Quality Area 5 · Relationships with children

Relationships that help children thrive.

At Hawthorn Street, warm, responsive relationships help every child feel known, respected and confident enough to participate.

We notice and respondChildren have agencyBelonging comes first
A child learning through play and exploration
Quality families can see.
Real practice, explained in plain language.

What this looks like at Hawthorn

Small moments. Meaningful outcomes.

Browse family-friendly examples drawn from Quality Area 5. Choose an NQS element or move through every story.

Hawthorn Street children and educators learning together
Element 5.1.1

What this means for your family

Positive educator to child interactions: what it means for your child

Our Philosophy is visible in every interaction. Across the service, educators consistently use warm, unhurried and respectful communication, follow children's cues, acknowledge strengths and offer genuine choices. Children seek educators for comfort, initiate conversations, take safe risks and participate in decisions, showing that trusting relationships are embedded and support security, confidence and inclusion. For your family, this means warm, responsive interactions help your child feel secure, confident, included and ready to learn. Watch how respectful relationships turn everyday interactions into security, confidence and learning.

Ask us to show you

Story library

More ways quality becomes visible

20 stories in this selection

See Quality Area 5 in motion

Every child deserves to feel known.

A short vertical video gives families a genuine glimpse of the people, decisions and everyday experiences behind the words.

  • 9:16 Vimeo format — designed for phones, without black sidebars on the website.
  • Captioned and muted — clear and accessible wherever families watch.
  • Connected to real practice — every video supports a family story from this Quality Area.
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A child engaged in an early learning experience
HAWTHORN STREETEvery child deserves to feel known.QA5 · Relationships with children

9:16 VIDEO · VIMEO READY

Shared by our families

The words families remember.

Real comments from Hawthorn Street families, speaking about the moments that gave them confidence.

There was a little girl very upset and she got bubbles to calm her down… makes me feel great knowing kids are seen.
Jodie WrightHawthorn Street parent
Maddie started at 4 months old and has loved it.
Jaimi EdgarHawthorn Street parent

What families can expect

Relationships that help children thrive.

Four practical commitments make the Quality Area meaningful for children and families.

01

We notice and respond

Educators read children’s cues and adjust their approach, language and support.

02

Children have agency

Children’s choices and viewpoints influence routines, play and the decisions that affect them.

03

Belonging comes first

Predictable, respectful interactions help children feel safe enough to connect and explore.

04

Social learning is supported

Educators help children communicate, collaborate, repair relationships and understand one another.

The seven Quality Areas

What quality feels like for your family.

Each area turns the National Quality Standard into experiences families can recognise at Hawthorn Street. Together, the seven pages contain all 200 family stories.

Acknowledgement of Country

We learn together on Wiradjuri Country.

We acknowledge the Tubbagah People of the Wiradjuri Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and learn. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge their continuing spiritual connection to Country.

See it for yourself

Come and see what quality looks like in your child’s day.

Meet our educators, explore the learning spaces and ask us to show you how these commitments become visible in practice.

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