Child Development and Education
Tosee Group
Nursery and Pre - Kindergarten (6 months to 3 years)
Star Child Explore Learning recognises that the first five years of a child’s life are of the utmost importance, extraordinary years that set the beginning for all the years that follow. We provide a play centre for the care and development of this group of children. We create, encourage and promote the following at the centre:
. A sense of autonomy, independence and freedom. • Personal, Social and Emotional: Interacting, communicating with others, songs, books, and lots of fun, listening and responding to their vocalization, sounds and words.
• Personal care: cuddling, feeding, toileting, potty training, warmth, love, smiles and lots of touching that signify how special the children are.
• Reading and listening: We read to the children whilst they are being held on the lap, or sitting on the floor with soft teddies or cushions that drifts the younger children off to sleep
• Development of gross and fine motor skills: e.g. standing, pulling, holding, and reaching for an object, running, hopping, transferring, lifting, gripping, throwing, jumping, clapping, manipulating and walking.
• Sensory experience: playing with the hard and soft teddies, mobile objects, exploring texture like the soft toys, dough, colour, size and shapes, tasting various food, drink, smell, pattern, weight and measure.
• Cognitive experience: spatial relationships, gathering, collecting, pouring, dumping, solving problems, cause and effect of their experiences.
• Literacy, language and music: linking sounds and letters and to begin to read and write, reading to the child, puppet language play, adult-child conversations, exploration of musical instruments, making rhymes and sound.
• Personal and role play: dancing, singing, movement, art and craft, imitating others, dramatic play, doll and animal play.
• A flexible approach is offered to allow the children to develop at their own pace whilst rewarding in the form of praises and encouraging at all times.
Progress check at age Two – Three
Progress is reviewed when a child is age between two and three in the prime areas. The progress check written summary will identify the child’s strengths, and any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected. Targeted plan to support the child’s future learning and development, involving other professionals, and in partnership with the parents/carer having gained their consent and participation. Parent/carers will also be supported on how the summary of development can be used to support home/school learning and to share such information from the progress check with other relevant professionals on need to know basis.
The children in this group (6 months – 3 years) are moving from the total dependence of toddler to more independent, mobile world of school age. The children need manageable, uncomplicated challenges and mastery experiences that are fun, scientific and inviting to learn, grow and reach their full potentials through the activities they plan and carry out themselves or adult – led activities.
Star Child Explore Learning aims to encourage this group of children by promoting and creating a safe, loving and secure transition from the sensory – motor world of toddlers to an increasingly social world of learners who are enthusiastic, confident, able and successful lifelong learners.
J Group
The Kindergarten (3 – 5 years)
The preschool learning environment is provided with opportunities to use their scientific skills to build, draw, imagine, set goals, reflect and take responsibility from a very early age. The children are encouraged to develop their emotional, spiritual, social, language and physical skills. Their curriculum is well-planned in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage, and allows for the child to choose and to self direct their own play, as well as small group and supportive teaching. Built into their curriculum is the development of Communication and Language, Physical development and Personal, Social and Emotional development. These three areas are the Prime areas. Scientific investigation, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design, Thought Exploration and Questioning, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Scientific Investigation are emphasized throughout the play centre.
The preschool will join in circle – time with the whole group of children attending the play centre; engage in critical learning experiences that form and shape healthy childhood development. SCEL provides the opportunity for children to play, and at the same time learn through play. The children explore, experiment, use real word experiences and natural materials to be creative through the use of paint, clay, leaves, sands, water, and other available resources.
Early reading, writing, problem solving and science concepts are developed as a result of the learning opportunities offered in both the indoor and the outdoor activities, self directed by the children or led by the staffs.
Children are given supportive teaching and varied activities in the following areas both indoor and outdoor play:
• Communication and Language
• Literacy – sounds and letters
• Blocks and construction
• Sand and water
• Understanding the world and role play
• Science – investigating, reasoning and exploration.
• Mathematics – counting, using numbers
• Computer technology
• Art/craft/imaginative drawing, media and materials
• Music and dance
• Outdoor learning
