Curriculum

“Education is the most powerful weapon we have to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Children do their most important learning before the age of five, which is why quality education is of the utmost importance in children’s early years. We consider the latest educational research, our own experiences and knowledge base, and also the national Early Years Learning Framework when developing our programs. Our Program is delivered in partnership with families, children's first and most influential educators, to develop learning opportunities that are responsive to children's ideas, interests, strengths and abilities.

Kinderloop

Kinderloop is the digital app we use to share your child's learning journey with you. Kinderloop provides a secure way for our educators to share information with families through real time updates. Kinderloop is a private closed loop, posts are only shared with invited family members and staff and cannot be shared across the web.

Benefits for families:

• Secure and private. Child's data will be accessible only to the families who are invited.
  
• Families receive photos, news and reminders from educators on their devices or via the web.
• See children's daily activities, observations, learning stories, events and more.
• Helps develop and maintain a positive and constructive relationship with your child's educators.
• Families can continue the learning with their children at home.
• Securely invite additional family members.

Observations & Portfolios

Learning outcomes and individual observations of your child are documented in a wide variety of ways, which assists our educators to ensure they are taking a holistic approach to your child’s development and are extending their skills and abilities in meaningful ways. Educators will also draw on you for information and feedback regarding your child’s interests and needs as well as your aspirations regarding your child’s learning.

Each child has their learning documented via Kinderloop which makes up the children's individual digital portfolio.

Ants in the Apple Phonics Program

At The Hills Pre School, we implement a phonics-based, pre-reading program known as Ants in the Apple. The children explore the individual letters and the sounds they represent in written words. We encourage the children to think of words that begin with the weekly sound and bring in objects starting with that letter.

The Ants in the Apple program is adapted to suit the age and developmental level of all the children at the centre. This program allows children to extend their literacy skills and explore concepts that will be necessary for their schooling.

Early Learning Years Framework

Early childhood programs are structured by a national framework known as the Early Learning Years Framework (ELYF). The foundation of ELYF is for all children to experience play-based learning that is engaging and builds success for life. The EYLF is designed to make the most of a child’s learning from birth to five years and ease the transition into a formal schooling environment. It describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.

• Belonging is the basis for living a fulfilling life, shaping who children are and who they can become. Children feel they belong because of the relationships they have with their family, community, culture and place. Key aspects to a child’s sense of belonging include: being respectful and accepting, engaging and interacting with other children in positive relationships, appreciating the individuality of themselves and others and feeling a sense of security.
• Being is about living in each moment. Childhood is a special time to just "be" - time to play, try new things, make sense of the world and have fun. This element focuses on each child’s current state of being, which strongly influences their view of themselves and their world.
• Becoming is about the learning and development that young children experience. Children start to form their sense of identity from an early age, which shapes the type of adult they will become. Becoming is all about a child growing up and moving through each stage of early childhood right through to preparing for school. Elements of the EYLF curriculum such as implementing school readiness, expanding children’s skills, building foundations for learning, encouraging independence and identifying a child’s strengths, all contribute to a child developing a strong sense of becoming.

The EYLF covers practices, learning outcomes and principles that seek to encourage children to expand their horizons and grow up to be confident, caring, intelligent and relational people. Understanding the EYLF will give you peace of mind about your child’s education.