What is School Readiness?
School readiness for children involves engaging in meaningful experiences on a daily basis to encourage a sound development of the appropriate skills required to aid optimal learning when they start Primary School. While academic learning is an important aspect to be ready for, so too is the readiness to play, socialise and communicate with a range of children and adults. It is having the resilience to try again, to explore new boundaries, to think in different ways and to express oneself positively and appropriately.
How do we help prepare your child for school?
Here at Gardner Farm we have daily “Focus Experience” experiences that are specialized for small group learning. This focus experience time takes place during free exploratory playtime and is planned by educators based on children’s strengths, needs or interests.
These focus experiences are also planned to scaffold learning in the following key developmental areas:
- Literacy & Numeracy
- Communication and Language
- Fine-motor skills & dexterity
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Expressive arts and Design
- Understanding the world.
We balance our interest based learning experiences between intentional and spontaneous teaching moments and take our cues from the children involved as to how to extend and further explore learning experiences. This encourages the child to utilize their thinking mind, build perspective on the world around them and acquire knowledge through interactive experiences.
These Focus experiences vary day to day or may extend from previously acquired knowledge depending on child engagement and interest in the topic.
We gladly welcome parent/family input and therefore encourage parents and families to share their child/ren’s current interests or areas that may need additional support. This allows Key Educators to plan specifically for the needs of the child with input from home.
Why is play so integral to children’s learning?
At Gardner Farm we hold discovery and exploration through play in the highest regard. Thoughtful play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. It is the beginning and end of our cycle of learning here at Gardner Farm.
