Early Learning Centres at St Andrews and Minto!
Guided by the NSW Early Learning Framework, our preschool program focuses on specific skills that empower children to strengthen social skills, engage in self-expression, enhance self-control and resilience, and practise safe, healthy habits.
Utilising principles of positive psychology, our program for our 3-5 year olds focuses on a strengths-based approach. Studies have shown that children’s ability to learn and their social-emotional wellbeing are intertwined and progressively effect each other over time.
Our focus for this age group is on increasing children’s resilience, social-emotional competence and wellbeing while also working on their cognitive skills through high quality experiences.
We see this approach as the best way to bring out the best in our children and prepare them for big school and beyond, allowing them to reach their potential in the future. Our Early Childhood teachers and our Diploma educators are there to support each child’s needs and inspire them for lifelong learning.
Some of the outcomes we focus on include…
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Developing skills in numeracy and literacy through intentional teaching
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Helping children describe their thoughts, feelings and the world around them
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Concepts of quantity, proportions, measurement and classification
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Investigating how the world works through games and activities
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Respect for the environment through growing gardens and caring for animals and learning about sustainability
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Understanding what primary school is by storytelling, games and excursions
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Recognise, express and manage feelings
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Developing independence skills
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Interacting with other students
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Understanding the expectations and structure of big school
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Safety skills (eg, road safety)
Space to learn & play
Preschoolers
Our focus with these children is in preparing children for the transition to primary school. We want children to be excited about moving forward to Kindergarten.
Preparing For School
Our school preparation program is designed by experts in early learning along with ou n r own educators to ensure children have developed the skills they need to succeed in primary school. We achieve this by..
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Working closely with families to ensure their goals for their children are supported
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Developing self-help skills to navigate through school (eg, recognising their name, packing their bags, putting on their shoes)
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Encouraging social skills to navigate their relationships (eg, sharing, turn-taking, kindness)
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Implementing a rich curriculum that focused on literacy, numeracy, gross and fine motor skills
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Close ties with schools in our area for things like excursions for children and meet the teacher nights for families
Developing social and emotional connections with other students through activities aimed to encourage sharing, cooperation, and managing new situations.
Practicing the sort of skills used everyday at school, like sitting at desks, waiting their turn, putting your hand up to ask questions, and looking after their belongings.
Building literacy, numeracy and STEM capabilities in children, including being able recgonise and write their name as well as recognise numbers, count and some arithmetic.
Brief visits to schools where children can experience what it is like, including being able to participate by doing things like sitting in a kindergarten class or eating lunch in the playground.