At Central Kids Kindergarten Helen Downer, we are proud to be one of the first services to complete all of the Building Blocks.

Both professionally and personally the teaching team changed their practices and actions towards more healthy ones especially regarding healthy eating options, keeping bugs at bay, and being more active. We implemented positive changes within our curriculum and procedures resulting in improved health and wellbeing of children and, more widely, some families.

We believe we set achievable and realistic goals for improvement and change. Overall, our journey was successful as the changes have continued and become part of our everyday practices. This was achieved through sharing within the team and upper management, discussions with families, in newsletters, in activities with children, on our multiple noticeboards, displays on our walls, and in learning stories. There was a positive response and understanding to what we were trying to achieve – better outcomes for children. Some parents have been harder than others to bring on board, but that will be an ongoing issue to work on.      

We didn’t have a timeframe, rather just worked on the building block until we had achieved and completed our set goals. The momentum was regular and part of our everyday activities and actions. We believe we set achievable and realistic goals for improvement and change. Both professionally and personally the teaching team changed their practices and actions towards more healthy ones.

The tools for Building Blocks kept us focused, provided ideas and actions to improve and change practices, pushed boundaries, and encouraged us to reflect on our policies and practices, challenging us towards critically thinking. Building Blocks was an avenue to make us more accountable and proactive in advocating for and promoting health and wellbeing within our community (including staff, children and their families). It was an opportunity to engage in professional discussions with our colleagues within our organisation, encouraging them to change their practices and share ideas with those already on a similar journey. 

It was also a great opportunity to develop relationships within the wider community and discover what was available to support our children and their families in promoting health and wellbeing.