Our Lady Star of the Sea – Early Learning Centre , Terrigal
Our Lady Star of the Sea – Early Learning Centre , Terrigal
Early Learning What does it really mean ?
I often wonder how parents and families feel when they begin their search for care and education for their young children . Recently it feels like education for 0 – 5 year olds has become a hotly contested marketplace with promises of free iPads , reading programs , fire pits , yoga rooms , bush kinder , take home meals , outings every day , language and music programs … and the list goes on and on .
I ’ m not saying these don ’ t have a place in early childhood education , we just need to be mindful that the focus remains on early learning and that one part of the program isn ’ t highlighted at the deficit of others . As parents and educators , we should ask ourselves , “ What is it we value about early education ’, and “ How do young children learn best ?”
As the Co-ordinator of the Early Learning Centre at Our Lady Star of the Sea I am grateful to work with a team of educators who all share the same philosophy around education and early learning . We value a play based curriculum and have developed a strong program that focuses on the importance of play . This program draws on the National Early Years Learning Framework , contemporary theories and best practices to provide children with high quality care and education that exceeds the national standard .
Current research and theory tells us that children learn best through play and we strongly advocate for a child ’ s right to play . Play provides opportunities for children to learn as they discover , create , improvise and imagine . It allows children to think critically , hypothesize , challenge theories , make mistakes and represent their ideas . At a time when it feels that expectations on children are greater than ever , we stand firm and defend a child ’ s right to play . If you cannot play when you are 3 , 4 and 5 years old , when do you get to ?
Our program is carefully considered and embedded into daily practices and routines . The children are given opportunities to explore a variety of learning spaces , provocations and meaningful experiences . Our program promotes physical , cognitive and social skills as well as the creative arts . It provides children with numerous opportunities to engage with literacy , mathematics and science in a multitude of ways . We strive to include the voices the children , families and educators . These elements are not extras , these are the foundations of our curriculum .
We take great care and place importance in creating indoor and outdoor learning spaces that are engaging , inspiring and flexible . These spaces allow children to actively guide their own learning and make decisions . We see children as capable and competent and provide authentic , real materials such as hammers and
30 KIDZ ON THE COAST