Our indoor environment is designed to allow children to move freely through the distinct learning areas which include, maths, writing, art, library, discovery, sensory table, dramatic play and blocks. Each focused area in the room builds on specific skills and creates an environment that stimulates imagination, creativity, socialisation, exploration and discovery.
Children are also surrounded with resources and supplies that enable them to construct, represent and test theories. Large blocks of time are given to exploring in learning areas so that children may fully develop their ideas and thoughts.
We offer Indoor/Outdoor play within rooms, this offers children a choice on how and where they would like to spend their time throughout the day. The children are able to move freely from the indoors and outdoors during these times You will often see small groups of children playing in the room with an educator while the rest of the children are outdoors, spending time with additional educators. We offer this flexible learning weather permitting.
Each room goes ‘out and about’ – this can mean a walk in the local area, stroll down to the nearby park, a picnic on the grass areas surrounding the centre or a walk to watch the storm water drain after a heavy rains. We find the children love the sense of freedom these outings offer. They love finding new treasures, creatures or plants and their excitement is contagious.
Beyond the gate is a large grassed area that all rooms access throughout the week. The children love the open space that provides them with different opportunities than just the large back playground. There are rocks to use as construction resources, a large sloped hill for riding trikes down and shady trees to spend time under. Educators often take resources out to enrich the experience.
This theme runs throughout the centre, with rooms accessing natural resources, equipment and toys. These are open-ended and therefore children are able to use their imagination to create whatever they have in mind.
Our outdoor environment is designed to be a place for children to learn, explore and stretch their imaginations. We take every opportunity to extend the children’s learning to the outdoors.
STEAM
“Every Kid starts out as a natural-born scientist” Carl Sagan
Science
Technology
Engineering
Arts
Maths
STEAM is integration in our curriculum and children are asked lots of ‘WHY’ questions to extend their thinking.
STEM Philosophy
“STEM is a way of thinking about how educators at all levels – including parents – should be helping students integrate knowledge across disciplines, encouraging them to think in a more connected and holistic way” (Sneideman, 2013)