The early learner is the child in the age span from birth to eight years old, however for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, the focus of early learning is the child transitioning into Kindergarten and the child in the school years of Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2.
The spiritual, emotional, social, academic and physical advancement of young children has a direct effect on their overall development and on the adult they will become. Understanding the need to invest in very young children is important in maximising their future wellbeing.
The quality of a child’s earliest environments and the availability of appropriate experiences at the right stages of development are crucial determinants of each child’s brain architecture.
The research is conclusive that the early learning years is a time of remarkable growth with brain development at its peak.
We have a strong focus on early learning at our school. An emphasis on creativity, curiosity, positive relationships and play as pedagogy help build a curriculum shaped by the views of children, the roles of teachers and families and the interpersonal relationship between them. A positive transition to school helps establish collaborative relationships between children, families, teachers and the community and build a successful foundation.
Children are naturally motivated to play. We use a play-based curriculum built on this motivation. Using play as a context for learning allows children to explore, experiment, discover and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways.