The Early Learning Centre is comprised of Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students. There is mounting evidence from a broad research base in health, developmental psychology, neuroscience and education, of the importance of optimum family and community experiences for children during the earliest years of childhood and development. There is much evidence that these experiences establish a template that has the potential to play a significant role in later life. Early experiences and the quality of nurturing and cognitive stimulation which children receive in the first few years of schooling may have a big impact on their development and the course they choose to follow in life. We seek to partner with our families to establish an excellent, positive foundation of learning for our very young students. The program will follow the Early Years Learning Framework. The Early Learning Centre students wear a different, more casual uniform than the Primary and Secondary students. This allows them to play and learn according to their age group’s abilities and needs.
The Kindergarten Program is a gradual introduction to schooling in a fun, yet structured environment for children who have turned 4 years of age or are turning 4 before the 30th June of that year. In planning a ‘learning through play’ environment for this age group, we aim to take into account the developmental stages of these children. All children are encouraged to develop their strengths in a supportive environment.
The Pre-Primary Program aims to continue to develop and foster an enjoyment of learning, while encouraging equity and respect for others in the learning environment and community. It is a program for children who have turned 5 years of age or are turning 5 before the 30th June of that year. During this stage of their schooling, children are given the opportunity to develop essential foundations on which to build their knowledge, skills and values, particularly in the areas of social and emotional well-being, literacy and numeracy. We recognise that children are unique and endeavour to celebrate the individual potential of each child through a curriculum that allows children to explore and discover concepts for themselves with adult guidance. The program operates full-time and is the first year of the Western Australian Curriculum.