Kindergarten
4-6 Years
Pico Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten offers a Government Funded Kindergarten program for children turning 4 years of age prior to the 30th of April.
The Kindergarten Program operates Monday to Friday between 8:30am – 4:00pm. Care is available before and after these times where required. Pico Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten employs a fully qualified Early Childhood Teacher to oversee the program. Working alongside the teacher is a qualified assistant who holds a Diploma in Community Services.
The Kindergarten program incorporates a variety of curriculum areas including social sciences, art, maths, music, science, movement and language. Each curriculum area focuses on developing and fostering specific concepts. Each area is incorporated into the program through relevant activities with specific objectives which relate to a child’s development. The program also facilitates children’s interests through a project approach, emergent curriculum and program inclusion.
The Kindergarten Environment has a natural outdoor play space where the children can continue to expand and develop their gross motor skills and hand/ eye coordination.
Among older children, exposure to nature encourages exploration and building activities. This can improve problem-solving abilities, ability to respond to changing contexts, and participation in group decision-making.
Children often use outdoor settings having plants, stones, and sticks as props for imaginative play, which is key to social and cognitive development.
Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to take the lead in playing, exploring and learning in a forest or natural environment.