ABOUT
Early Learning Curriculum
We endeavour to provide your child with dedicated educators that will nurture and facilitate growth and development. We also recognise the importance of social interactions with children of the same age, but of different age groups, too. We strive to provide a supportive, safe and stimulating learning environment that will build solid foundations for every child’s lifelong success.
At Koala Cubs, we support an emergent curriculum that is driven by children’s interests, suggestions and notions. Educators observe and converse with each child then interpret their collected information to channel into intentional focuses within their environment.
To support our emergent curriculum, educators use provocations to introduce children to new concepts. These are used to provoke conversation, thoughts, creations and learning beyond the obvious, which then influence the emergent curriculum.
AS A SANCTUARY TO GROW AND LEARN
Our educators cultivate the atmosphere of a Sanctuary, an adventure land and a nourishing support system that encourages your child to thrive in all areas of development and wellbeing in a safe Heaven.
We understand that entrusting us with the care, wellbeing and education of your young child is the greatest privilege, and one that we do not take lightly. We hand pick our team to ensure that we have the very best educators to bring out each and every child’s potential.
Our long day care centre have been designed to mirror our methodology for learning with unique and, where possible, sustainable resources that support the development of your child.
OUR CLASS ROOMS
NURSERY
Full of changes and growth, the first two years of a child’s life should be supported with constant nurturing, comfort and security.
Our nursery environments are made up of sensory-rich resources with dedicated cot areas to engage senses, nurture autonomy and to replicate your at-home rest routines.
TODDLERS
New discoveries and curiosity pave the way for toddlers who are eagerly learning about their sense of self and their surroundings.
We provide your child with the platform to investigate their own learning and branch into topics that interest them whilst scaffolding their development.
PRE KINDERGARTEN
Our Highly Qualified kindergarten teachers deliver the stepping stones that your child needs to get them ready for their next big journey in life.
Children will be supported to build the confidence they need to face the next challenge in their learning pathway, both socially and emotionally, with our dedicated kindergarten.
KINDERGARTEN
Our Highly Qualified kindergarten teachers deliver the stepping stones that your child needs to get them ready for their next big journey in life.
Children will be supported to build the confidence they need to face the next challenge in their learning pathway, both socially and emotionally, with our dedicated kindergarten.
What is EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK?
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) refers to the national curriculum framework in Australia for early childhood. All child care services are required to use the EYLF to support and guide the educational program for children.
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) places children’s learning at the heart and encompasses three interconnected elements of principles, practices and outcomes to guide pedagogy and curriculum decision making. The five learning outcomes acknowledge variations in learning styles, development and context as well as the complex, integrated nature of learning as children progress towards the outcomes in their own meaningful ways:
• 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
LEARNING PROGRAM
- Koala Cubs understands that during the first few years of a child’s life, their needs significantly differ as they grow.
- Age ranges are maintained in each room to ensure the needs of each child are not just met but exceeded and each experience is there to enhance their next stage of development.
3. Whilst keeping our room sizes small and age groups close, we offer all children the opportunity to engage with children of different ages in some of our large combined outdoor play spaces.
4. We find these shared spaces builds the confidence of children as they can interact and mirror the skills of older children supporting their own development of fine and gross motor skills.”
INFANT PROGRAM
We understand that children are competent and active learners from infancy. Our program reflects children’s interests and needs. Our main priority is to respond to children’s individual needs and routines in order to set a safe and secure environment where they feel confident to explore the world around them and engage with their educators.
Educators work closely in collaboration with families and value their input. Our infant curriculum offers a play-based program with many opportunities for sensory development, motor skill and socio-emotional skill building. It combines all the elements for a great start!
TODDLER PROGRAM
Our toddler program is a child-centred curriculum that offers a rich indoor/outdoor learning environment. Our emergent curriculum focuses on interest and play-based learning, with a philosophy inspired by Reggio Emilia.
Children explore, learn and play in an inviting learning environment in which they feel a sense of belonging because it reflects their interests and offers links with their homes. The program is nurtured by educators’ observations on children’s level of development and offers appropriate learning experiences that will help them reach their full potential.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
Our preschool program is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, using the 100 languages of a child to encourage communication in all its forms. Children are encouraged to express themselves in any way they see fit as they fully immerse themselves in our environment. The children lead the learning and make choices about their curriculum.
The holistic development of each individual child is encouraged with learning experiences that promote children’s connection to nature, curiosity and disposition for learning.
The children are in charge of their own learning and teachers are facilitators that help the children scaffold it. Collaborative work is promoted in order to develop social skills and help children to learn from each other as well facilitating a sense of belonging to a group.
SCHOOL-READINESS PROGRAM
Our school-readiness program is designed to support children with the readiness and social and emotional skills they require to transition into primary school. Our curriculum integrates both intentional teaching and child-led approaches and experiences and is based on the needs and interests of the children attending.
These experiences are all facilitated through play and include art, craft, construction, movement, music, stories, role play, games, mindfulness and relaxation. Children are also supported to be more independent and confident in their learning, emotional and social regulation and self care.
Our school-readiness program draws upon the Reggio Emilia approach, seeing the environment as a third teacher. Investigative tasks in both our indoor and outdoor environments will serve as a discovery tool. Sustained and open-ended conversation with children enhance thier curiosity and critical thinking.
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
At Koala Cubs, we promote project-based learning. This method of learning enables children to gain knowledge and skills by dedicating an extended period of time to investigating and responding to an authentic, engaging and meaningful question or challenge.
Projects or investigations may last for as little as a week or may last as long as for months; the children facilitate this timing and decision-making.
We believe that projects and investigations provide many learning experiences that benefit children. Children present their own questions to be answered or take the initiative to investigate into their inquiries.
Through conducting their own investigations and making decisions about their learning activities, children become empowered, dedicated and invested in their learning.
This active involvement in their learning builds children’s creative thinking and inquiry processes that are necessary for lifelong learning.
Educators enhance learning with real-world connections, excursions/incursions and provocations. This approach to learning encourages skill application and positive learning habits by attempting to make learning as enjoyable, fun and self-motivated as possible.
ENVIRONMENT AS THE THIRD EDUCATOR
Our indoor and outdoor environments have been designed to inspire and promote each child’s learning journey. The environments are designed to flow seamlessly from one to another to create an interconnected experience linking learning experiences to create an ever-evolving opportunity for growth.
Outdoor environments provide opportunities to learn through play, enabling access to materials that stimulate investigation and reflection and are enriched with natural resources and opportunities to connect with nature.
Our indoor environments have been supplied with the latest resources and furniture to encourage children’s inquisitive nature at every age group.