NURSERY (6 weeks to approx. 16 months)
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Our infant room caters for a maximum of 11 children aged from 6 weeks to 16 months (or whenever they are confidently walking). Routines are flexible and specific to the individual babies. The adult-to-child ratio is 1:4.
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In the nursery, a significant priority for our educators is to establish a safe and secure relationship with each child. Throughout the day, many opportunities are provided for children to have one-to-one experiences with educators. These experiences may involve sharing cuddles and smiles, talking, reading books, singing songs and playing together.
Educators plan and provide experiences that encourage children to play and explore. Experiences are responsive to the individual needs and interests of the children, and each child has a variety of opportunities and experiences to support their stage of development. The development of key motor skills, such as reaching for, holding and exploring objects, crawling, rolling and pulling up to stand have a prominent place in the nursery program. Children are also exposed to a variety of sensory experiences to foster development and learning.
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Children in the nursery go on friendly visits to residents while riding in a pram, or, for those who are able to support themselves sitting, in a large wagon pulled by their educators.
TODDLERS (approx. 16 months to 3 years)
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With an adult-to-child ratio of 1:4, our toddler room caters for a maximum of 11 children aged from approximately 16 months to 3 years.
In our toddler room, educators take advantage of opportunities for one-to-one interactions with each child. Positive interactions throughout the day help to support the development of warm and friendly relationships. Many opportunities for developing social skills and various types of play take place, including reading books, having conversations, singing songs, and playing games. Toddlers are supported to work and play harmoniously with other children during this egocentric stage.
The physical environment provides many opportunities for children to play, explore, investigate, and feed their curiosity, and educators plan experiences that are responsive to each child’s age, abilities and interests. Children have access to a variety of play and learning materials that allow for open-ended play. This provides opportunities for children to express themselves freely and creatively.
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Toddlers visit residents in the nearby activity room of the nursing home where they enjoy sing-along time, craft activities, storytelling and friendly visits. Toddlers are accompanied by their educators as they visit residents.
KINDERGARTEN (3 years to school age)
Delivered by fully qualified teachers and educators, our 3- and 4- year old kinder programs each cater for a maximum of 22 children aged from 3 years 3 months to 4 years, 8 months.
To prepare children for their first formal year of schooling, children in the Kinder room are encouraged and supported to take an active role in managing their own behaviour. In order to support the development of self-esteem and confidence, educators strive to build an environment that enables children to feel a strong sense of belonging. Children are encouraged and supported to work collaboratively and harmoniously with their peers, while also being given plenty of opportunities to develop their independence.
Educators cater to each child’s unique interests, needs and abilities, and learning experiences that promote play-based learning, problem solving and exploration are offered. The Kindergarten program is informed by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). A strong focus on the development of key pre- literacy and numeracy skills is also evident in the Kindergarten program, as we believe in the importance of establishing a strong foundation for these essential life skills.
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Our kindy group participate in daily activities with residents where all involved enjoy their time together learning new skills and taking part in fun activities. Activities include cooking, art, and sing alongs.
