SOEL Kindy Child Care
In the 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Programme, language, literacy, numeracy, science and technology concepts and skills are strengthened and enriched by well-developed studio skills – manipulating paint, clay, wire, textiles and collage materials.
Words and numbers are everywhere – to be used, read, written, sung, played with and invented. Every investigation, mat time, forum, play-based experience, routine and excursion provides an authentic application of reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, counting and measuring skills.
“Children construct their understanding as a result of their active and guided participation in social and cultural relationships.
New abilities are demonstrated first in a social setting with support from an adult or peer. Scaffolding facilitates the transfer of what we already know to the task at hand.” x
Children branch out into the community as they travel to sister SOEL centres, the library, art galleries, museums, aged care facilities, and places relevant to the long-term sustained investigations which are now the centrepiece of the 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Programme. Working in small groups, children negotiate the ‘rules and limits’ of spaces, activities, incursions and excursions. They explore ideas, develop theories, test hypotheses, experiment, investigate, research, develop understandings and communicate their learning.
The mentoring of younger children continues as our ‘big’ Kindy children support toddlers and babies to learn self-help skills, embedding these skills themselves as they teach and support others and continue the development of empathy, awareness of others, sharing and taking responsibility.
“Children develop knowledgeable and confident self identities. They celebrate and share their contributions and achievements with others.”
SOEL 4-Year-Old Kindy Rooms
