Chrissy Jones of Focus Magazine spoke with TG's Child Care's General Manager, Gayle Kee, about how TG’s are being the stewards of the children’s future. Gayle also highlights High St's recent NQS Exceeding level achievement, and how TG's still continues to grow! (We are really excited about bringing TG’s to a whole new community in Urangan, Hervey Bay, Queensland!)
The interview also shines a spotlight on our incredible educators, and emphasises how TG's Way of Playing is Learning for Life, and has helped us become an extended family for so many in our communities. You can read the full interview below or online.
TG’s Child Care Stretching its Wings into the Future
Playing is Learning for Life has been going strong at TG's Child Care for more than two decades and the fun never stops! TG’s was started by Trevor & Gayle Kee back in 1998 and since then, TG’s has flourished across Armidale, Uralla, three campuses in Wauchope and now, a sixth centre is in the process of refurbishment in Urangan, Hervey Bay, Queensland.
As one of Australia's leading early learning Preschool and Long Day Care providers for children 6 weeks to 6 years of age, TG’s provides what parents want: Quality Lifelong Learning where Playing is Learning for Life.
TG´s has recently achieved another milestone - TG's High Street campus in Wauchope was awarded an overall rating of 'Exceeding' in the National Quality Standard (NQS) in 2019. What this means is TG's 'goes beyond the requirements of the National Quality Standard in at least four of the seven quality areas'.
We speak with Gayle Kee about TG’s as the stewardship of the children’s future. It has taken so many children and families under its wings over the decades and it still continues to stretch its wings across Australia and into the future.
TG’s has not stopped growing since you started the first TG’s. How do you achieve this?
We are really excited about bringing TG’s to a whole new community in Urangan, Hervey Bay, Queensland. In every region TG’s is in, we have become an integral part of the community. The children, their families and our educators grow together with the locals in the area. Building relationships and encouraging collective thinking are two of our three foundation stones which have led TG’s to expand to so many communities.
TG’s has become an extended family for so many in our communities. This comes from developing and maintaining trusting relationships among our children, families and educators and even extending that to encompass our communities. For example, we invited the local firemen to TG’s so the children can get to know what they do and appreciate how they have been bravely putting out bushfires to keep them safe.
We love taking part in community festivals such as the Lasiandra Festival in Wauchope and the Thunderbolt Festival in Uralla, which offers wonderful opportunities for our educators and children to participate as a community. We see the entire world as a learning space for children to encourage curiosity, empathy and social harmony.
TG’s is highly committed to developing respectful relationships with children, families, educators and our communities. Looking out for each other is what helps us build loving relationships and grow empathy. TG’s High Street centre was awarded an 'Exceeding' rating in 2019. Congratulations! What does this say about TG’s? Thank you! Our educators were over the moon with the news. This EXCEEDING rating from the NQS is important as it ensures TG’s is on the same page as our families with regards to how we see their children's future. Choosing and trusting a preschool for one’s child is not an easy task. With NQS’s ratings, families are given an additional aid when they are choosing a child care or preschool for their children. It is also a testament to how TG’s educators’ fullest potential is being recognised. TG’s stands out for its commitment to recognising and nurturing each educator’s unique strengths and gifts and encouraging their career growth and development. This is key to our second foundation stone - Understanding our Gifts. We are so proud of our TG’s educators. Throughout the Assessment and Rating process, TG’s High Street educators saw each opportunity as a gift to grow and shine. They totally embrace their roles as educational leaders. Ensuring that the children's learning and development are guided by the learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework and/or the Framework for School Age Care, among other learning frameworks requires dedication. Every TG’s educator is a leader and a mentor and they are trusted to lead the development and implementation of an effective educational programme in the service. They are always observing the children and coming up with fun, creative and relevant ways to enhance the programmes and practices at TG's and collaborate together to guide each other and also to have each other's backs. What really touches me is how many of our educators have lived within the Wauchope and surrounding areas and they have built trusting and loving relationships with people in these communities over the years. Educators know they have the support of families and communities to constantly enhance learning outcomes for children. The sharing of our gifts collectively is how TG’s has built trusting, respectful and loving relationships across their centres and communities. What are some practices that help TG’s continue to thrive into the future? Sustainability practices are an important part of our curriculum and our way of being. TG’s is committed to fostering values, attitudes, skills and behaviours that support sustainable development. Children, educators, families and communities come together to build eco-intelligence in the wise use of resources which impacts the environment, understanding and encouraging cultural diversity, gender equality and democracy for social harmony and engaging in long term community economic support for sustainable businesses in the communities. At TG’s, the children are given the skills and tools to continue growing long after they have left TG’s. We simply love what we do, and can’t wait to share TG’s Way of Playing is Learning for Life with more communities in the future.