Curriculums

 

“All children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life”

 

Curriculum - all ages

(Belonging, Being, Becoming)

Jnr Explorers Follows the principles of The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Australian and New South Wales, Belonging, Being, Becoming. We look at the 5 outcomes as a guide to our planning cycles for all children.

  • Children have a strong sense of Identity
  • Children are connected with and contribute to their world
  • Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
  • Children are confident and involved learners
  • Children are effective communicators

 

We use the framework to guide our practices towards learning through play with intentional teaching, learning environments, cultural competence and scaffolded learning ensuring that all children have a learning journey with positive outcomes that is specific to the individual needs of the child.

Our thoughts on the importance of learning through play are as follows:

  • Play produces well wired minds.
  • Play is critical to brain development.
  • Children gain all the skills they need physically, socially, cognitively, emotionally and creatively through play.

 

When children play they are:

  • Building imagination
  • Developing language and reading skills
  • Strengthening physical skills
  • •Enhancing self esteem
  • Building maths and science skills
  • Forming friendships and social skills
  • Gaining self-control
  • Solving Problems
  • Learning how to think
  • Discovering their world
  • Getting ready for success in school, work and life.

 

“When we make Play the foundation of learning, we teach the Whole child.” 
~ Vince Gowmon

 

Play provides opportunities for all children to learn as they discover, create, improvise and imagine. Play provides a supportive environment where children can ask questions, solve problems and engage in critical thinking. Play can expand children’s thinking and enhance their desire to know and to learn. When children play it illustrates how play enables them to simply enjoy being. 

Our educators play a major role to support learning for all children

  • They interact and build trusting relationships. They create learning environments that encourage children to explore.
  • They Implement a flexible program that is responsive to the evolving nature of the early childhood environment, one that provides for different learning styles
  • They make observations of children and document their work to form the basis of the program
  • They use both the indoor and outdoor environment to encourage the children’s ability to observe, perceive, explore, investigate, imagine, make choices and problem solve.
  • They provide a balance between child led, child initiated and educator supported learning
  • They provide attractive, well maintained play areas, with the thoughtful use of furnishings and displays
  • They introduce children to a wide range of social and cultural experiences, family types and different ways of doing things so they will learn to value diversity, learn to accept challenges they may face and become fully realized members of society.

 

We aim to provide families with every opportunity to be involved in their child’s learning. They will be regularly informed of their child’s development, interests and learning journey through the Jnr Explorers app, emails, newsletters and many displays around the Centre will be updated to keep you informed.

 

Prep Kids Program – 4yrs to 5yrs (year before school)

The curriculum creates the framework around the interactions, activities and experiences, both planned and unplanned when implementing our Prep Kids Program. This ensures your child is equipped and ready for their transition to the new learning objectives in the school environment. We structure our Prep Kids Program through the following development areas:

Language & Literacy 

  • Storytelling  
  • Dramatic arts/role play  
  • Communication 

Mathematical Learning 

  • Numbers and measurement 
  • Shapes and spatial awareness 
  • Patterning, sorting and classifying

Science and Technology 

  • Enquiry and investigation 
  • Collecting and organising data 
  • Use of ipads and interactive whiteboards 

Expressive Arts  

  • Drama and dance Art, design and music Outdoor & Physical Activity 
  • Movement and coordination 
  • Gross motor skill development 

Environment and Sustainability 

  • Caring for the world we live in 
  • Understanding the environment 

Family and Community 

  • Diversity 
  • Partnerships and collaboration 
  • Shared decision making 

Independence & Responsibility 

  • Caring for self & for others (empathy) 
  • Contributing to a group constructively 
  • Personal care and hygiene 

Social & Emotional Development 

  • Understanding feelings 
  • Demonstrating self-control 
  • Working with others

 

“every child has a different learning style and pace.
Each child is unique, not only capable of learning but also capable of succeeding.”

-Robert John Meehan