Learning
Our Guiding Principles
The children in our care are at the heart of everything we do. Their voices, and yours as their primary carers, are incorporated in our programming and curriculum, which is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF v.2). We also draw on the knowledge and curriculum perspectives of many Early Childhood teaching theorists.
Teachers and educators who feel supported provide the calmest, most caring and highest quality learning environments. Our Educational Leader holds weekly reflections with each of our teachers and educators. This serves a dual purpose: offering staff an opportunity to talk through ideas of experiences they are planning for the children and providing advice on individual children’s learning needs.
Teamwork, sharing and taking turns at doing daily tasks at Apples and Honey supports a sense of belonging and community (and not just for the staff). All staff contribute to our program, share in the daily food preparation and cleaning jobs, as well as collaborate with each other on plans and ideas. And the children love being assigned little jobs, such as being “book monitor”, setting up activities on the tables, raking the sandpit with an educator. ​Celebrating everyone’s individual successes, culture and happy family events makes each of us feel valued and included.
Every child is on their own personal developmental journey, and we rejoice in each one of their successes. We can see how much they all benefit from feeling supported in their interests, and the look in their eyes when they finally achieve something they have been trying to master is priceless!
Throughout the year, we also we love teaching the children about many special cultural events (such as Chinese New Year, Diwali, Harmony Day, Earth Day) - families are very welcome to come teach the children how they celebrate their festivals and traditions. And we love inviting families to celebrate events like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day at Apples and Honey. It’s such a joy to see new family friendships form as parents and guardians get to know each other during an afternoon tea.
We ensure the children are continually making steps forward with their learning about themselves, others, and the world, putting them in good stead for life within and beyond preschool. Book A Tour today, we would love to show you around
Develop At Their Own Pace​
We believe that children develop at their own pace and in their own time. This is why we offer daily programs that reflect a calm, relaxed and unrushed environment for growing and learning.
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We help children reach their full potential by providing enriching, meaningful and real opportunities for learning and development through our educational program. We promote an environment of mutual respect and a love of learning.
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We believe that children learn as they explore, discover, make, create and imagine. We value constructive play as a tool for learning through problem solving.
Transitioning to School
As your child moves through their early years, the transition to formal schooling is one of their most significant milestones. Preparing your child for the transition to school and their future doesn’t just happen in the year before school, it happens from the day they are born.
At Apples & Honey Preschool Chatswood, we offer a school readiness program that encompasses literacy, numeracy, science, art, music and language while also focusing on social and emotional development.
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Through intentional learning and play, children are guided by their natural interests and curiosities, while being supported by educators and early childhood teachers who encourage children to make meaningful connections to the real world – not by learning through repetition and isolated recognition of numbers and letters. In this way, literacy and numeracy skills are integrated into daily experiences.
Literacy skills are encouraged at every opportunity, including alphabet yoga, playing with words and enjoying stories at preschool. Similarly, numeracy learning abounds in daily experiences by modelling mathematics as a meaningful and logical way to understand and relate to materials, for example counting and measuring in cooking
Daily Program
Our daily program is structured around a combination of informal and formal (structured group time) experiences and interactions. Each day, the educators use both indoor and outdoor environments to provide opportunities for the children to play, learn and explore.
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We offer a range of activities to enhance your child's fine motor skills, including scribbling in wet paint, writing, painting and stringing beads. These assist in developing the hand skills your child will need when starting school.
We also offer a range of activities to enhance your child's gross motor skills, including:
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General sport
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Dance
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Yoga and meditation
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Music
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Excursions and Incursions​
Children's daily experiences can include construction, reading books, drawing, painting, play dough making and playing, puzzles, pretend play, sand play, water play, climbing, balancing, ball games, gardening and baking. Music and Yoga experiences are another highlight of the preschool week, as the children come together to learn new songs and get their bodies moving
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Book A Tour today so we can show you around and you can experience the centre for yourself.​