Whole-child approach

In our initial meeting with families, we learn from a child and their family, what makes a child tick: what is important to them, what do they enjoy doing, what is their unique history, and how can we best support them to learn in a way that honours their needs. We then tailor a program that promotes interaction and communication with the class, while also being inclusive and respectful of the individual child. This program is laid out in an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) that is shared with the student and their family, and provides the framework for the child’s year.

We will always be a school with small class sizes. This allows teachers and staff to really get to know each child, and allows time to individuate teaching to suit the strengths and preferred learning style of each child. We are driven by the opportunity to see each child realise their own unique potential, without being obstructed by comparative grades or rankings.

Aware, connected educators

On top of being passionate and talented educators who care deeply about the emotional wellbeing of children, our teachers have all undergone training in Aware Parenting and continue to receive training and support to boost their own wellbeing. As parents, we know that our own wellbeing is vital in ensuring we have the energy, presence and patience to give our best selves to our children, and of course we want this for our teachers too. We run a program of listening partnerships and personal development that nourishes teachers so that they are able to give their best to their students.

Progressive model of non-punitive discipline

Neurobiological research is very clear that it is only when we feel in a state of emotional safety that an individual is able to take on new information. We don’t use the fear of failure or threats of punishment to motivate or frighten children into compliance. What we’re looking to build in our students is intrinsic motivation – compliance is merely a result of an extrinsic motivator.

If a child is having a difficult time, we create a safe space for them to offload what they are feeling and find a democratic resolution. Educators ask, “How can we both get our needs met?” and we genuinely look to the child for ideas.

Children are seen and heard

We value inquiry, negotiation and curiosity and design our curriculum to explore areas in which children are interested, and students are encouraged to collaborate with teachers and each other in creating topics and activities throughout the year.

Depth over breadth curriculum

Although we work within the framework of the Australian Curriculum, our model focuses more on depth over breadth, in order to work toward mastery. This focus on a deep exploration of a subject allows time for individual students to reach a point of understanding and confidence, as well as developing their growth mindset.

Values-based

The values of Woodline are driven by the personal values of our founders and their vision for the school.

• Connection
• Environmental
• Responsibility
• Openness
• A sense of wonder and curiosity
• Emotional safety
• Honouring the individual

Not only are children held by staff and the school environment that embodies these values, our curriculum implicitly and explicitly teaches the values so that they form part of our students’ internal compass.

Multi-influenced, evidence-based pedagogy

Pedagogy is the method of teaching – the art, science and practice that breathes life into the curriculum. Our pedagogy embraces the need for different learning styles and is reflective of our values:

1. Connection and emotional safety are key tenets of trauma-based education and the PERMA based, Positive Education framework.
2. The Reggio Emilia framework is noted for its focus on connection, as well as for honouring the individual.
3. A sense of openness and an honouring of the individual is prominent in UNESCO’s Global Citizenship curriculum framework and Michael Fullan’s 6 Cs curriculum.
4. Environmental responsibility is a core tenet of the OECD’s recent work on global competency
5. Play-based learning forms the basis of the Early Years Learning Framework. It fits with Woodline’s core value of having and creating a sense of wonder and curiosity.

Alternative measures of success

A key measure of success is in the development of a child’s understanding of themselves and the value they place on their unique gift. Each child brings with them their own unique brilliance, so to assess them all against one benchmark or to measure them against each other is to fail to recognise their individuality, and to risk homogenising students, squashing their confidence or communicating that they are valuable only because of their grade.

We value academic achievement at the effort level rather than focusing on the grade. This ensures that academic achievements are not pursued at the expense of a child’s emotional health and wellbeing. It is not our intention to produce students who have mastered school for its own sake, but students who are self-realised and equipped with valuable life skills. To this end each child’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP) takes into account their own starting point and assessment measures their progress from this starting point. From understanding fractions to being able to communicate their needs effectively, what is valued is the effort they have put into learning. The outcome is secondary.

Children at Woodline learn within the spectacular backdrop of a 20 acre farm within Geelong’s hinterland, where they can explore the natural environment, sparked by wonder and curiosity. Our playgrounds are made from natural materials and offer endless inspiration for open-ended play. The playground area is designed for children of all ages to play together: the younger children learning from the older ones how to take risks and explore, while giving older children opportunities to help, teach and learn from those in other year levels.

Each class takes responsibility for its own aspects of the farm, whether that be feeding the horses or chickens, topping up the worm farm, weeding, watering, or designing and helping to build bird-repellent enclosures for the veggies. We encourage children to be outside as much as they need and like, and we hold classes outside whenever we can.

We shall also be offering extracurricular activities with pony/horse care as well as riding for children that are interested.

An important and differentiating part of Woodline is our commitment to supporting and providing ongoing education for families. We offer regular workshops on topics as diverse as parenting, microfarming, and body awareness, sex and consent. As well as presentations discussing the latest research on how education is impacted by elements such as neurobiology, environment, society and technology. These sessions are provided by members of our own school community or the local community that have expertise or credentials and experience in a particular field.

Of course we are conscious that extra-curricular activities don’t always fit with our schedules, so we also offer audio or video recordings on our parent portal, for families to watch at a time that is convenient, although a core benefit of coming along to the sessions is the opportunity to meet other parents and community members. We are parents ourselves and we know the importance of a community that shares our values, with whom we can share and be ourselves.