Leader in Innovation Award Winners – Aspire Bella Estate!
Congratulations to Aspire Early Education Bella Estate for winning the Leader in Innovation award at our recent Aspire Awards Gala!
This award, which was sponsored by our partners at Oreana Group, recognised a dedicated team that has successfully implemented an innovative program fostering a culture of creativity.
Aspire Bella Estate was the winner of this award for their amazing Outdoor Piazza Program. This program saw the team creatively use their outdoor piazza space to set up different experiences that enhanced the children’s learning, creativity and development. For a centre that has been open less than 12 months, this is an amazing achievement by the Bella Estate team, who has worked hard all year to create different and engaging experiences for the children.
We spoke with Bella Estate’s Centre Manager Taniya Samarasinghe about their inspiration for this project, and what winning this award means to the team. Hear from her below!
The inspiration for starting the Piazza Project came from observing the need for a dedicated space where children could unwind and relax. We noticed that many primary schools have designated "Zen zones" that help students manage stress and emotions. This motivated us to create a similar environment that promotes relaxation and mindfulness for the children.
The Piazza Project has really helped kids learn by giving them a fun and friendly space to be creative and work together. It makes learning more engaging and supports their emotional well-being. It also promotes outdoor play and learning, which has several benefits for children including enhancing their physical and social development, and experiencing the natural environment.
The children particularly love the dynamic nature of the Piazza space. Every week our amazing team transform the space to align with our calendar of events and celebrations, which means the children look forward to the fresh experiences and themes every week. This variety keeps them engaged and excited about using the space, fostering a sense of community and creativity.
Bella Estate has a strong culture of teamwork and creativity. The team embodies the philosophy that "teamwork makes the dream work." Everyone is highly innovative and goes above and beyond to ensure that children learn and grow in a supportive environment. As the Manager of the centre, I couldn’t be more proud of working with such a great and supportive team!
Winning this award has provided significant recognition for the Bella Estate team, especially given our accomplishments in such a short period of being open. It is a source of pride for everyone involved and serves as a stepping stone to continue our work. This achievement not only boosts morale but also inspires us to strive for even greater heights.
Well done to the Bella Estate team for their true innovativeness in bringing this project to life! If you’d like to learn more about the centre and their programs, enquire now here.
