Welcome to Our Kindergarten Room

At Ruth Landau Harp we offer a 4 year old Kindergarten program led by a fully qualified and registered Early Years Teacher. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, elements of the West Australian Kindergarten Curriculum and the centre’s own philosophy, visions and values, the kindy is a place of awe and wonder.

What we do

As certified and trained members of Little Scientists Australia, children are introduced to the benefits of enquiry based learning and have STEM woven into all aspects of their day.

The centre also has close links to both Coolbinia and Carmel primary, supporting community connections and building familiarity with a school environment.

As active members of the KIDDO program, priority is given to supporting children’s Fundamental Movement Skills, for a healthy and active lifestyle.

What to Expect From Our Day

Our day is made up of large blocks of time where the children get to flow freely from space to space and find the things that interest and challenge them. Allowing them this sense of agency, is a key component  of our Play based Pedagogy. It allows children the opportunity to make their own decisions and take control and ownership of those decisions that impact directly on them and their world. (NQS Element 1.2.3)

This practice reflects the value that we place on each child as a ‘citizen in their own right’.

As Educators we can; facilitate and guide, can be intentional in our planning and programming by setting the scene to inspire wonder and curiosity but we cannot force learning.

Just like us, each child will possess strengths and weaknesses, a preference for certain things and a natural inclination towards what they enjoy. It becomes the task of the Educators,  to encourage learning in all areas, in ways that appeal to each individual child.

All aspects of our day, including routines, are organised in ways that maximise learning (NQS Element 1.1.3). Mealtimes are a very ritualistic element of the day. They are leisurely, social occasions where children are invited to fully participate in the dining experience from setting the tables, to serving the food and helping tidy up at the end. It is not unusual for our children to be eating food that they have also helped to make and prepare.

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Time Together

At different times throughout the day, there are our moments to come together as group, this includes our morning Davening. It is a time where children and Educators come together to share thoughts, ideas and interests with the group. It is also an opportunity for children to learn the skills of listening to others, taking instructions and participating as a part of a class community.

Learning to Be Independent

Encouraging and developing children’s sense of independence is another, very important element of our programming and forms part of a large group objective for the children in Kindy.

There is a saying ‘if you do it for me, the only thing that you are teaching me is that you can do it better than me’. Children need to have multiple opportunities to try and fail. It builds resilience, encourages persistence, builds a growth mindset and increases their sense of confidence and self-belief.

While here children are encouraged to;

make choices about what they do and with whom they do it

the direction of their learning and where they want to take it

where they want to play in terms of environment (indoors or out)

Participate in the creation of plans and set goals

There is also an expectation that they will;

take ownership over their toileting

be responsible for their belongings by putting them in appropriate, designated places

feed themselves

attempt to dress themselves

follow instructions when required

focus for increased periods of time

Global Citizens

One of the overarching elements of our philosophy, and key factors of our kindy vision, is to encourage and support our children to be kind and caring citizens, not only of our class but also the wider community.

We use the principles of a 3 C’s approach and focus on ways that they can;

Care for themselves (be safe, make good choices, keep fit, eat well etc)

Care for each other (use kind words, kind actions, think of others)

Care for the environment (respect for nature and all living things, be water wise, re-cylcle, re-use, re-purpose.)

These are a driving force and central to our everyday learning. We strive to find ways to encourage the children to be thinkers, explorers, communicators, carers, risk takers, reflective thinkers and questioners.