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Our Preschool Program
 Our Vision
We envision a pre-school where all children feel welcomed, accepted, loved and happy! This will be a place where children want to go, and look forward to attending. We will work in genuine collaborative partnerships with children, families and our local community to ensure the provision of an invaluable resource to all who are involved with us.
The Balance of Education and care
At Explore and Develop we believe that children have a right to receive both quality education and nurturing care.
Teachers are dedicated to providing a warm and nurturing environment for each and every child.
Lower than average ratios allow educators and carers to really get to know the children, their families and their individual cultures.
Our philosophy promotes an inclusive, anti-bias curriculum. We welcome children from all backgrounds.
We believe that every child has the right to feel safe, esteemed and loved. Each child and their family will be valued regardless of any personal characteristic, circumstance, feature of lifestyle, social group or culture.
By modelling authentic respect towards diversity, we encourage children to accept, appreciate and admire difference.
Our Curriculum
In the Crocs Room, we are committed to laying strong educational foundations for children in their pre-school years.
The Early Years Learning Framework (2009) guides our teaching practices. Our personal philosophy draws on the ideas of contemporary theorists such as Vygotski, Piaget, Malaguzzi and AS Neill.
- Projects and Theme Areas
Our emergent curriculum is constantly changing, building upon the interests of the children. Teachers are constantly on the lookout for themes which pop up in children’s conversation that may then be taken and built upon in a project. Our options are limitless. Teachers observe children’s interests and decide upon the ways to best incorporate kindergarten key learning areas (English, Maths, Science, Physical Development and creative arts) into these themes.
Children, teachers and parents perpetually offer suggestions to extend on and continue with the program until this interest wanes. Project work is documented through photos, diary entries, displayed work samples and classroom installations and is available for revisitation whenever the children request it.
- Social Focus
The social focus system encourages the effective development and enhancement of life skills with a focus on conflict resolution. Children are taught to understand the value and power of words. By placing heightened emphasis on the importance of using “I” statements and clarifying needs with verbal communication (and never using our hands), children are given opportunities to practice their social skills and further develop their capacity for effective emotional regulation. Current research suggests that the benefits of effective, early, socio-emotional regulatory skills include a tendency towards successful peer relationships and positive academic outcomes! Each month, a “snapshot” of how this social focus has emerged in the classroom will be featured in this portfolio.
School Readiness
While all kindergarten key learning areas are covered in our emergent curriculum approach, we believe that children have a right to be prepared for the specific changes that will occur with their transition to school. Individualised programs are developed with input from the child, parents, our pre-school teacher, and (circumstances permitting) with the child’s future teacher. This way, children and parents may approach the transition to school with confidence in the fact that their child may be familiar with the expectations of their school, thus minimising the stresses that come with adjusting to the new environment.
To achieve this –
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