Bushland Pre-school Room
Ages 3-5
Our Preschool room caters for 20 children, engaging in our school readiness program over a 2 year period. Our Preschool educators are all University qualified, holding Bachelor of Education degrees.
Room Routines
Within the preschool room, we strive to find a cohesive balance between both structured experiences and free play, as a way to begin mimicking the routines and expectations of a primary schooling environment.
We generally start and conclude our days within the outdoor environment, where the children engage with a variety of open ended experiences.
Within the room, we begin our day gathering as we acknowledge our country, our peers and our educators. We engage in flexible style group times where our educators plan on the basis of the children's interests. Here, children have the opportunity to engage if they wish, leading their learning through research and investigation.
Our morning play period is planned within our curriculums, intentionally and spontaneously providing experiences to support the development of children's cognitive, motor and social emotional skills in preparation for school. These experiences can range from table top experiences, to sensory play trays, STEAM, literacy or numeracy based experiences, and dramatic play areas too… all of which the children can explore different concepts and develop confidence in a range of different skills.
The pre-school children enjoy having their lunch around mid morning. Here, the children are exposed to a wide variety of different meals, flavours and foods in an exciting and encouraging space. They here develop the skills of independent eating, and tidying up their plates, bowls and eating space when finished.
Throughout our days in the pre-school room, we provide opportunities to explicitly teach and support the development of self help skills and independence, for example, dressing appropriately for the weather or putting their shoes and socks on.
After lunch we follow our mindfulness program, before heading on throughout the afternoon into children's choice table top and mat experiences.
Pre- Lit
PreLit is a systematic, skills-based program that lays a sound foundation for children to learn to read.
Targeted at preschool children who will be transitioning to formal schooling the following year.
It is designed to complement a play-based learning environment and supports the Early Years Learning Framework.
There are 108 well sequenced lessons that teach pre-literacy skills explicitly and systematically.
Teaches phonological awareness and oral language skills.
Delivered in two 15 minute sessions daily:
Session one - phonological awareness.
Session two - oral language and print awareness.
STEAM & Robotics
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics
STEAM challenges are hands-on, open-ended, child-centred, problem solving activities that can help children learn the process to solve real world problems through creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance.
It follows a process:
- Ask (What is the problem to solve?)
- Imagine (Brainstorm how to solve the problem)
- Plan (What are you going to do to solve the problem;
think and sketch ideas)
- Create (Follow plan and build it)
- Test (How well does it work)
- Improve (What can we do to make it better)
Example - Building a boat out of straws that will float in water
Robotics in early childhood can introduce STEAM concepts to children in a playful way, thereby encouraging them to be excited about further exploration in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Our preschoolers experiment with coding our Bee Bots allowing them to see first hand what they can create with technology.
Mindfulness
Our mindfulness program is about helping children build a strong sense of well-being so that they have the confidence to maximise their learning potential. It gives them the skills and techniques to help express their thoughts and feelings, self-regulate and build a strong healthy body. It incorporates YOGA, breathing exercises; using music and self regulation and calming equipment, and being creative using movement and craft.
Promotional Preschool room Video
Coming Soon
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
A vital part of the success of the Preschool room is the praise and encouragement that the children receive. We aim to develop a great enthusiasm for learning within your child. Educators work at each child’s pace and offer full support and praise for: effort, trying hard and the process they work through, rather than the resulting piece of work.
Throughout our play-based learning program we intentionally design experiences that target and develop our preschool objectives. All children within the preschool room have the opportunity to participate at their own pace and ability. Our educators are close by to monitor the children’s progress and capture those intentional teaching moments in order to scaffold the children’s learning.
Our main objectives for the preschool program are within these four areas:
Social and emotional:
To try our best, and encourage an enthusiasm for learning.
To progress at our individual pace.
To build confidence in expressing themselves socially and emotionally, whilst developing a positive sense of self.
Preschool Mathematics -
To ensure that Mathematical concepts are fully understood, through ‘hands on’ materials and in-depth discussions.
To extend each child’s thinking and reasoning skills, along with their estimation, matching and counting ability.
To ask and answer questions such as “what would happen if?”
Preschool Reading -
To follow pictures/ stories from left to right and top to bottom.
To identify likeness and differences.
To understand the concept of sequence.
Pre-writing -
To reinforce correct pencil grip and correct motor movements.
To practice moving from left to right with a pencil.
To reinforce letter formation, with a natural slope.
To practice drawing a variety of writing strokes, patterns and lines.
