Our program emphasises the importance of play in the development of a young child
The staff works as a team to identify individual developmental and learning needs, and plans learning experiences for the realisation of those needs, whilst taking into account the emerging interests of each child.
Young children are active learners who develop their own understanding and knowledge of the world around them. The play based curriculum makes learning meaningful, relevant, interesting and imaginative. Play and first hand experience enables children to manipulate, explore, question, discover and practise, whilst acquiring knowledge and skills in the key areas of social, emotional, language, cognitive and physical development.
The program aims to provide experiences that encourage children to interact positively with other people. Our children interact with each other and adults on a daily basis, developing their personal and interpersonal skills and enabling them to participate as a member of a group. Our program encourages positive peer interactions and cooperative play during which children learn to lead, to follow, take turns and cooperate.
The program is rich in written and oral language experiences, and includes stories, songs, discussions, speaking and listening games, as well as our weekly visit to the Buckley House library. The ELC four-year-old children are exposed to a second language, Japanese, through weekly specialist sessions.
Children are also exposed to problem solving, early mathematics and science concepts such as lateral thinking, number, comparison, position, visual and auditory memory and discrimination, and observation techniques.
The various daily outdoor experiences and the weekly Perceptual Motor Program (ELC4) cater for gross motor development. A vast range of activities including threading, lacing, painting, drawing, cutting and pasting and construction focus on fine motor development.
The Early Learning Centre aims to accommodate each child’s individual learning style and interests through an exciting and stimulating program.