What do we do?

What do children do at

Preschool?

 

 

Lalor Park Preschool provides a high quality educational program that maximises each child’s learning potential within a safe, enjoyable and inclusive environment. Children are free to explore learning at their own pace and engage in sustained enquiry based learning.

When children commence preschool, they are placed in either the ‘Sunshine’ or ‘Rainbow’ room in a group of 20 children. Throughout the day, each classroom will spend some of their time interacting with the other class and educators, which provides them with the opportunity to socialise within a larger group of children and therefore develop friendships outside of their own group. At other times throughout the day, smaller groups are more beneficial. The children have the same educators working with them at all times, which helps to support their growing sense of security and trust as well as a strong sense of belonging.

Each day, the educators in collaboration with the children, plan a variety of learning experiences based upon the children’s individual interests, needs and stage of development. The indoor learning environment is set up with a wide variety of experiences including art and craft, puzzles,  play dough, books, block building, dramatic play, literacy and numeracy centres, games and much more.

Similarly,  the outdoor area is also a very attractive learning environment. It is fully shaded for sun protection and offers defined play spaces with gardens and lots of ‘naturalness’. It provides educators with flexibility in matching the learning experiences to children’s developing needs and interests.  The environment features several smaller areas for children to engage in quiet play with a friend or two,  and larger areas where children can engage in exciting pretend play. With two sandpits, a water course, flying fox, slippery dip, gazebo and a large area for playing with balls, riding cars and climbing, there are ample opportunities for great fun and enjoyable learning experiences.

The outdoor area also provides children with opportunities to be connected to and contribute to their world, where they can learn social responsibility and respect for the environment. The outdoor environment includes a native garden, vegetable garden, strawberry patch, flower gardens, compost area, bird feeders, rain water tank, drinking bubbler, and many other wonderful experiences where children can engage in gardening, sustainability and science experiments.

Although these experiences are presented as a range of fun, play based activities, they are actually a carefully constructed set of learning experiences with objectives, based on the children’s individual needs, learning styles, interests and stage of developmental.

The program also includes daily language and literacy groups where different learning focuses and concepts are presented through stories, pictures, puppets, drama, discussions and games. Music group times include dancing, singing, playing musical instruments and movement.

Throughout each day, all educators are involved in regular observations of each child. This information is then used to plan the program and monitor each child’s individual progress. Educators spend time observing how each child is progressing in each of their developmental areas. The experiences and activities within the program are then planned to meet their needs, and the children are encouraged to contribute their ideas towards the activities.

The curriculum is carefully programmed to support the inclusion of all children and to develop each child to their full potential in all areas of their development, including:

> Cognitive
> Social, Emotional and self help
> Fine and Gross motor
> STEM (Science, Technology,  Engineering and Maths)
> Literacy and language

A document, called ‘My Learning Portfolio’ is compiled for each child throughout their preschool year. The portfolio is a progressive document that the children also contribute to throughout the year. This helps them to value their own learning, develop a strong sense of identity and enhance their self esteem. The portfolio also provides families with valuable information on how their child is progressing throughout the year in each area of their development. The portfolios are readily available to families and children in their classrooms. Families are able to contribute to them too.

The preschool uses a digital platform to share the children’s learning with families.

We aim to foster in children a strong sense of identity, emerging autonomy, self-confidence, resilience, inter-dependence and an ability to interact socially with care, empathy and respect for others. We also aim to help develop children’s creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills.