Early Learning Centre

On this page: ELC - Year 2 Sports Day, Why play is the real work of the early years, 

ELC - Year 2 Sports Day

Friday 16 October (Week 1, Term 4)

9:30am - 12pm

Western Youth Oval

Join us for a community picnic following the event. Coffee, sausage sizzle, soft drinks and baked treats will be available for purchase, and proceeds will support our Tournament of Minds team representing South Australia at the International Finals in Darwin.

Why play is the real work of the Early Years

As the Educational Leader at Emmaus Early Learning Centre (ELC), one of the most common questions I hear from parents is: "Are they actually learning when they’re just playing?" 

It is a completely natural question, especially as families look ahead to the primary school years. The short answer is an emphatic "yes". In the early years, play isn't a break from learning, it is the foundational tool through which children observe, experiment, and make sense of their world. Within our ELC, play-based learning is grounded in a Christ-centred worldview that recognises every child as a unique, deliberate creation of God, filled with potential and a natural sense of wonder. 

Our approach to play is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF v2.0) and enriched by Reggio Emilia and Nature Play principles. We view our physical environment as a key partner in learning, offering open-ended spaces where children can safely take risks, solve problems, and care for the world around them. Rather than leaving play to complete chance, our educators use a structured planning cycle to actively support and extend children's learning. 

We observe children's spontaneous interests, capturing their ideas through tools like our Emergent Learning Compass, and use those moments to scaffold deeper concepts in math, science, and social-emotional development. 

To complement this natural, hands-on learning, we seamlessly embed targeted programs directly into play scenarios. 

For example, we use the Kimochis curriculum to help children identify and regulate big emotions during social play, while incorporating frameworks like Heggerty and PreLit to build foundational literacy skills. 

We also make this learning visible to families every day through Seesaw, Daily Reflection Journals, and Group Learning Stories, so you can see the rich skill development happening behind the scenes. 

When you look into the ELC and see your child elbow-deep in mud, building with blocks, or acting out a story, rest assured they aren't just keeping busy, they are hard at work laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning. 

Amanda Ruddock

Educational Leader / Assistant Director

Early Explorers

We had lots of fun playing with the activities, using our imagination, and making new friends last Term.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining one of our next sessions this term, we'd love to have you. 

Upcoming Sessions

• Wednesday 21st October
• Wednesday 4th November
• Wednesday 2nd December

8:45am-10:15am 

Brooklyn Park Library - Level 2

Early Explorers is a wonderful opportunity for children and their families to connect with our Emmaus community through play, stories, songs, and shared experiences. 

For more information, please contact Kim Sabine at ksabine@emmauscc.sa.edu.au.

Upcoming Events Term 4