structure
learning
In recognition of the varying needs of children, the Creche is organised into the five groups. Flexibility will apply depending on the individual need of the child.
Nursery - Beetles
3 months - 18 months
The primary focus of this room is provide a safe and secure environment for all children, and allow each child to develop a sense of trust of their carers and environment. This is achieved by having familiar and consistent staff within the room, and keeping the environment fairly similar so children are confident to explore their surroundings and to further develop new and existing skills.
Primarily within this age range, a focus is also on emerging gross motor skills, so opportunities are provided for children to strengthen and extend their skills in this area.
Toddlers - Bumblebees
18 months - 2.5 years
The primary focus of this room is to further support and extend the emerging language of toddlers and to assist them in participating in positive social interactions with those in their environment. This is achieved in many ways throughout the program, but mainly with picture books and singing songs within planned and spontaneous experiences.
Children towards the older end of this age range may also begin toilet training, and this is done through consultation with parents and devising strategies together to ensure readiness has been established and that the experience will be of a positive nature.
Toddlers - Grasshoppers
2.5 years - 3 years
The primary focus of this room is to utilise the children's developing language to engage in varied forms of social play, including dramatic and role playing. This is achieved by providing the children with many opportunities to use the equipment provided in their own way to create their own play.
Open ended experiences are on offer, allowing the children scope to initiate their own play and create roles for one another to be involved in the play. Basic number and color concepts are also introduced, and this is extended depending on the needs and interests of the child/ren.
Kindergarten - Ladybirds and Butterflies
3 - 5 years
The Kinder room is split into 2 groups of a morning - the 3 year olds and the 4 year olds. The 4 year old program is slightly more advanced than that of the 3 year olds (due to developmental needs), however the basis of the program is similar.
The Kinder room primarily focuses on extending social skills and self help skills to increase each child's independence and self esteem. Focus also continues on fostering the basic maths, science and language concepts, and in particular, color, number and letter recognition.
Towards the end of the year, the 4 year olds participate in a school readiness program, which further develops skills within these children to enable them to be confident and independent within the school environment.
Excursions
An excursion is defined as any activity in which children are taken out of the premises. Children learn from experience, therefore excursions are seen as a valuable part of the Creche program. Careful planning is needed to ensure the success of an excursion. Planning is to maximise the learning potential of the experience, while ensuring the safety of all those involved. More ...