This curriculum is founded on the following aspiration for children:

"to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society."

This is an early childhood curriculum specifically designed for children from the time of birth to school entry, and it provides links to learning in school settings. The learning environment in the early childhood years is different from that in the school sector. This learning environment, the constraints of age, and the special nature of the early childhood years are elaborated on in this curriculum. This curriculum emphasises the critical role of socially and culturally mediated learning and of reciprocal and responsive relationships for children with people, places and things. Children learn through collaboration with adults and peers, through guided participation and observation of others, as well as through individual exploration and reflection