Daily Environment
The learning environment’s interiors have been carefully selected, using a combination of natural and soft finishes providing the backdrop for inviting learning environments. The premises all play environments are designed to support children’s exploration of natural textures, providing enriched learning opportunities for children to be active, creative, inquisitive and independent.
Learning environments can often be thought of as the third teacher. When planning the setup of learning enlivenments for our programs, educators aim to achieve:
- A sense of belonging
- Emotional security
- Space
- Safe risk-taking opportunities
- Challenges, stimulating resources and materials that are inclusive of all children’s needs
- Experience based on children’s interests and abilities, and
- Displays that are meaningful to the children
With careful selection of resources and planed layouts the core elements of our philosophy are embedded in every experience. A truly empowering environment for children provides a holistic approach, whilst supporting learning and development across each of the five learning outcomes in the EYLF (Belonging, Being and Becoming).
Learning environments, provide:
- Welcoming spaces for families
- Quiet reading and relaxation
- Noisy and rough and tumble play
- Creativity,
- Small group play,
- Construction
- Dramatic play
- Music
What do our educators think?
- Our natural light filled environments enriched with inspirational music are designed to nurture your child at each stage of their development.
- Children are encouraged to enjoy messy play experiences stimulating their senses and providing them with the opportunity to be hands on and explore through play.
- Dramatic play areas are setup to promote expressive and social connections.
- Reading and quiet areas allow for reflective time through solo exploration.
- Our cosy and comfortable cot rooms provide our nursery children with a safe homelike space, to help them settle easily following individual sleep cycles and home routines.
“Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves.” -Jean Piaget
Outdoor Environment
Caringbah Pre-Kindergarten offers sustainable outdoor learning environments designed to provide quality natural play, ensuring all children are connected with and contribute to their world (EYLF -outcome 2). Our light filled open facilities are modern and purpose built to provide children with an enriched learning environment full of opportunities.
Outdoor play allows children the opportunity to explore the natural environment and have adventures, they are able to play games, express themselves, build their confidence and test their physical limits. As Froebel argued, the quality of the environment and the interactions within it are crucial.
Nature play is any activity that gets children thinking actively outdoors and significantly improves all aspects of child development including physical, cognitive, social and emotional. Playing outdoors grows resilience, self-confidence, initiative and creativity. It encourages the joy of movement; it nurtures wild imaginations, experimentation, friendships, social connections and behaviour.
Main features of our natural and sustainable outdoor environments:
- Community Vegetable Gardens
- Large bi-fold doors opening from the indoor spaces to create an indoor/outdoor learning environment in each classroom
- Slide, Mud Kitchens and Sandpits
- Solar panels to enhance energy saving within the service
- Rain water tanks for sustainable use within the service
“The work of education is divided between the teacher and the environment.” -Maria Montessori
