What our Pre-School offers your child

A Child:

• Develops ideas and stimulates a curiosity at all age levels, through exploring the Pre-School's equipment, materials and opportunities.
  
  
• Gains confidence and independence by being in a safe environment, guided by a trained teacher, who knows his/her needs.
  
  
• Develops concentration through - musical experiences, stories, paintings, cutting, pasting, blocks, clay, puzzles ... etc...
  
  
• Develops socially by learning to give and take, respect others rights, and to share ideas. They will also develop and practice skills, which will enable them to solve disputes peacefully and constructively.
  
  
• Develops physically, through mastering skills such as running, jumping, balancing, ascending, hand movements, and eye/hand coordination.
  
  
• Through observation, questioning and listening, we come to know and understand each child. We aim to provide learning experiences best suited to each child's interest and stage of development.

THE PROGRAM:

In developing the program for the children the whole child is taken into account. Our program is play based and engages the National and Victorian Early Years Learning Development Framework (VEYLDF).

It is well known that all children develop at their own rate so, within each group of children, we have varying levels of development. Consequently, a program that caters for all children is provided, with many playspaces and environments for children to explore..

How is this done?

Children are observed individually and within the group.  Our qualified educators will also gain information on each child through their interactions with them, whether that been when engaging in play with the children, whilst talking to them or leading them in group experiences.  Through their observations and knowledge of early childhood development, staff will plan and create developmentally appropriate experiences and playspaces for your child to engage in.  Through play your child's learning will be enhanced and skills will be developed and refined. Throughout the year parents are also given various opportunities to contribute to their child's development and learning program. As we strongly believe that "it takes a community to educate a child", family input is an important part of our program development. 

Program Planning Together - The Emergent Curriculum

When the children are more confident in expressing themselves the group is asked what they would like to make, learn about and do the following week. Using their suggestions a program is developed based on their ideas. This form of teaching encourages the children to contribute. It gives them ownership of the program and lets the children know that they are important and that their ideas are valued. By programming this way it also means that children are more likely to participate without needing direction from staff because it is what they wanted to do.

The program will provide children with learning experiences in many areas including: art, science, maths, computers, music, language, reading, writing, movement, dance and cooking. Children will be encouraged to try all aspects of the program and the emphasis will be placed on the process not the final product.

Program Documentation - Learning Stories

Beside the sign in book at kinder you will find our Learning Stories folder. Daily, staff will add a story to this folder which will document and clearly show (with photo's) examples of some of the learning that has occurred during the session. We encourage parents to take time to read through the stories whenever possible.

Portfolios

Working in conjunction with the group learning stories, portfolios are used to document your child's individual learning. Woodridge will provide and establish a portfolio for each child that staff and children will contribute to throughout the year.

These portfolios are designed and used as a sharing tool between kindergarten and home. We encourage parents to borrow their child's portfolio and contribute to it by including their own stories about learning and special events that occur at home.

The end result will be a wonderful resource for the children to keep and look back upon with fondness of their time at Woodridge, and will be given to the children when they leave our kinder.

If you would like a more formalised meeting to discuss your child's progress and development please ask your teacher to schedule an appointment time for you.

For those working parents who find it difficult to get to kindergarten to have a discussion with the staff, please don't hesitate to call either Kim (4 year old teacher) or Marie (3 year old teacher) at kinder on 9439 2183 to discuss your child's progress.