Often by the time children commence their four-year-old kindergarten year they have already experienced some time in formal care such as long day care, occasional/family day care or a 3yr old kindergarten program. Even those children with previous experience can sometimes feel anxious about being left in their new kindergarten environment, getting to know their teachers or making friends.
The program is tailored to support the transition process and individual strategies are put in place for children requiring additional time and support.
As with our 3-year-old program, the overall objectives in the four-year-old groups are in line with the Early Years Learning and Development Framework outcomes (outlined below) which aims to ensure children have all these aspects of learning fostered. The focus however shifts to a greater intention of school readiness.
At Botany Park Preschool our teaching staff provide a good mix of:
- Structured and unstructured activities.
- Intentional teaching and open ended play.
- Active physical play and quiet time / individual play.
- Small group and large group experiences.
- Opportunities to listen to others and opportunities to be heard.
- Being the leader and being able to follow another person’s ideas.
Each member of our teaching staff provides a quality program to reflect and build on the children’s interests and particular learning needs.
Cultural diversity will be celebrated in partnership with families and children’s identity explored using events that hold special meaning to them.
Through our 15 hour per week timetable, we are able to offer children time and opportunity to practice and revisit important skills and build learning in our program.