ELC News

Lyn Pewtress, Director of the ELC

ELC and Year 5 buddies - Community within the School 

A school community is more than just a location. At Kilvington, when we speak of a ‘sense of community,’ we're referring to the quality of the relationships and connections that bind our students together. 

As early childhood educators, fostering a sense of community is an important part of what we do. It's central to the core themes of belonging and identity embedded in both the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), which guide our curriculum.    

As stated in the Early Years Learning Framework (2009): Having a positive sense of identity and experiencing respectful, responsive relationships strengthens children’s interest and skills in being and becoming active contributors to their world. As children move into early childhood settings, they broaden their experiences as participants in different relationships and communities.    

For young children, a strong sense of community plays a vital role in developing feelings of security and belonging. Children thrive in environments where relationships are supportive and caring. 

One way we nurture this is through our ‘Buddy Program’ between the Pre-Prep groups and Year 5s — an initiative that has proven to be a successful and meaningful collaboration. It has been especially valuable in supporting ELC students as they transition into the Junior School, providing them with a special friend to connect with along the way. 

As part of the program, the children meet their buddies regularly each term to engage in collaborative activities planned by both teachers and students. There is always a wonderful sense of joy and excitement when the groups come together!