THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

The most important goal of our early childhood program is to help children become enthusiastic learners.  This means encouraging children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts.  Our goal is to help the children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners.  We are teaching them how to learn.

Sometimes parents ask us if their children are actually learning anything, as it seems they are simply playing.  This underestimates the importance of play in the early childhood setting.  Play provides the foundation for academic learning.  It is the preparation children need before they learn highly abstract symbols such as letters and numbers.  Play enables us to achieve the key goals of our curriculum.

Play is the work of early childhood

At Gingerbread Cottage Preschool, we use a method of programming that is responsive to individual children’s needs, and based on a thorough understanding of young children and their stages of development.

The process begins with teachers observing children each week, recording their observations under a specific developmental area (ie Social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language).  These observations are then evaluated, and follow-up activities are planned and included in the next week’s program.

Although programmed for an individual child’s needs, it is also beneficial to the whole group, and all the children have an opportunity to participate in a variety of experiences.

At the end of the week, the teacher will evaluate the objectives that were set, and record their findings.  This information is then used in conjunction with the following week’s planning. The program planning cycle then begins again.

Please note that these developmental records are available for discussion with parents.  Also, the weekly program will be on display in the Parents’ Area at the entry door.

The program is designed to:

• Develop a feeling of self-worth and high self-esteem
• Develop positive attitudes towards learning
• Develop a caring attitude towards other people and the environment
• Develop language and communication skills
• Develop skills and knowledge in all areas of the curriculum.

The activities we plan for children, the way we organise the environment, select toys and materials, plan the daily routine, and talk with the children, are all designed to accomplish the goals of our curriculum and give your child a successful start in school.