The Educators we remember from childhood are often the ones who made us feel included. They invited us to join in when we were nervous, noticed when we weren’t quite ourselves, encouraged us to have a go and celebrated the small wins that meant so much at the time. It was these everyday interactions that built genuine relationships and created environments where children felt comfortable enough to participate, connect and grow.
These are the kinds of qualities we look for at TeamKids. When we recruit and develop our team members, we look beyond qualifications and experience to find people who communicate with kindness, show good judgement, genuinely enjoy working with children and understand the important responsibility that comes with caring for them.
Helping Every Child Feel They Belong
One of the greatest gifts an Educator can give a child is helping them feel like they belong.
Whether it’s inviting a child into a game, encouraging a new friendship, noticing someone sitting on their own or creating opportunities to participate, these small moments can have a lasting impact. Children who feel included are more likely to feel safe, confident and connected.
That’s why TeamKids invests in professional development focused specifically on helping Educators foster positive friendships. Our teams learn strategies to help children build strong relationships, understand what it means to be a good friend and navigate healthy friendships.
Educators That Get Involved
At TeamKids, we encourage our Educators to get involved because participation builds connection. Joining children in their play creates opportunities for conversations, friendships and trust that simply don’t happen when adults remain on the sidelines. It also allows Educators to better understand children’s interests, recognise their strengths and notice when something may not seem quite right.
We actively look to recruit new team members who understand this – people who are willing to be hands-on, enthusiastic and engaged. We continue to nurture these qualities through training, mentoring and the culture we create across our services.
Speaking With Respect
We want every family to feel confident that their child will be spoken to with kindness, patience and respect while attending TeamKids. Positive communication is something we intentionally recruit for, develop and reinforce across our organisation.
We invest in this by:
- Including video interviews as part of our recruitment process to observe how candidates communicate and connect with others.
- Delivering in-person training, where Educators develop and practise positive interactions with children and families.
- Providing regular service visits, where leaders observe, coach and role model respectful communication.
- Equipping our Directors of Service with training and practical tools to mentor and support their teams every day.
Child Safety Is Number One
The best moments are the ones where children are completely immersed in their play, without ever having to think about the adults who are keeping them safe.
Behind those moments, we are actively supervising throughout the session. We position ourselves across activity spaces, conduct regular headcounts, support safe transitions, observe children’s interactions and communicate with one another to maintain awareness of every child. These practices are embedded in the way our teams operate every day.
Working as One Team
Looking after children is never the responsibility of one person.
Our Educators communicate, share important information, support one another and ask questions when they need guidance. Behind each TeamKids service is a network of leaders and Educators working together to create consistent, safe and positive experiences for children.
Strong teamwork creates stronger support for every child.
Continuing to Learn
Children deserve Educators who continue to grow alongside them.
TeamKids invests in ongoing training, professional development and leadership support because working with children requires continual learning. Child safety, behaviour guidance, medical management, supervision and emergency response are all areas where our teams continue to build their knowledge throughout their careers.
The qualities that make a great TeamKids Educator cannot be measured by a certificate alone. They are reflected in the relationships they build, the respect they show, the care they demonstrate and the safe, welcoming environments they help create every single day.
These are the green flags we look for, the qualities we continue to develop and the standards we hold ourselves to as we care for your child.
