CHILD-LED & CONSENT FOCUSED

We provide a space for every child to be who they are - to guide us and expand into their own interests and being, without interruption or expectation.

PLAY-BASED, FREE & LIBERATED

We trust in the natural power of play which cultivates an organic engagement with each child’s unique process, and fosters a life-long love of learning - not based on someone else’s version of ‘success’ or ‘failure’, but their own.

A SPACE WHERE ALL FEELINGS ARE WELCOMED, HELD AND HEARD

We have built Roots on a foundation that embraces each individual human being — our feelings, our thoughts, our ideas, our problems, our personhood. Only when we feel heard and develop insight into ourselves can we be fully present and empathetic with others.

NON-HIERARCHICAL, NON-JUDGEMENTAL, NON-PUNITIVE

We ensure that children are respected, included and heard, and that adults earn their trust by way of our actions rather than because of a titled role or through the use of praise and punishment.

GROUNDED BY A SOCIAL JUSTICE-CENTRED, ANTI-BIAS CURRICULUM

We recognise the need for future generations to be equipped with tools that empower them in creating an inclusive and safe world for all people and our planet.

LED BY CHILD-LED CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PROBLEM SOLVING

We facilitate a process of child-led conflict resolution, where we relinquish control of its direction and trust the process and outcome from the children, which evolves a deeply felt empathy and understanding of self and others.

SAFE FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS TO GROW AS THEMSELVES

We offer a high facilitator to child ratio, meaning a more individualised and person-centred approach.

COMPASSIONATE, INTENTIONAL, NONVIOLENT

We model gentle communication that leaves space for children to fill with their own ideas, feelings, experiences and needs.

OFFERING A SUPPORTIVE ADULT-LED, NON-OBLIGATORY CURRICULUM

We value all kinds of learning; from group-coordinated plans, to woodwork, to science experiments, to fermentation, to guest contributors, and beyond. We have space to expand into learning as far as each child wants to go!

A SPACE FOR UNLEARNING AND HEALING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

We put community at the heart of this project — we strive to create a respectful network of children, parents, carers and educators that can all learn from and support each other in the process of untangling and trying something different.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND COMMUNITY-BASED

We are a not-for-profit organisation made up of parents, educators and community members. All surplus funds generated will be put straight back into growing and expanding the project, and decisions are explored in an inclusive, cooperative way with the children.