Parent Handbook - CURRICULUMS

Curriculum is the term used to consider the entire time that the Centre is open and offering care and education – this includes everything that happens i.e. routines, transition times and interactions as well as considering the environment that is provided.
It is important to remember that children learn through play.
                                    
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 $2.20 per child is required. Other excursions include visits to the park, zoo, musicals and live performances.

The curriculum offered at the Centre covers both the care and educational needs of the children.

All sections use the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). The Early Years Learning Framework describes the principles, practice and outcomes essential to support and enhance young children’s learning from birth to five years of age. The Early Years Learning Framework has been developed collaboratively by the Australian and State and Territory Governments with substantial input from the early childhood sector and early childhood academics.

Educators will use the framework as a basis for planning for the strengths, interests and developmental needs of the children. The 5 learning goals in the EYLF are:

• A strong sense of their identity
• Connections with their world
• A strong sense of wellbeing
• Confidence and involvement in their learning; and
• Effective communication skills

A curriculum of activities and events is displayed. Parents are encouraged to participate with staff in suggesting ideas. These ideas and any input from parents will be recorded and used for following curriculums and evaluations.

Each child is encouraged to be independent within a structured environment. There are times when being together as a group is a vital part of the curriculum.
Children are able to use both inside and outside areas throughout the day. The program is balanced so that children are given both quiet and active experiences, including sleep time where appropriate.

The policy of the St Morris Community Child Care Centre is to use learning stories, which are evaluated and used for program planning, on every child who uses our Centre. Other records of the children may be kept and will be maintained by staff. As these are confidential records, only staff and families have access to their child’s progress records.

Children, who only attend the minimum of two sessions per week, will have plans focussing only on social development, unless staff assess the need for more detailed information, recording and planning.

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.

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