We believe outdoor play and connecting with nature is vitally important for learning in early childhood.
Natural play environments provide children with authentic experiences where they can develop their curiosity, sense of adventure, risk problem solving techniques, fun and responsibility.
It is important to us that children develop knowledge and understanding about caring for their environment and learn about sustainability and gardening.
Our large outdoor yard and longer sessions times provide children with opportunity and time to engage with the outdoors, developing their social and emotional wellbeing and physical health.
Taking the children out on nature based excursions also provides a connection between learning that occurs at kinder and out in the community such as our excursions to Bush Kinder (Camp Manyung), Cranbourne Botanic Gardens and Moonlit Sanctuary.
Our covered verandah area allows for year round indoor- outdoor play.
Regular science activities and experiences allow the children to develop a range of skills and processes such as inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising and investigating. This can be seen as children manipulate objects and experiment with cause and effect, trail and error and motion.
We actively use, engage with and share the enjoyment of language and maths in a range of ways, fitting seamlessly into all of the activities we do.
Through the use of open ended materials and experiences children use their imagination and creativity both indoors and outdoors.
French as LOTE through the DET’s Funded Language Program, is part of our 4 Year Old program where our native French Teacher Stephanie provides a play based program introducing the children to learning a new language.
Through the use of fun interactive songs on our smart TV, dynamic music and movement games and the use of our French puppet friends, Cailou and Chat Felix, children will learn the days of the week, colours, numbers, greetings, animals and food whilst expanding their knowledge of how languages work and understanding a new language and culture .
This provides children with the opportunity to celebrate what they have learnt by sharing their knowledge with family and friends. Families have found that their children are also using the language at home, and while out and about.
Leslie Moorhead Pre-School follows the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework.