C&K recognises that families are as individual as the people in them. For brevity’s sake we use the term “parents” to encompass all primary caregivers.
International studies consistently confirm the four essential elements needed for a child's optimal emotional, physical, social and intellectual growth and development. These are: • a nurturing, stimulating, caring and fun-filled environment • university qualified early childhood teachers • play based learning • involvement of parents These studies validate C&K's long-held, core belief that a play based early years education and care environment, supported by parents and the greater community, is crucial for a child's best possible development (see section on play for more information).
Children who attended a C&K centre, according to the Department of Education, Training and the Arts funded study, were more likely to do well in the first years of schooling.