curiosity, and supporting them to achieve developmental milestones. We encourage independent exploration, responsive caregiving, and meaningful interactions to lay the foundation for confidence, trust, and lifelong learning.

Ages 2–3 years

Children in this stage are rapidly developing physically, socially, cognitively, and linguistically. Our program encourages individual exploration and social engagement, fostering creativity, curiosity, and confidence—laying the foundation for the next stage of learning.

Ages 3–5 years

Children in this stage develop language, inquiry skills, and an understanding of others’ perspectives. Our program focuses on school readiness, independence, and self-confidence, while nurturing a lifelong love of learning through innovative play-based experiences.

Play-Based Exploration

Our program nurtures curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Through hands-on, open-ended experiences, play, and guided exploration, children develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically, in line with EYLF and MTOP outcomes.

Active Exploration

Children engage exploring the safe outdoor environment while developing physical skills, curiosity, and confidence. We also follow the University of WA KIDDO program, which is in line with EYLF and MTOP learning outcomes.

Healthy Habits

Promoting nutritious eating, handwashing, dental hygiene, and daily physical activity to help children grow strong, happy, and healthy.

Reading Readiness

Children strengthen early literacy and communication skills with circle time experiences, engage in meaningful discussions during yarning time, and discover the joy of reading through book exploration.

Language & Literacy

Supporting early literacy, language development, cultural awareness, and opportunities to engage with diverse languages and cultures within the community.

Green Experiences

Children learn about sustainability through gardening, composting, reusing materials, exploring loose parts, and practicing water- and electricity-saving habits, fostering care for the environment.

School Readiness Program

Children build independence, self-help skills, social confidence, early literacy and numeracy, and collaborative problem-solving, preparing them for a confident start to school.

Creative Fun

Opportunities for children to explore creativity through arts, music, dance, cultural traditions, pretend play, and open-ended experiences that spark imagination.

Family & Community Connections

Celebrating family culture and traditions, parent involvement, incursions, show-and-tell, acts of kindness, and charity.

Reconciliation Journey

Learning about and connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, people, and history.

In Partnerships with Families and Community

Parents are a child’s first and most important Gurus. By partnering with families, we extend each child’s learning in a home-like, nurturing environment where they feel respected, safe, confident, and valued. At Cherish, we also embrace the saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Through community connections, children build relationships, develop self-esteem, and grow into capable, confident learners.

Meals

With a focus on wholesome, natural, and locally sourced foods, our Centre menu is designed to support children’s health and wellbeing, guided by Ayurvedic lifestyle and nutrition specialist Sushma Sharma (Diploma in Naturopathy and Yogic Science).

Complete Care & Learning

At Cherish, everything your child needs for a joyful day of learning and play is thoughtfully included. From nappies, linen, and hats to nutritious meals, snacks, yoga, language classes, incursions, and excursions, we’ve got it all covered. All you need to pack is a spare change of clothes and your child’s curious mind!

Mindfulness & Yoga at Cherish

Calming practices that nurture focus, resilience, self-awareness, strong posture, and overall wellbeing through age-appropriate yoga and mindful breathing.

Before Nap / Rest time children at Cherish enjoy Mindfulness experience

Mindfulness helps children tune in to the present moment with curiosity and calm. Through simple activities, like focusing on their breath, noticing different parts of their body, and listening to sounds; they learn to stay grounded and relaxed. Each session ends with a gentle stretch, leaving children feeling refreshed, calm, and ready to focus.

Why Practice Mindfulness?

Better Focus and Thinking – Mindfulness helps children pay attention, remember things better, and make thoughtful choices. Empathy and Relationships – Mindfulness helps children understand how others feel, improving empathy and helping them form positive friendships. Managing Emotions – It teaches children to calm themselves when they feel strong emotions like anger or fear through breathing and grounding exercises. Self-Awareness and Confidence – By noticing their thoughts and feelings, children become more aware of themselves and others, building confidence and social skills.

Safety & Security

Your child’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities. We provide a secure and caring environment where children can learn and thrive confidently. Our premises meet all national safety standards and include:

• Secure, code-access entry for families
• Main entrance monitored by our friendly team
• All team members hold current background and Working with Children Checks
• CCTV is used in designated areas to support safety, supervision, and high-quality care. Footage is securely stored and accessed only by authorised staff.

Social media and photographs

• We seek written consent from families before taking or sharing any photographs or videos of children.
• Photos are used only for educational purposes or to share learning experiences with families.
• We do not post children’s images or information on social media without explicit family permission.

Your trust is important to us, and we are committed to protecting every child’s privacy and safety at all times.