Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework and the Centre Philosophy, our 3 year old kindy program embraces the Pedagogy of Play. Research tells us that children learn to make sense of their world through opportunities to engage in meaningful play. It is during this time they learn to; investigate, question, role play, explore, problem solve, strategise, socialise, reason, predict, converse, collaborate and compromise.

Educators advocate for the value of providing open ended learning opportunities that encourage children to test and explore their environment in a ‘hands on way’ that focuses on the ‘journey of discovery’ rather than an end product.

While here children will be working on:

Their relational skills;

through sharing, turn taking, role playing, collaborating, negotiating, compromising, listening, empathising, expressing their feelings.

Physical (fine and gross motor) skills;

through opportunities and experiences that develop Fundamental Movement Skills for control, coordination, body awareness, spatial awareness, physical strength, dexterity, balance.

Language and literacy skills;

through conversations, shared reading, access to a variety of printed materials, songs, topic specific vocabulary

Thinking skills

through open ended experience and provocations that encourage problem solving, spark curiosity, require investigation, develop critical thinking, challenge and build on prior knowledge.

The service opens at 7:00am and the children are grouped together with the same familiar staff until 7.30am, when they will transition to their own learning spaces. After opportunities for uninterrupted play in both the indoor and outdoor environments, children gather to Daven together, celebrating the new day with singing and movement in English and Hebrew.

Soon after, the children transition to morning tea, with opportunities for socialising and discussions on healthy eating, while also practising their self-help and community skills. They love to actively participate in the preparation, serving and tidying up of each meal.

Children then move to a block of uninterrupted play, in spaces carefully and intentionally designed and curated, to develop a range of skills. There are opportunities for the children to practice and further develop their fundamental movement skills, using ideas and resources linked to our KIDDO program. There are opportunities to explore a range of natural and processed materials for creating and crafting. Resources that encourage STEM and the acquisition of foundation skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are added to water trolleys and sandpits, garden beds and tough trays.

Children are always supported and encouraged to respect and contribute to the positive culture of their class community and Educators create positive environments that foster kindness and caring for one another, ourselves and our spaces.

Just before noon, children gather together again for Lunch and another opportunity to chat with the educators about eating a healthy nutritious meal and to catch up with their peers and chat in small groups .

After lunch, rest and relaxation time in a calm and cozy space, gives children the opportunity to sleep or rest and give their bodies and brain time to restore after a busy morning. Our non-sleepers have opportunities to engage in some quiet time play and make choices about how long to rest their bodies on the mat prior to this.

There is an unhurried transition as they wake from sleep and get ready for afternoon tea and children are supported to put on their own shoes and socks, sunscreen before moving on with the rest of their day.

There are more opportunities for play throughout the afternoon and before parents collect them at the end of the day.