CURRICULUM PLANNING
At Noarlunga Community Children’s Centres, we plan and develop rich play based curriculums for each individual child, as well as planning experiences and developing visions of achievement for the group as a whole. The curriculum is developed in reference with the Early Years Learning Framework and has a strong focus on play based learning. Educators use information on the child gathered through on-going observations, Learning Stories, parent information and their own knowledge on the child’s strengths, needs and interests to develop these curriculums.
PRIMARY CARE GIVING
Noarlunga Community Children’s Centres believe that it is important for each child to feel safe and secure in their environment in order for them to be confident to explore, learn and develop to their full potential. For this reason, we use a Primary Caregiving model, which is based on the understanding that a secure attachment between caregivers and children are crucial in quality childcare for children to flourish and learn about the world and themselves. Each child is assigned a primary caregiver for the room that they are in, and this carer works towards building a trusting, warm, secure relationship with the child in partnership with the parents. Providing the child a “secure base” in their primary caregiver to return to for comfort and emotional support, they feel more confident to explore and develop further relationships in their environment with peers and other educators. Primary caregivers are responsible for observing the learning and development of each child in their group. They will aim to gain an understanding of the child’s background, culture, dispositions and other factors which will assist in creating holistically developed curriculums for each child.
LEARNING STORIES
Each child has their own learning folder which documents their play and development from their first day at the centre, right up until they leave. These folders are accessible for families to share whenever they choose and the child takes their learning folder when they finish at the centre as a keep-sake to show family and friends, and to look back on their precious years of learning, development and friendships made in their early years, at childcare. The stories in the folder are written personally by the child’s educators and describe various experiences that the child has been involved in during their time at childcare. The stories are accompanied by photographs of the child involved in the experience, giving parents a more visual insight into their child’s day and experiences. Through Learning Stories, educators aim to include factors such as the child’s interests, strengths, achievements, skills, knowledge, feelings, interactions, family, culture and community. Educator’s recognise the learning that is taking place for children in their play experiences, and are able to describe it at the end of the story using references from the Early Years Learning Framework. Educators then use this analysis of the child’s play-based learning to plan for further experiences to extend and develop the child’s strengths, needs and interests.
As the learning folder grows, parents and educators are able to reflect on how the child’s development, interests, skills, and friendships have flourished and emerged over time. Parents and families are encouraged to contribute to their child’s learning folder by adding stories of their own. These can include short stories about a special experience, new interest, exciting changes at home, or anything that the parents or child would like to add to their folder to look back on in years to come. Educators may use the information in the story from home to assist in developing a holistic curriculum for the child.
EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) has been developed by the Australian Government to provide young children with opportunities to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for future success in learning.
"The Framework forms the foundation for ensuring that children in all early childhood education and care settings experience quality teaching and learning. It has specific emphasis on play based learning and recognises the importance of communication language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. It has been designed for use by early childhood educators working in partnership with families, children’s most influential educators."