Located on the grounds of the Trinity Gardens P-7 School, the Early Learning Centre has its own purpose built building and outside area, very near the centre of the school. The building offers a main play area with carpeted and wet areas, a quiet multi-purpose room, bathroom and kitchen. The building is ventilated with windows. It is also has an air conditioner. Outside, the Early Learning Centre has its own playground equipment, sandpit and shed for storing the portable equipment. There is a wide verandah, large trees for shade in the yard and a pergola covering the sandpit.

The Early Learning Centre is open during school terms and caters for children aged 4 years to 5 years. It aims to develop children’s strengths and abilities through play-centred activities and to prepare them for entry into the main school once they have attended four terms at the Early Learning Centre.

Our school community is committed to creating an environment conducive to learning. We recognise the uniqueness of every child and support them as a learner to develop resilience, optimism, skills, confidence and social responsibility for them to achieve their full potential. Our values are respect, responsibility and learning.

As part of the School, the Principal and the Governing Council lead the Centre. The Principal, with the Early Learning Centre teacher, oversee the day to day running of the educational programmes. The Governing Council, in consultation with the staff, is responsible for the policies. The Centre, where possible, supports the policies and procedures of the School.

“The most powerful way young children learn is through play” (South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability)

We are a play centred preschool. Play is as vital to the child’s development as nutrition, health and shelter. Play provides children with the opportunities to investigate their world and to test their knowledge, skills and understanding. Play allows children to be active and interactive. They learn how to form and maintain relationships. During play, children are regularly using higher order thinking skills as they imagine, create, negotiate, problem solve and experiment.

The program is developed from professional observations and the current Education Department curriculum document The South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Framework. The program is displayed on the notice board each week and made available to parents in the pocket hanging on the door marked “Current Program”.

In order to give our children every opportunity to extend their learning we are fortunate enough to be able to access the school resources and facilities. Regularly and in many cases weekly, we:

• Work with specialist teachers and have access to their skills and knowledge – the Resource Centre teacher and the Italian and Instrumental music teachers.
• Work with an older class on a vast range of learning activities. They become our friends and mentors.
• Work in the Resource Centre with its extensive library of fiction and non-fiction books, math equipment, IT equipment and bank of computers where we can all access a computer at the one time.
• Borrow equipment from the science room to enhance our science program.
• Participate in lunchtime play with the older students in our yard.

These experiences help promote an authentic transition between the Early Learning Centre and school.

Our Philosophy

We believe:

Children are individuals and that their social, emotional, intellectual, moral, physical and spiritual development will occur at different times and in different ways. All children have strengths and abilities that can, and should be identified. These become the starting points for further learning of skills and understandings. Children learn best when they are given extended periods of play, centred around their interests, where they can be actively involved. They learn through actions and conversations. Children who feel confident in themselves will also feel confident to learn. Development is influenced by the quality of the relationships children make with the adults and children around them. Although Early Childhood is important as the foundation for the rest of children’s lives, it also has its own significant importance.

Eligibility

Children are invited to attend one Pre-entry session a week during the term they turn four. During the pre-entry session, the children will become familiar with other children, the staff and the routines of the Centre. The Pre-entry sessions are integrated throughout the regular sessions.

In the term after they turn four, children are eligible to start their full-time preschool education. This is equivalent to four half day sessions per week. Children are entitled to four terms of preschool education.
Actual starting dates depend on the school starting date. Please discuss this with staff.

Fees

Children who attend four sessions a week $60.00 per term
Children who are in Pre-entry $20.00 per term
Lunch Care $5.00 per child per day

These fees are determined by the School’s Governing Council and are reviewed at various intervals.

Excursion Fees are in addition to the above fees.

Session Times

Monday
8.45 – 11.30 am
12.30 – 3.15 pm

Tuesday
8.45 – 11.30 am
12.30 – 3.15 pm

Wednesday
8.45 – 11.30 am
12.30 – 3.15 pm

Thursday
8.45 – 11.30 am
12.30 – 3.15 pm

Full days are offered by the Centre. A full day is equivalent to 2 sessions. See staff for more details.