CEO Report
Our Glen Education services have been a hive of activity over the last two months as our children commenced three and four year old kindergarten. It has been incredible to renew relationships with our previous families and forge partnerships with the families that we are welcoming into our services for the first time. It is always a time when emotions run high as both parents and children navigate changes in routines, unfamiliar learning spaces, educators, and peers.
The excitement of beginning something new is often coupled with twinges of anxiety and the beginning of a new kindergarten year is no exception. For many of our youngest children, this is their first experience to a more structured and formal environment. Our orientation program introduces them to their learning spaces, educators, and peers at a staggered and leisurely pace, enabling each child to slowly build confidence. Routines are an important focus during these early days and build a sense of security and belonging.
Becoming familiar with consistent routines gives the children a sense of stability as they begin to anticipate what is going to happen next during their day. Responsibility and independence are encouraged as the children engage in self-care routines such as putting lunchboxes, drink bottles and hats into the appropriate baskets or pigeon holes as they arrive for kindergarten. During the day, they are also encouraged to independently manage their belongings, strengthening their sense of self-empowerment.
Throughout term one, our educators at Glen Education provide a stimulating, learning environment with an emphasis on active, hands on, play based learning. As they engage with the children, relationships flourish and the educators gain valuable information about how each child learns. By engaging in playful encounters, the children begin to negotiate roles, listen to and respect each other, and share play experiences with their peers. Educators encourage and facilitate collaborative learning and each group develops their own identity. Our objective is to create a balance between a sense of belonging to the group and a sense of self.These early days create a strong foundation which allows each child to flourish and thrive in their new environment.
High quality early childhood education and care provides children the best start in life. It provides important opportunities to learn and develop. Early childhood education and care can help your child make friends, develop independence, and learn new routines. It also supports their transition to school. The most thorough research to date has revealed the number one factor that impacts student learning is engaging teaching. Our staff recognise the impact they have on each child’s learning journey and ensure that their teaching is intentional and relevant.
At Glen Education, we appreciate the value of teaching children through the inquiry process. We strive for children to understand the importance of asking questions, listening, expressing ideas, and sharing viewpoints. Areas of inquiry that always resonate well with young children revolve around nature and sustainable practices. As children become more immersed in our natural world, they can make ties between their values and those of the wider community and the challenges they face. These ties highlight the unique lens through which children see the world. You will have observed through the orientation program that both our internal and external environments have a genuine focus on sustainability, seamless indoor and outdoor play, and the importance of nature.
We encourage you to promote your child’s curiosity during the term break. Even the curly questions can be a source of amusement within the home. Thank you for being a part of the Glen Education community. I wish you all a happy and healthy break - ready for term two.
