The EQM approach

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Our highly qualified care for the babies in their care

The EQM Approach

A daycare and early school like no other

The EQM approach to early learning blends the best of Montessori and Emotional Intelligence (EQ). This helps the children develop resilience, a strong mindset, a curious mind, a love for learning and more life skills that help them feel, be and do well in school and life.

 

Experience our approach
Reading a book during group time

Our approach to early learning provides the children with the tools and strategies to succeed in school and life

Early Years Learning Framework

The government’s approved Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is the foundation of our approach. Its principles, practices and learning outcomes support and enhance young children’s learning from birth to five years, as well as their transition to school.

Belonging, being and becoming

Belonging, being and becoming is a core principle in EYLF and it’s embedded in everything we do. From the educational experiences we create to the extracurricular activity program and how we care for our children. 

EQM educational program Enrich Early Education
The EQM approach to Early Learning<br />

The EQM approach

The EQM approach is a unique combination of emotional intelligence (EQ) teachings and the Montessori method.

Our EQ Expert, Ellen Perkins, developed this progressive approach to create a centre where children and their families learn the tools and strategies to feel well and do well, in school and life.

The result is an Early School like no other: where children are seen and valued for their unique contribution to this planet and are taught the foundations for happiness and success.​​

Encouraging creative learning

The EQM approach emphasises the child’s ownership of their learning. Our educators are encouraged to let the children direct their own curriculum based on their interests and curiosities.

The classrooms are set up to provide a calm, centered learning environment for the children, allowing them to enter a state of flow. 

Creative active outdoor learning

How EQM enriches the Early Years Learning Framework

Explore how the EQM approach enhances the government’s approved Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), fostering deeper emotional intelligence, resilience, and social-emotional growth in young children.

 

Early Years learning framework

The foundation

  • Focuses on 5 learning outcomes: Identity, Community, Wellbeing, Learning, Communication.
  • Emphasises belonging, being and becoming.
  • Provides a framework for developmental milestones.
  • Encourages play-based, child-led learning.
  • Requires respectful relationships.
  • Supports transition to primary school with a ‘school readiness program’.

EQM Enrichment 

What we add

  • Integrates those outcomes with emotional intelligence (EQ) and Montessori principles.
  • Builds on that with self-awareness and EQ coaching.
  • Enriches it with practical emotional & social coaching tools.
  • Provides a structured calm environment to enter flow state.
  • EQ modeling to better communicate & feel more empathy.
  • Prepares children for life with EQ skills like regulation, resilience and self-confidence.

…….Early Years Learning Framework

The Foundation

  • Focuses on 5 learning outcomes: Identity, Community, Well-being, Learning, Communication.
  • Emphasises belonging, being and becoming.
  • Provides a framework for developmental milestones.
  • Encourages play-based, child-led learning.
  • Requires respectful relationships.
  • Supports transition to primary school with a ‘school readiness program’.

…EQM enrichment

What we add

  • Integrates those outcomes with emotional intelligence (EQ) and Montessori principles.
  • Builds on that with self-awareness and EQ coaching.
  • Enriches it with practical emotional & social coaching tools.
  • Provides a structured calm environment to enter flow state.
  • EQ modeling to better communicate & feel more empathy.
  • Prepares children for life with EQ skills like regulation, resilience and self-confidence.
Grandfriends - our intergenerational, community focused program<br />

A family focused hub

We regard parents and families as essential components of the EQM approach and, as such, as members of our community. Parents are viewed as collaborators, partners, and advocates for their children. Educators value parents as each child’s first teacher and involve parents as much as possible in curriculum development.

We encourage parents and families to volunteer and participate in our centre programmes so that this educational philosophy can continue after the child leaves the classroom.

The EQM approach

The EQM Approach came to life when Enrich Early Education owner and EQ Expert Ellen Perkins met with the highly experienced Montessori professional, Claire Yates. Scientific studies have shown children who are taught using the Montessori Method have a higher EQ than mainstream students. Together, Ellen and Claire have further developed these teachings to incorporate specific emotional intelligence practices to create the first-ever EQM Early school. Designed to set each child up for well-being and success in school, and life. 

Here are 9 points that we are guided by at Enrich Early Education

1. We respect and honour each child

Each child is unique and precious exactly as they are. We show respect by providing them with a peaceful environment, not interrupting their concentration and giving our students the independence and freedom to make choices, do things for themselves and learn for themselves.

2. We believe in the absorbent mind

We understand each child learns simply through living. Children have open hearts and curious minds and are constantly absorbing information from the world around them.

3. We identify and support optimum learning stages

Children pass through periods in their lives where they are most open to learning certain skills. The order in which these stages occur and the timing of these periods varies for each child. Through observation, we identify these periods in the children and provide the resources for each child to flourish during this time.

4. We create an orderly, prepared environment

Children learn best in an orderly environment that has been prepared to enable them to do things for themselves. We provide a learning environment that promotes freedom for children to explore materials of their choice and grow in independence.

5. We promote self-education

Children are highly capable learners, capable of educating themselves. We provide the environment, the inspiration, the guidance and the encouragement for children to educate themselves.

6. We encourage children’s emotions

We listen with empathy, show understanding and build trusting relationships with each child.

7. We are emotionally available and responsive

We recognise children’s expressions of emotion are perfect moments for connection and teaching. We guide children to label their emotions with words and help them express their feelings in a healthy, pro-social manner.

8. We guide children through problem solving

We raising their awareness of others. We teach them tools and strategies to peacefully resolve conflict and care for their own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others.

9. We understand the power of our modelling

We understand our children learn through our every word, and our every action, about love, empathy, relationships, kindness, honesty and respect. Most profoundly, they are learning about themselves, their abilities and their worth, their place in our hearts and in the world.

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Learn more about our EQM approach to early learning during a personal tour. 

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