Small Steps Early Learning Centre

As we reflect on 2024, we’re proud of the milestones we’ve achieved at Small Steps Early Learning Centre.

Here’s a snapshot of some of our accomplishments:

🌟 Adopted the National Model Code ACECQA (for taking images and videos of children), ensuring our programs meet the highest standards.
🏆 Participated in the Government Achievement Program and proudly received our first achievement recognition.
🎉 Celebrated & acknowledged 42 events, bringing families, children, and staff together in joy and learning.
👩‍🏫 Welcomed 11 incursions & guests, enriching our children’s learning experiences.
🗓️ Celebrated 10 special weeks, focusing on themes like culture, safety, and science.
📚 Adopted the Department of Education, Victoria EYALT framework, enhancing how we engage and teach young learners.
🤝 Strengthened community connections through collaborations with Southwold Street Kindergarten & Lollipop Lady .
🏗️ Kinder room update, creating an inviting and inspiring learning space.
📄 Reviewed over 41 policies and procedures, ensuring best practices.
💬 Reformed communication tools & methods with families, making engagement more effective. Storypark
🎾 Conducted our first 4-year-old kinder sports program in partnership with the community Taylors Lakes Tennis Club
📖 Read about 50 “book of the week”, fostering a love for literacy; intentionally developing early literacy skills. Raising Literacy Australia
🎶 Delivered over 210 daily dance exercise sessions, promoting physical health and creativity.
💻Introduced about 12-16 new Spanish vocabulary words, enriching cultural understanding and supporting interactive language learning. ELLA: Early Learning Languages Australia
🔬 Facilitated and introduced children to 8 STEM demos, sparking curiosity and innovation.
🎓 Supported 2 educators in pursuing a Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching and 2 educators to complete a Diploma of Early Childhood Education boosting educator's motivation and striving for a high quality environment for children.
📝 Worked on 21 QIP (Quality Improvement Plan) elements, driving continuous improvement.

🤩 AND MUCH MORE!

Thank you to our children, families, and staff for making 2024 an extraordinary year. We look forward to more exciting adventures in 2025!

🐾 Incursion: Responsible Pet Education Program 🐾

This week, our 4-year-olds enjoyed a special visit from Carol, a pet educator, and her friendly dog, Tess! This incursion taught children safe ways to approach and interact with dogs, aligning with our term’s focus on Safety and Community.

👀 Key Takeaways from the Program:

🌟Respecting Animals’ Space: When to give pets space to support a strong sense of identity.
🌟Gentle Touches Only: Encouraging kindness and respect.
🌟Understanding Dog Emotions: Learning to notice when a dog is happy or scared.
🌟Safety Tips for Unknown Dogs: Building real-world awareness.

Extend the Learning at Home 🏠🐶: Explore the program's learning hub for songs, stories, and activities that children practiced during the incursion: https://learninghub.vic.rpobookings.com.au/index.html

Thank you Carol and Tess!

Did you know, when participating in our Kinder Program, families are receiving a Free Kinder offset that is applied to their accounts on top of CCS entitlements!

More savings for families and the convenience of long day care 🤩

Benefiting children to engage in new adventures while getting quality early education and care, and allowing families to get more flexibility for work and other commitments. 👏🙌

Kinder Stats! 📈🤸

Two years of quality kindergarten programs before school can set children up for success at school, and in life. What a child experiences between the ages of 3 and 5 can make a big difference to their future. 🧑‍🎓

Talk to us about how to enrol for 2025 by signing in to one of our Kinder Information Sessions this week.

☝️ Did you know...

"Children’s learning of social skills can be powerful additions in their communicative toolkit. When children can communicate their wants and needs, it facilitates their ability to get along with others. Thus, social skills are closely linked to children’s language development. They also have links to children’s wellbeing, identity, and emotional development (refer to VEYLDF, 2016)." 🧠👀🗣

One of the many skills children develop in a play-based learning environment, giving them the necessary tools for school readiness. Check out children's communal camping cooking session in progress!

🧐 Enquire about our integrated 3YO and 4YO Kinder program today!

Does your child turn 3 by April next year? It’s time to enrol them in a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program for 2025!

Taking part in a quality kinder program at an earlier age can boost your child’s development, wellbeing, and learning. Small Steps ELC is proud to offer Free Kinder.

To find out more, ask us today!

📢 Friendly reminder Small Steps ELC will be closed for the Public Holiday 👑 Monday 10 June 2024

Have a great long weekend everyone 😀👋

Another day, another successful Tennis session! 🎾

Only 2 more sessions to go before the end of the Term. Children in the 4 Years-Old program have definitely enjoyed their time at the Taylors Lakes Tennis Club 😍🥎

🎾Exploring the building blocks of movement
🎾Fun, imagination, creativity, play-based
🎾Values: Listening, cooperation, communication

https://hotshots.tennis.com.au/about/

Recently, educators visited Reverse Art Truck Inc to replenish the Explorers' and Discoverers' rooms art supplies! ✂️♻️

"Reverse Art Truck Inc. is an iconic Melbourne not-for-profit organisation who's mission is to pursue and promote creative re-use in the community, repurposing rejects, seconds and factory offcuts. These materials that would otherwise go to landfill are made available to the greater community, educators, artists, makers, crafters and hobbyists of all ages."

👉 Repurposing rejects, seconds, and factory offcuts in early learning settings reduces waste and conserves resources, embedding sustainability values in children while minimising environmental impact. Also aligning with our health and wellbeing focus this term (environmental health), and with our ongoing sustainability commitment. 👈

🤏 REDUCE
🔄 REUSE
♻️ RECYCLE

🤩 Check out Reverse Art Truck and make a visit this weekend! https://www.facebook.com/reversearttruck/

It's National Reconciliation Week 🖤💛❤️

"27 May to 3 June – is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to see how we can all take action towards achieving reconciliation in Australia."

☝️ Did you know, as part of the National Quality Standards and the Approved Learning Frameworks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives have to be embedded into the centre and programs regardless of whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families are enrolled.

The learning framework "[...] emphasises how knowledge of, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures can positively impact children’s Belonging, Being and Becoming."🫶

💻 Why not watch an animated videos of First Nations Dreaming stories together at home: https://youtu.be/pCuuRRrfOXo?si=kdfeAQ47u8NwTo-o

Celebration time! 🥳

We are proud to have been awarded "Advanced Standing" for Sun Protection for the Achievement Program of the Victorian Department of Health 🙌👏

"Congratulations on working through this first priority area of the Achievement Program and demonstrating your commitment to embedding health and wellbeing within your service!"

Great job team, this shows your commitment to the health and wellbeing of your colleagues, children and their families, and the community. 🌳☀️

Today is World Bee Day 🐝

Learning about the importance of bees in early learning settings is raising awareness to the importance of biodiversity and sustainability practices. ♻️🌏

🧐Learning about in early education fosters environmental awareness while also being an introduction to scientific curiosity.
🌏Incorporating the importance of bees and Bee Day into early learning helps children develop a holistic understanding of the natural world and their place within it.
🧠It promotes environmental literacy, scientific inquiry, empathy, critical thinking, and a multidisciplinary approach to learning, all of which are crucial skills and values for their overall development.

💻If your child is coming home with questions you can't answer, why not watching this informative video to learn together 🥰👇

Why are bees important? (For kids!) Bees are important little critters. Not only do they make delicious honey - they help us eat so much of the food we love, and play a very important role in o...