Our Pre-school


 

Bonbeach Pre-school provides families with a unique experience in which kindergarten and school are integrated in one location. The Pre-school has a separate entrance to the primary school and a separate playground. In 2018 Bonbeach Pre-school was assessed and rated as Excceding the National Quality Standards in all seven quality areas. 



Program

Our Pre-school program aims to introduce each child to an enjoyable and challenging environment where they can develop a love of learning. The program encompasses all areas of development, intellectual, social, emotional, physical and language enrichment.

The Pre-school offers a play based program based on the needs and interests of the children, using the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and the thoughts and ideas of many Early Childhood theorists and researchers. Educators also contribute to the program by introducing topics, information and experiences to enrich, challenge and extend children’s learning. 

The Pre-school curriculum is developed by staff after direct observation of the children, both individually and as a whole group and in response to the goals that a set for each child’s journey of learning and development. This allows for each child’s experience to be tailored to their needs.

We highly value the links between home, Pre-school, school and the wider community and work in partnership with all of these groups to provide the best start for each individual child on their education journey.

Children are encouraged to freely explore the Pre-school environment and follow their curiosities, while being guided by the Pre-school’s dedicated team of staff. Each child explores at their own pace and level and are encouraged by educators to build confidence, independence and strive for their best. 

The Pre-school fosters in each child a feeling of self worth, kindness, independence, respect for others, tolerance and self discipline. The Pre-school program introduces these concepts and have approved School Readiness Funding to complete the Early Years Resilience Project in 2021.

 
Transition

A unique transition program is run with Bonbeach primary school. Children participate in visits to the junior school classrooms and school playground. Senior school children visit the Pre-school children, later they are paired up and become school buddies. 

Bonbeach Pre-school aims to make the kindergarten experience a happy one for each child. The children begin their education in the Pre-school developing a love of learning and experience being a part of the school community, building confidence and familiarity, ensuring they get a smooth and positive start to school.

 

 

 

Mr Jones reading to our Preschool children during the transition program in 2020

 

Nature Play Program

Bonbeach Pre-school will be offering a Nature Play Kinder program as part of our 4-year-old pre-school program in 2021. This program will see both 4-year-old pre-school groups spending one session each week during Terms 2 and 3 in a Parkland/Beach setting.  


A nature play kindergarten is a type of preschool education for children that is held outdoors, allowing children to engage in a variety of activities that are typically not available in a traditional kindergarten setting. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to play, explore and learn in a bush, beach or natural environment. Physical activity is encouraged, and the children and adults benefit from using only what nature has provided. Nature Play Kinder recognises the place the natural environment and outdoors has in Australian folklore and the significance of the land in aboriginal culture.

At Bonbeach Pre-school we want to give children a chance to spend quality time in nature with passionate teachers to encourage them to explore and learn. Learning in nature invigorates the senses, stimulates the imagination and nourishes wellbeing. By exploring nature, building cubby houses, climbing trees, splashing in puddles and playing games, the children are learning with their whole bodies.

We believe in the importance of nature and outside play for children to learn and develop. Our Nature Play Kinder program supports the pres-chool’s overall philosophy, which promotes learning through play and embraces children’s creativity, self-expression, problem solving skills, language development, concentration and independence. We are committed to providing an environment which assists all members of the preschool community to experience physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing. It has been shown that children who learn outdoors are less disruptive, show improved social skills, motor skills and physical health, and develop resilience, self-awareness, self-esteem and independence.

In 2021 Bonbeach Pres-chool’s Nature Play Kinder program will be run at Chelsea Park and Chelsea Beach. Children will attend one Nature Play Kinder session each week on a Thursday during terms 2 and 3. Families will be required to drop off and pick up from the Nature Play Kinder location.

 

                                             
              Chelsea beach locaton for Nature Play                                                 Chelsea Activity Hub