The Tree House Early Childhood Centre

PROGRAMS
Our Centre plans and runs exciting play based educational programs to encourage a child’s development. We value play as it is:

children’s work, self initiated and spontaneous
the way children make sense of the world and the people around them
a means of developing and practicing skills
a way of nurturing creativity and self expression
an opportunity for children to use their curiosity, to explore, experiment and test ideas.

Our educators use the emergent curriculum where the children learn skills and concepts through exploring topics that interest them. Programs are planned by the educators to include play-based experiences for children across all developmental areas. Educators work in partnership with families and children to create a program based on things your child finds interesting and stimulating. The learning program evolves over the week to include information provided by families, children’s ideas, spontaneous learning opportunities, educator’s ideas and teaching strategies. We provide experiences to meet the needs of children’s natural curiosity by providing a range of opportunities for them to experiment, discover, solve problems and to find out about themselves, other people and the world around them.

The learning program includes the following play areas:

music and movement
construction/manipulative play
puzzles and cognitive games
language and literacy
drawing and writing materials
art and craft
dramatic play/home corner
sensory play such as sand and water play, and
science and maths

Our programs are displayed within each rooms – outlining the indoor and outdoor activities we have planned. Also displayed within the rooms is the daily routine, a broad outline of how each day unfolds for the children. At the end of each day the children’s experiences are communicated via our Day Books which includes photos of the children’s day and explanations of the learning and enjoyment that has occured.

Outdoor Play Space
Physical activity is an important part of children's development and it is important that they can run and jump and climb away from the confines of indoors. The centre’s outdoor play space is well shaded and provides a combination of surfaces including rubber soft fall, which is ideal for active play activities. Our outdoor play areas are divided into specific areas that encourage learning through play. Your child can choose from a variety of activities which include active and passive play, gross and fine motor activities, sensory development, role play, running, sliding, ball games and much more. Our outdoor program is broken up into a variety of free play and structured educator based activities. Sunscreen and hats are provided by the centre to ensure that children enjoy their outdoor play in a sun-safe environment.

Portfolios
As part of the education program the centre uses portfolios to document each child’s learning and development. Portfolios are a collection of observations, evidence of children’s work/achievements and anecdotes of your child’s experiences. Portfolios become a story of your child’s time at The Tree House. Portfolios are available to parents at all times. Parents are encouraged to view, discuss, comment on or add to the portfolios in consultation with your child’s educator. They are available to take home at the end of the year as a keepsake.

School Preparation
Many parents are interested in the skills that children need prior to starting school. Whilst traditionally it was reading and writing, now schools prefer to teach this once children start school. The NSW Department of Education and training has developed a list of skills that may make starting school a bit easier. This is available on their website. Our school preparation program commences from the time your child is enrolled at our centre and represents a continuous approach to preparing each child for primary school. We aim to assist your child to develop the skills for them to be lifelong learners. Our preschool educators will focus on helping your child to follow instructions, express their needs, use the toilet independently, adapt to unfamiliar settings and new experiences, play cooperatively with other children, sit still to listen and share an adult's attention with several other children.

Computers
Our computer program assists children with developing hand-eye co-ordination and letter recognition as the children learn to manoeuvre the mouse and keyboard. Educational games provide opportunities to develop pre-reading and pre-writing skills, number, colour, shape and letter recognition, co-operation and turn taking as well as having fun while learning!

Transitions
When children near the upper age limit of their group, the educators will begin discussing with you, and planning for, your child’s transition to the next group. It should be noted that the upper age limits are not always rigorously enforced. If we feel a child is not developmentally ready for the next grouping, his or her progression to the next group may be delayed. To aid a smooth transition up into the next room, we will arrange a few visits for your child to become familiar with his/her new surroundings and new educators. Our aim is to achieve a smooth and pleasant transition between the rooms, and we will keep you up to date with your child’s progress on a daily basis.

Adopt a grandparent program
At The Tree House we recognise the importance of our links to the community. We value the knowledge and experience of the more senior members of our community and recognise that many young children do not have relationships with their own grandparents. To meet this need we have developed an Adopt a Grandparent Program. This program provides opportunities for senior community members to volunteer their time once a month to visit the children in the centre, reading to them, assisting them with art and craft, playing musical instruments and sharing their skills. Anyone who is interested in joining the program will need to complete a police check to ensure the safety of our children. If you are interested in becoming one of our Tree House nannies and poppies, please contact the director.

GROUPS

0 – 1 YEAR
Our babies program is designed to develop the child’s awareness of themselves and the world around them within a warm, caring environment. Routines are an intricate part of a baby’s day and our routine will reflect each child’s development, needs and interests. All routines that are kept at home, such as feeding, bottles and sleeping times, are carried through in your child’s day at the centre in order to best meet your family’s needs . Our focus is on providing secure and loving relationships between educators and children to foster the child’s confidence and potential. High standards of hygiene and safety will be maintained by educators at all times. Our quality programs focus on sensory learning and development which prepares children for future learning. We aim to involve families in the program to help you feel confident in leaving your child in our care. Through regular observations, educators become aware of each child’s interests and stage of development. Using this knowledge, educators are able to provide appropriate experiences to further stimulate all areas of development (cognitive, language, physical, social and emotional). They will give the babies the time and space needed to explore their world. As children gain more independence, emphasis is placed on developing their social skills and the development of imagination through creative play and exploration of their environment.

Broad Goals
Develops an understanding of their individuality
Develops a positive image of their family and culture
Develops independence and confidence to be autonomous
Develops meaningful relationships with others
Develops empathy and understanding of others feelings and behaviour
Develops ability to communicate with others
Develops an understanding that language is used to make meaning in the world
Develops an awareness of fairness, equity, justice and diversity
Develops a healthy and nutritional lifestyle
Learns through observation, questioning and exploration about the world around them

1 – 2 YEARS
One year olds are intent on discovering new things about themselves and their environment. They begin to walk, try to talk, are learning to listen, climbing, investigating and developing fine motor skills. Ones are busy and energetic. They are beginning to form relationships with their peers and adults around them. Through observations of the children and close consultation with families, educators will build knowledge of each child’s strengths, needs, interests and this forms the basis for the room program and individual planning. Educators in this room recognise the importance and need for patience, empathy and firmness. They will provide a variety of experiences to help children gain an understanding of how to express themselves in appropriate ways while gaining their social skills with others. Our program will include a variety of stimulating activities, small group interactions, quiet time, free-play, independent exploration and with our dedicated educators on board, your child will be surrounded with encouragement to further develop their self-confidence in a safe and secure environment.

2 – 3 YEARS
Toddlers are still discovering new things and are full of curiosity. They are busy, enthusiastic and love to explore and experiment. They are beginning to develop more competency with skills and are keen to further develop their independence. Learning to use the toilet is a big step for toddlers and it can be difficult for some. Our room is equipped with nappy change facilities and toilets and our educators will work with you to maintain the same routines you use at home. The children are encouraged to develop their growing independence with guidance from educators who model appropriate behaviours, and give lots of praise. Our program will continue to include stimulating activities, small group interactions, quiet time, free-play, in addition to lots of self help activities such as toileting, dressing and care of belongings. There will be many songs and activities which develop your child’s interest in basic concepts such as colours, shapes, numbers and their body.

Broad Goals
Develops an understanding of their individuality
Develops a positive image of their family and culture
Develops a sense of belonging with the wider community
Develops an appreciation of the diverse roles of people in the community
Develops a healthy and nutritional lifestyle
Develops an understanding that language is used to make meaning in the world
Recognises a range of literature
Learns through observation, questioning and exploration about the world around them
Explores mathematical concepts through a variety of play experiences
Makes choices and faces challenges in a positive manner

3 – 4 YEARS

Children at this age are developing quickly in all areas and are becoming independent and confident learners. They enjoy engaging in conversations with educators and their friends and use their developing language skills to solve conflicts. Their problem solving and mathematical skills continue to develop so they are able to complete more difficult tasks without adult assistance. We encourage friendships between all of the children, including opportunities to spend time with siblings and younger children. This encourages the development of self-esteem and also teaches children the importance of care and compassion towards others. Our emergent curriculum allows children to self select activities which are of interest to them, with our trained educators observing them and using these observations to create fun, stimulating programs.

Broad Goals
Develops an understanding of who they are and how they fit into their community
Approaches challenges in a positive manner with confidence and persistence
Develops a healthy and nutritional lifestyle
Develops awareness regarding their own safety and the safety of others
Develops an awareness and understanding of communication mediums and how these are used in their world
Reflects on personal growth, change, experiences, development and abilities
Collects, classifies, analyses and discusses information gathered
Understands that there are a variety of problem solving approaches which can be applied in a range of contexts
Contributes to the establishment of room limits and conducts themselves within these
Understands that there are many and varied numeracy representation in their world
Understands the cause and effect process involved in utilising technology

4 – 5 YEARS
Our educational program incorporates a full school preparation program for your child prior to school entry. Our aim is to prepare and transition your child to primary school through education and experience. Our preschool curriculum focuses on literacy and numeracy skills in addition to valuable social and life skills such as problem solving, independence, following instructions, co-operation and concentration. Family participation in all areas of the program is welcomed. Play-based learning environments offer diverse opportunities to explore, discover and create. It fosters qualities such as curiosity, perseverance and risk taking. It is believed these qualities motivate lifelong learners.