QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK ABOUT EARLY LEARNING

Early Learning staff at Bhavani School share their responses to the most pressing questions parents ask about Early Learning

1. What are the advantages of Early Learning environment?

From three years of age, when a child joins the BS-CFL, Early Learning Centre, they are given the space and freedom to explore a wide variety of play-based activities. They learn that they can do anything and that they can be as active and adventurous as anybody; Play-based activities include things like digging in sandpits, molding mud and constructing with blocks.

In this environment, leadership skills begin to develop as educators encourage open, free-flowing communication where children’s voice their opinions and share their thoughts. The ELC is a nurturing space that works to build on social interactions, enabling inclusive and supportive friendships to flourish.

Kids are empowered to expand and experiment with concepts, projects, games and designs —frequently revisiting or modifying their original plans, opportunities are embraced across all aspects of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program. The ELC’s ‘intentional teaching’ structure ensures kids are given access to a range of STEM stimuli to pique their curiosity and provoke further questioning and investigation.

2. How is the day structured at an ELC?

At BS-CFL, the program may be conducted indoors or outdoors, depending on the day’s schedule of ‘purposeful play’.

It’s important to note that all of the day’s activities are designed as learning experiences. From sensory experiences including water-based activities, through to visual arts activities such as painting and drawing, ELC educators put much thought into tailoring and layering the day’s learning, appropriate to each early learner’s developmental stage.

Specialist lessons are also available. Meanwhile, child’s gross motor skills are developed through a range of activities including ball games and obstacle courses aimed at developing hand-eye coordination and locomotor skills.

3. What are the qualifications of the ELC team?

All lead educators are qualified kindergarten teachers, having obtained NTT.

Powerful interactions between educators and children are assured, thanks to small class sizes.

4. How do you prioritize literacy and numeracy within a play-based environment?

‘Intentional teaching’ methods are tailored so that play ignites children’s interest in literacy and numeracy. Each studio has a literacy center, furnished with a range of writing materials, papers, picture books and display boards designed to spark young learners’ interest in ‘mark making’ – the precursor to writing.

Kids are exposed to mathematical concepts daily at the ELC. From interacting with the calendar and creating patterns for their artworks, through to using scales and rulers to measure weight and length, kids are introduced to a wide range of numerical concepts.

Within these contexts, educators closely observe how the kids participate in and engage with activities. Educators pose questions and draw out responses to help kid’s grow their understanding of a topic. All ELC educators are continually identifying ways to build upon concepts and layer learning progressively throughout each term.

5. How does the ELC prepare kids for next level?

At the ELC, kids develop the confidence during their Early Learning experience that is fundamentally important to succeed in the early Primary Years when challenges in literacy, numeracy and the broader curriculum emerge.