What's in a Name?
Our name says it all
Ascolta; "to listen"
When we were in the midst of our founding our early learning centre, we thought deeply about quality education. We wanted to nurture a culture where it’s exciting and motivating to learn. A caring community in Southern River where every child has their intellectual development and emotional growth personally fostered. A place where children can express themselves and shape their own holistic learning… So, what’s at the heart of this kind of early education?
Listening.
There is power in
being heard.
We’re always listening
An Italian word, “Ascolta” literally means “to listen”. We intentionally chose this as our businesses name to embody and capture the essence of what we’re about.
We believe that when children are empowered through listening, they feel safe, secure, confident, and heard. Our education is built on relationships where our childcare Educators actively listen and tune in to every child’s learning journey. Not just listening to sounds and words, but knowing each child on a deep personal level where non-verbal cues and body language are also intuitively responded to. Additionally, we actively listen to families so we can cater to each child’s unique needs, learning challenges, and developmental stages.
Holistic learning, based on listening.
Getting practical
Our Southern River childcare centre is a place where Educators are fully attentive to what each child is doing and feeling. This is woven through all areas of learning to help children understand themselves, and the world, a little more each day. Our holistic education includes personal, social, emotional, and cognitive development, communication, language, and literacy, identity, roleplay and self-expression, and physical development through gross and fine motor skills, as well as nutrition.
On a practical level, these are some of the small ways we listen to children every day at Ascolta Early Learning and Care.
A child who is sad:
needs a cuddle and perhaps be buddied with an older child.
A child who is high energy:
needs space, clear boundaries, and unlimited time outdoors.
A child who shows interest in writing:
is ready to be introduced to the alphabet in a way they’ll enjoy and understand.
A child who enjoys puzzles:
needs to be stimulated with diverse and challenging problem-solving activities.
A child who has just become a sibling:
needs baby dolls to play with and extra emotional support to process new feelings.
It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Listening on a new level
We understand that listening isn’t just hearing a voice, responding, and moving on. Listening takes time, patience, observation, interpretation, and understanding. It’s complicated, with diverse languages, body language, and hidden cues people use to express themselves.
In our daycare, we’re here to build relationships, be aware, embrace emotions, ask questions, respond to needs, and encourage vulnerability and courage. All through listening. That’s what makes Ascolta Early Learning and Care such a special place.