Goals are broad general statements reflecting the intentions of the centre in respect of the children and also the parents.
To facilitate the development of the whole child (physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, creatively, spiritually) as an individual and as a member of a group.
To promote the health and safety of children.
To provide a developmentally appropriate experience of preschool.
To work in partnership with parents, encouraging their involvement in their child’s education and care.
To observe each child’s development and interests in order to plan and evaluate.
To provide opportunities for children to appreciate diverse cultures and lifestyles within the community.
To develop an anti-bias approach to curriculum planning and create an anti-bias environment.
To provide a loving, caring environment where each child feels secure and special.
To facilitate a growing self control and respect for others in each child by using positive guidance.
To encourage an appreciation and care of the natural environment as God’s creation.
Objectives
The group program objectives are developed in consideration of the documents previously mentioned. They form the basis of planning for daily group time experiences and the learning environment. You will find a direct relationship between the individual objectives and the presentation of the various learning centres throughout the preschool environment.
The program objectives are located on the foyer pin-board next to the ongoing program reporting for easy reference.
Emergent Curriculum
A play-based and developmentally appropriate program promotes the greatest success in learning within the early childhood years. At Brayside we draw on children’s current interests and strengths for the content of our program. Our staff ensure children achieve the skills, attitudes and values as set out in our group program objectives by engaging them in the learning process through play. This promotes success, and in turn a love of learning. The success of this approach is achieved through collaboration with parents, careful observation by our trained and experienced staff and consideration of our community context.
Parents participate in partnership with staff through the contribution of information about their child as you would have recorded in the Enrolment form. Your family background, culture and values are identified so that they may be respected and affirmed in the centre. Over the year you will also be provided with a feedback sheet titled Observing your child. This is an opportunity to provide updated information about your child’s knowledge, skills, behaviours and topics of interest as demonstrated in the home and other contexts. You are also asked to record current areas of focus you have for your child’s individual program.
Literacy and Numeracy
Literacy and numeracy are integrated throughout the program. Children are provided with both modelling and prompting from staff using foundation font script (NSW English curriculum). Children are encouraged to explore the concepts of number and print through access to resources and support from staff. The literacy and mathematics learning centres offer a range of materials that can be used by children at a time and pace of their own choosing. The resources cater to a range of developmental levels and so offer the opportunity for consolidation of skills and challenge. Staff interact with children as they explore the resources and offer scaffolding to their learning experience.
Examples of experiences include making pretend money in shop play, counting games in group time experiences, writing letters to family and friends in the literacy centre and prompting by staff to write names on their art and craft work. Daily story reading experiences occur and children participate in mind mapping and recording information gathered in their project explorations. Through this integrated approach children identify with the many purposes for literacy and numeracy and are motivated to continue in their efforts to become members of the reading and writing community.
Our reading tree is also a great opportunity to promote an interest in reading with your child. As you read a story to your child or they tell you the story from the pictures you can add the name of the book and your child’s name to a leaf from the foyer and add it with blue tac to the tree that is displayed on the wall near the kitchen area.
