Our Program
Cath’s Kindy has 3 separate learning areas:
Our Snails (0-2 years), Our Caterpillars (2-4 years), Our Butterflies (4-6 years)
We encourage children to be active, independent learners, taking advantage of the staff and the centre's environment to facilitate their learning experience. This promotes confidence and positive development of the child’s self esteem. When a child is confident and willing to try, they will learn. Every child has strengths in different areas of development. Learning should be fun, at Cath's Kindy, children enjoy learning on an individual basis and as part of co-operative learning groups. Learning and development is not a race, children develop at their own pace, to push this will inhibit rather than enhance a child’s development. All areas of your child’s development is covered: Physical, Emotional, Self Help, Social, Cognitive, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Language, Music, Creativity, Cultural Awareness & Diversity and Confidence.
As part of the Early Years Learning Framework (Belonging, Becoming, Being) there are 5 outcomes that within our program we are developing and working with the children. They are: Children have a strong sense of identity: Children are connected with and contribute to their world: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing: Children are confident and involved learners: and Children are effective communicators.
Group time activities are set so that the children will develop self-help skills, self esteem and function in a social group. Art and craft activities are available to children, we focus on process rather than product allowing children to explore with materials and textures. Multicultural themes will be introduced for children to share aspects from different cultures and backgrounds. Focusing on nationalities within the Centre.
School Readiness Program
We introduce children to the basic needs for entry to school, on an academic as well as a social level. These include; name recognition (writing and reading), number and shape recognition, pencil skills, scissor skills, communication skills and self-help skills.
Our School Readiness Program is facilitated in conjunction with input from local schools to ensure a consistent transition. We will reinforce these concepts throughout the year with the use of flash cards, displaying names and numbers, letter copying, writing their own names and group activities. In the final months before school, children who are going to school the next year will not have rest time and will start doing additional school type activities to greater enhance their development as well as structuring their day without a rest period. Throughout the year, we will work with our local schools whom advise us of any open day for new children commencing in the next year, which we will provide to you as they are provided to us.
We strive to ensure that your child’s and your transition to the world of “big school” is as smooth as possible and will provide you with all the support necessary for this very important milestone in yours and your child’s life.