Our learning environment and programs
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29 Wally’s Walk, Macquarie University
Wallumattagal Campus NSW 2109 See our opening hours and where we are located on the campus

Learning spaces created to inspire wonder and delight

Mia Mia’s thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces spark curiosity, encourage collaboration and build connection that support children’s learning and growth.

We are committed to engaging children meaningfully in experiences that promote their desire for learning and fostering their curiosity.

In our learning environment children:

  • feel safe, respected and valued as unique individuals
  • learn to make friends, share happily, and respect and cooperate with others
  • learn to communicate well, act responsibly and play an active role in the community
  • work in harmony with teachers and families to explore and develop their potential
  • play creatively, enjoyably and in educationally dynamic ways
  • connect with, and care for, the natural world.

Our programs

Our educators develop your child’s learning program by identifying their strengths and planning experiences designed to their individual interests.

Reflections, observations and evaluation of our programs are published each day for families to read, respond to and share.

The learning process begins at birth. Much care and attention is given to creating a calm, safe and nurturing environment in the nursery. Routines such as feeding, resting and nappy changing are significant elements of the daily program. These experiences offer positive opportunities for learning, and time for sensitive and social engagement.

Mia Mia’s nursery program provides:

  • a supportive and enriching environment that develops each child’s emotional wellbeing, social skills and independence
  • opportunities for pretend play, musical experiences, foundational maths, language and literacy, and physical development
  • group care with a staff-child ratio of one to three.

Families and staff need to communicate openly and regularly to ensure:

  • your child’s emotional and care needs are met
  • plans can be made for your child’s growth, development and education
  • infants, as curious and active explorers, are well supported while their need for investigative and experimental learning is emerging.

Two to three-year old children are energetic explorers and experimenters, curious about the world around them and eager to find out how things work. Their need for investigative, experimental learning is pronounced.

Our program assists children to:

  • grow in their autonomy and understanding of themselves
  • develop empathy for others in an atmosphere of trust and respect
  • manage emotions that arise from their difficulties in communicating and solving problems.

We also focus on:

  • planning a range of experiences to support children’s cognitive, creative, social, emotional, language, physical development and individual learning styles
  • learning through play and exploration
  • providing opportunities for small group play, one to one engagements with an adult, and time for each child to play and explore independently and collaboratively with their peers
  • developing constructive relationships
  • we encourage families to be an active part of their child’s day, sharing ideas and aspects of home culture that can help to enrich our program.

Three to five-year old children are rapidly developing a more complex understanding of concepts and are highly motivated to explore and set challenges for themselves, their friends and the teaching team.

We encourage children to:

  • act as initiators, investigators, explorers, problem solvers and creators
  • ask questions, listen to the ideas of others and to develop their own hypotheses on a range of ideas and concepts
  • develop a spirit of cooperation and a caring and responsible attitude towards everyone in Mia Mia.

Our program focuses on:

  • fostering self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, communication and respect for others
  • developing relationships, self-expression, collaboration and self-help skills
  • daily integration of the visual and performing arts, science, mathematics, language and literacy development, communication and problem solving.

We believe these characteristics and behaviours are essential for children in their transition to school and lifelong learning.

We also:

  • support and guide children in decision-making about indoor and outdoor experiences they wish to explore
  • work with the children in small groups and on a one to one basis
  • guide children to represent their ideas through various symbolic means such as drawing, painting, clay work, physical movement, storytelling, writing, socio-dramatic play and discussions
  • provide children with uninterrupted time on their own, or to engage with friends throughout the day.

Mia Mia’s outdoor program strengthens children’s understanding of the natural world and their role in caring for, and about, each element. It also helps children:

  • build physical skills and stamina
  • enhance their learning and social skills
  • to assess and manage risks in wise ways.

The outdoor classroom schedule is flexible due to the weather. Sydney’s mild climate means that on most days we engage in the outdoor curriculum. However, time outdoors does vary with the seasons and in response to temperature, wind, rain, smoke haze, bushfires and electrical storms. This means each day provides an opportunity to gain understanding of the weather, climate, beauty, horticulture, insects and other creatures that share our outdoor space.

The outdoor teacher ensures that the outdoor curriculum explores subject areas such as:

  • sustainability
  • other-than-human species
  • land care
  • conservation
  • natural history
  • botanical know how.

We are mindful of the UV ratings for children to be sun safe while getting enough Vitamin D. Our playground is very shady in summer and we ensure children play in sun safe spaces when there is an UV alert and wear hats outside at all times.

As Mia Mia is on the University grounds, children have the opportunity to visit the campus and develop a connection with the University community. The children are taken on field trips to picnic, sketch, explore and visit museums.

This offers children:

  • opportunities for learning
  • the use of University resources like the music room, library, museums, art gallery, shops and large open spaces
  • participation in University events
  • enjoyable times outside their regular program.

Children also:

  • learn to be responsible campus citizens
  • build relationships with people working on campus
  • develop skills in being a part of a group.

Our curriculum

Mia Mia offers your child an innovative play-based curriculum that is:

  • guided by the Australian National Quality Framework
  • informed by internationally recognised best practice and current research
  • underpinned by the importance of nurturing strong relationships.

Integral components include:

  • numeracy and literacy
  • communication
  • the visual and performing arts
  • the sciences and technology
  • understanding society
  • principles of social justice and equity
  • inclusion
  • children’s rights.

Other areas explored include:

  • diversity
  • the importance of nutrition, physical activity and fitness
  • wellbeing and belonging.