The Oatley Red Bear environment consists of learning areas that promote children’s being, belonging and becoming as outlined in the early years learning framework (EYLF). This framework ensures that children in early childhood education experience quality teaching and learning and it has a specific emphasis on play-based learning that recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social/emotional development. This framework supports the goals for young children to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, active and informed citizens.
This involves programming based on the children’s interests and is organised by spontaneous and planned activities through out the day. The children are able to choose and flow freely between activities. This allows and encourages children more freedom and choice and encourages independence.
Educators record children’s development in a number of ways. Firstly they interact, play and observe the children and record the information and place it in your child’s portfolio, this is then used to help plan our program. These include activities such as craft, language, drama, numeracy, music, memory games, science experiments, problem solving, name writing.
The educators record daily activities in a Daily Reflections, and parents are encouraged to read the daily reflections on arrival every afternoon. Each child has a portfolio and this will contain some of their artwork and recordings of their activities and development. These portfolios are available to parents to view, however are confidential and you are only able to view your child’s portfolio.
Oatley Red Bear offers a school readiness program that has been developed to assist children with pre-literacy, pre-numeracy and pre-reading skills. Portfolios are kept for each child, developed with digital photography, photos are taken throughout the year reflecting the overall experiences of the child at the centre. Each child will take their Portfolio home at the end of the year. The centre believes that high quality services are provided by high quality staff.