Curriculum

Curriculum means “all interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events, planned and unplanned, that occur in an environment designed to foster children’s learning and development” (Adapted from Te Wharike-Rattler Winter 2010)

Some main factors which contribute to our curriculum are:

• Play is very important for children. Through play babies and young children explore and learn to understand the world around them as they come to communicate, discover, imagine and create. When children play they are showing what they have learned and what they are trying to understand. This is why play is one of the foundations of the EYLF. By using this framework educators will guide your child’s play by carefully designing learning activities that are beneficial to them and extend on their interests and provide a stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environment.
• Families are the constant faces of a child’s life.  The EYLF promotes great relationships between the child, families and the educator. Children will engage more in play when it interests them and is consistent. We encourage families to join us in the learning process by bringing interests and events into the service from home to drive our curriculum.
• Our Environment: Children have the chance to both interact in the indoor and natural outdoor environment. It is here that they learn and explore the world around them. Our environments encourage children to be inquisitive, be hands on and lead their own play. Educators provide children the opportunity to learn about sustainable practices through gardening, water conservation and food waste set ups.
• Cultural Awareness: It is our job as educators to encourage inclusiveness to the people around us. Our curriculum encompasses learning about our world and the people in it as we take part in various celebration days across the year as well as encouraging our families to teach us about their home culture and traditions.
• Intentional teaching-involves educators being deliberate, purposeful and thoughtful in their decisions and actions. Intentional teaching is the opposite of teaching by rote or continuing with traditions simply because things have “always” been done that way.
• EYLF is an ongoing process. It’s about continual improvement and returning back to the document for critical reflection.
• Pedagogy leader -It encourages us to explore what is important to children, families and ourselves as educators (Educator -Belonging, Being & Becoming).