Your philosophy - make it beyond just words!

In our settings, our Philosophy is so much more than a document that hangs on a frame on the wall. IF we ensure this to be the case. ‘Talking the talk’ on paper is one thing, but walking the walk - putting our beliefs into action, and ensuring our philosophy is something we live and breathe in our settings is where true MAGIC happens. 

Our philosophy should ‘frame’ everything we do, and even better - how we ARE with the children in our care. Then these aren’t just words, but something that holds us - guiding us, anchoring us, and giving us something to measure against. Our practices and decisions should ‘hang’ on our Philosophy - if we believe such and such, then we should be seeing, hearing, feeling…. Because this is what our Philosophy is: our beliefs. Not our regurgitated words echoed from the setting down the road, or a curriculum document, but what our team collectively believes about:  

• Children

• Learning

• Teaching

• Relationships

• Environments 

• Childhood

That’s a lot, and yes, we will condense it down to some well-thought-out (in both head and heart) statements that ‘pin’ down how we are going to best serve our children and their families, given our beliefs.

What do they need in order to thrive?
How do WE need to be for them so they experience the very best of relationships in these crucial early years?
How do we ensure PLAY is the way for our young learners?

Our Philosophy isn’t a ‘one and done’ meeting, and it’s not a write it, frame it, walk past it and never glance at it again document. We shouldn’t even think of it first and foremost as a document. It’s not a ‘what’, but a how, and rather than just reading it, our team, children, families and visitors should witness it, feel it, and participate in it. It’s something ALIVE, and living it, ‘outside the frame’ is how we have the authentic, beauty-full programmes and practices our children need. Our beliefs become our BE-liefs, if you like. 

There are buzzwords in our sector, with authenticity and intentionality as just two examples. They are great sounding words, but their beauty is really felt when they are lived out. Having a setting that beats to the tune of its philosophy is doing exactly this.

If we are clear in what matters in our space, we can be responsive to it. If we are clear about how we want this to be put into action, we have guideposts for the journey. If we are all in agreement of our priorities, it means they rise to the top - in heads, hearts, practice. We are acting intentionally, and serving our children authentically because our philosophy came from us (collectively, with individual ‘buy-in’), and is in us (again - as a team, and for ourselves).

Our philosophy doesn’t just stay beyond glass because it’s not a display piece. It’s something we need to use, to refer to when challenges pop up and we have ‘wonderings’ and worry if we’re wandering from our own ideas of best practice.

We take what’s happening, whether it’s a part of the programme that’s not flowing, a child who we are wondering how to respond best to, or a resource we’re tossing up whether to invest in…and we run it past our Philosophy.

What does our Philosophy say? What action would be most in alignment with our Philosophy? THIS is where the ‘gold’ in the Philosophy is - in the fact we can use it to call us home to our own beliefs, and let us keep walking them. 

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Do you feel worn out, experience high teacher turn over, chaos throughout the day? It's time to (re)visit your philosophy. Do you want some help? Our NEW upcoming Tips & Tools webinar will give you ideas, inspiration and tools to create a philosophy that becomes your anchor, your rock, your heart! TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER, 7 PM. Register here.