Play is pivotal to every child’s learning and development. That’s why our educators give your child so many opportunities to explore and make sense of the world through play-based experiences.

indoor play

Indoor Play gives your child the chance to explore creative experiences (art, painting, collage making); puzzles of varying difficulties; literature and high-quality picture books; play dough; fine motor experiences (threading, cutting, drawing/writing, small construction materials like Lego); board games and card games; sensory experiences (like goop and clay); block building (with a variety of accessories); and dramatic play (home corner, dress ups, doctors, shops and other activities).

This play session is an opportunity for educators to respond directly to the needs and interests of the children. It is time for small group research and activities, targeted skills development, or investigations that extend the topics covered in the Music and Language Session.

OutDOOR PLAY

Outdoor Play provides a great opportunity for your child to use gross-motor movements (like running, jumping and climbing) on the obstacle course, on the fort (including slippery dip and monkey bars), with a variety of sporting equipment (soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball) and using other challenging equipment (like wobble boards, see saws and stompers). They will also enjoy playing in the sand or the digging pit or taking the opportunity to rest and relax (painting, reading or drawing).

Music and Language

This play session, commonly known as ‘Group Time’, gives your child the opportunity to develop language and thinking skills. Our educators often take this time to explore learning concepts in greater depth and extend your child’s knowledge. It is also a time for your child to enjoy literature, singing, dancing and targeting specific body movements (like hopping), playing instruments and exploring musical concepts.

Once each term your child will take home the ‘Sharing Book’ so your family can write about its experiences and your child can add drawings and contributions. It’s in this session that they will be invited to share their ‘Sharing Book’ story—building their confidence as communicators and storytellers. 

Bible Story

Each day we read from The Beginner’s Bible, sing songs and pray. As a Christian preschool, we believe it is important to address your child’s spiritual needs as well as their educational and general development as this gives them the opportunity to make an informed decision about their faith as they mature.

Quiet Time

This is a time to rest and recharge in a busy day. Your child will be offered a range of quiet activities (drawing, reading, puzzles) and given the opportunity to rest. They will also be encouraged to make choices and learn to recognise when their body needs rest (with support from our educators). Resources (beds/blankets) are available for those who choose to nap during this time. 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Visitors provide enriching educational experiences for your child as the following examples show. Fire fighters from Gladesville Fire Station bring their fire truck and teach the children about fire safety. Special Performances give the children the chance to sing, dance and gain an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life and Indigenous culture. Also included in our year are Events such as Book Week, Talk like a Pirate Day, PJ Days, Preschool Picnic and Preschool Disco.

COMMUNITY TIES

Our program is flexible enough to accommodate the participation of family members in creating meaningful educational experiences for the children. We invite parents to share an interest or skill with their child’s group (see Community Ties). We also welcome your family to visit us during the three open weeks we hold each year for mothers, fathers and grandparents.