Parent Handbook - CURRICULUMS

‘Curriculum’ is the term used for all activities while the Centre is open and offering care and education - this includes everything that happens i.e. routines, transition times and interactions, as well as the environment and equipment that is provided. It is important to remember that children learn through play.

The South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability (SACSA) Framework is the curriculum framework used to promote interactive learning, foster the individual child’s construction of knowledge and develop children’s positive feelings of self-worth. This curriculum was developed by the Department of Education, Training and Employment and is for children from birth through to year 12.

The Curriculum at St Morris CCCC is a play based curriculum, that is designed so that each child can learn at their own pace and develop intellectually, physically and socially to their full potential.

Children normally follow a pattern of development for particular skills, although individuals’ rates of development may vary, so written observations and learning stories are taken for every child. From this information, staff determine how they can enhance the development of each child as an individual as well as within a group.

A positive self-concept is seen as a crucial aspect of the individual child’s development and must be nurtured and fostered in the centre-based early childhood setting. 

To ensure that parents are kept informed of their child’s progress, St Morris conducts Parent/Carer Evenings, allowing time away from the busy life of the Centre for communication between parents and staff. 

A focus of the Centre is to access a range of services in order to enhance the Curriculum.  At present the Centre utilises a Kindergym in terms 2 and 3 - the cost is $7.50 each session, and has a puppet show every term for $4.50.
Music sessions occur weekly for all groups on Friday mornings.  Although the Centre subsidises these, an additional cost of $2.00 per child is required.
Other excursions include visits to the park, zoo, musicals and live performances.

Special Needs

Curriculums are developed for children with special needs, to ensure that they have the best opportunities to learn and develop. These programs are usually developed in collaboration with their specialist.

A brief outline of the Program:

UNDER 3’S  (Babes and Pre-Kindy)- 
The 3 learning area’s with in the SACSA Framework for this age group are The Psycho-social Self; The Physical Self; and The Thinking and Communicating Self.

The types of experiences vary to meet the diverse needs of the under 3’s age group.  Experiences include such things as encouraging children to reach, stand, then walk, drawing (scribbling) and recognising objects in picture books. A large emphasis is on positive self-concept as it is believed to be the foundation for successful learning.

Primary Caregiving practises have been implemented for these age groups.

OVER 3’s (Kindy and Early Learning Centre) –
There are seven learning area’s for this age group within the SACSA Framework and they are Self and Social Development; Arts and Creativity; Communication and Language; Design and Technology; Diversity, Health and Physical Development and Understanding our World.
Some of the experiences offered include dramatic play, singing and dancing, puzzles and construction, painting, drawing, cooking, stories and the use of computers.

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