EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM

THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH

PROMOTING EVERY CHILD’S INDIVIDUALITY AND CAPACITY FOR COMPLEX THINKING.

Empower is more than just an early learning centre. We aim to promote every child’s unique individuality and capacity for complex thinking. Our Reggio Emilia inspired approach encourages the development of each child’s strengths, interests and distinct forms of self-expression.

A HOLISTIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

Our child-led curriculum allows for our learning spaces to be creative and inviting for all children and their families. We encourage the children to learn through play and discovery and we successfully achieve this through our free-flow environment. An example of this is that we see the environment as a whole and use the environment as our third teacher. The children choose whether they are indoors or outdoors. Our indoor and outdoor areas are constantly changing to adapt to the children’s current interests, hobbies and what is going on in our wider community.

Our naturally resourced early learning environment, has large open-ended play spaces for your child to thrive, develop and explore.

A LOVE FOR LEARNING.

Our holistic approach will support you to prepare your child for life that will empower them to have a love for learning ready for their transition to school. We believe that early childhood (0-6 years) is a critical stage in children’s lives and all children deserve a high-quality early childhood program. The warm, caring, trusting and respectful educators at Empower are committed to working in the best interest of children and their families. Our educators value reflective practice, in which programming decisions are shared and take into account each child’s uniqueness, interests and needs. As strong advocates for quality early childhood education, our educators continually strive to inspire, guide and challenge ways of doing and thinking by mentoring, sharing and opening our doors to external services and educators to showcase best practice.

We believe that children learn best through play. Children learn to explore, experiment, investigate, solve problems, communicate, form attachments, trust, imagine, create and discover. Furthermore, we believe “play” emphasises the ideal approach to early childhood learning as the most important time in life and that children should be allowed to “just be”. We have a strong focus on ensuring children have a voice in and around the environment. An example of this can be seen in our documentation and curriculum planning.

WE ARE
FAMILY.

We want you to feel a strong sense of belonging with us, and encourage strong relationships between children, families, and educators. From the moment you walk, crawl or are carried into our doors, to our events (we are passionate), we want our families to feel as though we are a home away from home.

RISKY
PLAY.

We facilitate a risk-based approach to enhance children’s development of risk competence, as they freely explore their world.

We view children as competent and capable citizens of the present, through ensuring all children have the right to make decisions which affect them. We believe children need boundaries to build their independence. We want to empower children to make decisions that will benefit them in life teaching these skills through age appropriate risk taking in our environment and our communication.

We support children as self risk assessors through regular outings and excursions, giving them ample and diverse opportunities to better perceive, assess and manage risky situations.

TRANSITION
TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.

Empower is committed to delivering high quality transition to school programs to ensure your child has the best possible start to their formal schooling years.

Research indicates that typical brain growth and development can be negatively impacted where rote learning tasks are used extensively in the early years (Jane Healey- Educational Psychologist, 2015). Our service therefore commits to supporting positive transitions through play and interest based approaches.

Children are exposed to an array of play based individual and group experiences supporting all areas of our curriculum and designed to support further learning in Kindergarten.

Excursions to our local school’s
Lunch box week at the start of every month.
Canteen week in October.
Early literacy experiences such as children to ‘sign in’ by writing their name on their own sign in and out sheets or word bingo games.
Reading eggs subscription paid by Empower and can be used at home.
Early mathematics experiences such as constructing shapes on our “Osmo” program on the IPads or counting an array of natural materials in the outdoor environments.
Skype Sessions with our local school to allow children to regularly connect with Kindergarten children and observe their environments and routines.
The service supports strong relationships with our local school to ensure we have guidance in supporting children’s learning within knowing expectations of the school system. We often conduct information sessions with primary school principals and other relevant professionals to support families through this transition also.
We also provide end of year “Transition to School Statements” which includes a variety of information, designed to ensure the child’s kindergarten teacher has a holistic picture of your child and can better plan for their transition. While this document is not compulsory, our service feels that it is an important tool to assist a more effective transition.

EXTRA
CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES.

There is something about haircuts and grooming which can trigger anxiety and resistance in some children — followed by frustration and exasperation in their parents.
This is why we have teamed up with Insignia to bring you hair day to you every six weeks with the help of the Insignia team.
This is a great opportunity to allow our service to guide your child toward recognising their sensitivities, decreasing frustration and empowering them. And who knows? Maybe your child may even come to enjoy getting their hair done.
Learning to read can be easy and fun!
Reading eggs is used in primary schools and is tool schools are using for home schooling. We really encourage families to be doing reading eggs at home.
ABC Reading Eggs makes learning to read interesting and engaging for kids, with great online reading games and activities.
And it really works!
Children love the games, songs, golden eggs and other rewards which, along with feeling proud of their reading, really motivate children to keep exploring and learning.
It's essential for all Australians to know the skills to be safe in and around water.
Children as young as 4 months old can start developing lifesaving water safety skills.
It's never too late for adults either, especially if you have children - it's important to be able to support your child and have fun in the water together.
EMPOWER has teamed up with Ripples St Marys Swim School every Thursday. Together we provide a range of group learning and developmental classes catering for all ages and abilities from 4 months to 6 years. Our lessons are skilled based, with an emphasis on progressive learning experiences from building water confidence, correct stroke technique and survival skills.
The Instructors are AUSTSWIM/Swim Australia/ASCTA accredited and have been screened according to legislative requirements. Combining technical knowledge and the ability to communicate to all ages, The instructors have a caring, empathetic and inclusive approach to teaching.
Children learn a new language using play-based apps called The Polyglots. The apps were designed by language, early childhood and technology experts using ELLA.
A new language improves literacy, memory and concentration as well as developing social, thinking and digital skills. These language skills support learning at schools and respect for new cultures.
Every Tuesday!
Cheeky Tunes is a multi-sensory, interactive music program. Every week the children will be learning rhythm, dance, dramatic play and singing. In addition, the program contains foreign language songs and Indigenous perspective learning. But most of all, the children will be having a whole load of fun!
The Mini Yogi Program has been created by You and Yours Yoga introducing Yoga concepts to pre-school children in a fun and creative way to awaken the children's imagination. Every week the children will be learning movement, breathing and relaxation techniques bringing benefits to the children in a variety of ways:
Encourages development of self expression Equips them with the tools to handle stress Improves strength, balance and coordination Enhances focus and concentration
All while moving their bodies and having fun!