Our Learning Program
The learning program delivered at our child care and early education centres is underpinned by the principles, practices and outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework and the G8 Practice Statements. Our team provides a program to engage, excite and extend children, ensuring their enquiring minds and evolving skills and strengths are expanded through play-based experiences.
Our inclusive program recognises the unique existing knowledge, experience, abilities, interests and culture each child brings to our child care and early education centres, maximising the learning potential of all children. Our educators plan and implement a range of experiences across varied learning areas including literacy, mathematics, STEM, the arts and sustainability. Children have opportunities to become effective communicators, to strengthen their self-identity and wellbeing and be an active contributor to their world.
The learning environment
We understand the importance of creating aesthetically inviting environments, designed to optimise learning opportunities for all children. The physical environment becomes a third teacher, guiding children’s play, rest and learning, and provides a critical foundation for children’s holistic development. When our educators plan and create play spaces for children, messages are communicated about the importance they place on children and their learning.
Children learn most effectively when they are entirely invested in their own learning. Our environments are purposefully planned to encompass a diverse range of areas, inviting children to initiate their own learning as they inquire, investigate and pursue their interests. An intentional combination of play spaces with open-ended resources and provocations that spark curiosity leads to imaginative, innovative and creative play. We ensure children are afforded sufficient time to engage in shared conversations as they build friendships, problem-solve, share in the joy and challenges of play with others, and explore new ideas.
We maintain a strong commitment to creating an environment that supports children to feel safe and secure so they can fully participate and have complete access to our program. Educators work together with families and other professionals to support children with additional needs, catering for their individual learning requirements. Dedicated to ensuring an inclusive and equitable program, our team will endeavour to adapt the environment, resources and pedagogies to ensure the successful inclusion of all children within our child care and early education centres.
How we support children’s learning across every area
Experiencing a diverse program embracing a wide variety of learning areas extends upon children’s interests and provides a breadth of experiences to open new avenues for children to discover. Local specialists are often invited to enrich our program, supporting children’s learning in specific areas through interactive demonstrations, performances or displays. Our experienced educators plan and implement programs to build children’s confidence as learners.
Regular daily interactions, including reading, storytelling and singing, promote an enjoyment and love of language while also developing phonological awareness and concepts of print. As children engage with drawing, painting and mark-making they are developing their emergent writing skills and beginning to recognise symbols convey meaning. Our literacy rich environments include writing implements, books, signs, labels and posters for children to recognise print has differing purposes and to encourage children to both interpret and construct various forms of print.
Our program also incorporates authentic activities such as cooking. While cooking, children count, measure and gain awareness of temperature, volume and capacity and fractions as they learn life skills and create a meal for all to enjoy.
The joy of music is often expressed through dance and movement, with children using their bodies both creatively and actively. Our educators encourage children to explore elements of dance to enhance children’s movement potential and promote dance as a medium for expression and communication. Drama occurs through experiences where children role-play based on both real and fictional scenes, offering another channel for children to be imaginative and to make sense of their world.
Our program encompasses a comprehensive sustainability focus where we actively educate children on sustainability issues on a local, national and global level. Learning about and in local environments develops children's awareness, respect and value for community and places of significance. The lands on which our centre stands are recognised as belonging to Traditional Owners and Custodians. The significance of this relationship is shared with children through acknowledgements, curriculum experiences and relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As children understand, care and take action for the environment, they engage in every day practices including recycling and reusing materials, as well as water and energy conservation. We recognise children are members of families and communities who, together, can influence positive actions and attitudes in others for the benefit of local and global environments.
