Climbing Mountains

It started with a chat and a tour.

One very loving, globe-trotting family went searching for a childcare centre where their child would be treated like an individual and their dreams for him might just come true.

Enter Sentia Early Learning.

Three years later, Mum says ‘Because Sentia is a second home for our son, we can focus on our work and don't have to worry about him!’

How did all of this unfold, I hear you ask. Well… it took a village:

The Family loved their son and did not let his diagnosis define him.  They connected with all support avenues available to them and did not shy away from the reality that their son was different.

The Centre Director embraced this family, applauded their courage and openness to work together and spent countless hours completing funding applications so that the learning environment would be free of obstacles for learning.

A courageous, experienced team of Educators rose to the challenge of inclusion.  They researched, listened, collaborated and persevered in creating an environment where all children could learn.  Some days they laughed and some days they cried, but every day they did their best to make sure their little family of learners engaged meaningfully with educational programs.

A Team of Co-health Professionals bridged the gaps by providing therapy sessions at home and at the Centre.  We all learned from them and used similar strategies to create comfort and continuity for learning and development.

All children in the room accepted this boy, embracing him just as they embraced each other every morning when he arrived.  They taught each other important lessons every day about love and kindness.

The real hero, the child himself, opened his heart to all these people who loved him and wanted him to succeed.  In the beginning he just sat and observed, but by the end of our journey together, he was quite literally climbing mountains!

To celebrate this journey together, we invited the Mum to share her perspectives on being a Mother of a child with additional needs at one of our team meetings.  The raw honesty with which she shared her highs and lows had us laughing and crying.  She said, ‘We believe that we can deny everything to close friends and to our families. But we can and must be honest with his educators, about even the smallest things.’

Last week we celebrated his graduation together and there was not a dry eye in the house!

(Co-written by A, A & the Team around the child)