Location
We are situated in a quite street. Our centre is walking distance to both the train station and local Primary Schools.
Jack and Jill Kindergarten Berowra
Address: 6 Boundary Street,
Berowra NSW 2081
Mail:
Tel:02) 94565523
Our class rooms
We are a 90 place long day centre with five classrooms that cater for ages 6 weeks to 5 years, our centre has two playgrounds 0 - 2 years playground and 2 years to 5 years.
We believe in creating learning environments that allow children to become active leaders in their learning, by providing hands on experiences for children to freely explore concepts, ideas and make meaning of ideas/skills they already posses. We also wish to challenge their skills and encourage them to participate in experiences that are designed to further specific skills.
Owlets
0 - 1 years
In this space we aim to create a warm friendly home environment for your child. We ask all families in this room to provide their home routine, this enables our centre to keep home life and centre life as the same . We acknowledge the importance in continuity aiming to build partnerships with parents so that we are following the same routine as home and work with you as their feeding/sleep/play needs change.
The experiences that are provided to the babies challenge and extend their development, they are developed to foster security, develop/build relationships and self-confidence.
All the children get the opportunity to become involved in craft, singing and stories.
At the end of the day you are able to see pictures and read a short story of your child’s day. Throughout the year observations of your child’s development and group projects occurring in the room will be put together in a portfolio for you keep.
Flying Foxes
1 years - 2 years
In this space we support their curiosity of exploration providing them with a range of hands on experiences that they can explorer. We recognise the importance for repetitive play and to have a familiar environment. Allowing children to continuously explore something of interest to them and be able to connect with the environment. Play is a great way of introducing many concepts children are introduce to maths and science concepts through art and music which is in the room daily.
At the end of the day you are able to see pictures and read a short learning story of your child’s day. Throughout the year observations of your child’s development and group projects occurring in the room will be put together in a portfolio for you keep.
Robins
2 years - 3 years
In this space we aim to create an environment that supports children needs, with plenty of hands on experiences that they can further explore ideas and feelings. At this age children are becoming increasing aware of what and who is around them we will support their developing social needs in meaningful experiences, music is a great place for children to share joyful experiences together.
At the end of the day you are able to see pictures and read a short learning story of your child’s day. Throughout the year observations of your child’s development and group projects occurring in the room will be put together in a portfolio for you keep.
Sugar Gliders
3 years - 4 years
In this space we aim to provide children with a range of experiences that challenge and further their skills to begin developing their concentration skills. We recognise the importance of supporting children to give them the confidence to attempt tasks that are difficult.
Children are also developing their underlying understanding of Literacy and Maths. Pre literacy and pre math skills will occur on a daily basis in planned and spontaneous experiences. Children can learn in many ways which is why will provide a range of visual and hands on experiences that will help extend their learning, though visual displays, songs and games.
At the end of the day you are able to see pictures and read a short learning story of your child’s day. Throughout the year observations of your child’s development and group projects occurring in the room will be put together in a portfolio for you keep.
Lorikeets
3 years - 5 years
When planning and developing the pre-school program we aim to develop children thinking skills on a daily bases. By providing children with experiences that encourage them to use their problem solve skills, introduce them to experiences which will challenge them with their math skills, encourage all children to get involved in projects which them allow to explore investigate all areas of life , join in with hands on science experiments, become involved in cooking and learn basic skills of the kitchen and the safety aspects of the kitchen.
The room’s program is designed to ensure that children are interested in learning and have an inquisitive mind about the world around them. We want to foster their natural curiosity at the stage in their lives. All of our day to day programs and projects are based on the children’s interests and therefore they are much more likely to invest the time to explore, investigate and learn. These experiences give ownership to children and encourage problem solving and decision making. We use realistic materials and equipment so that their experiences are more genuine.
At the end of the day you are able to see pictures and read a short story of your child’s day. Throughout the year observations of your child’s development and group projects occurring in the room will be put together in a portfolio for you keep.
Our outdoor play areas
Outdoor learning lends itself to practical engagement and appropriate risk taking. Children need these opportunities in order to build their confidence, spatial awareness, physical strength and the ability to keep themselves safe in an ever-changing and unpredictable world. Here at Jack and Jill Kindergarten Berowra we have two large play areas that cater for all ages and development.
By providing children with an environment that is based around their interest it shows them that what they like is important and gives them a sense of “Belonging”.
We understand the importance to give children the opportunity of “Being” a child providing environments that are age appropriate, meaningful and enjoyable.
By supporting children during the early years of their life within a social environment through their learning we create a nurturing environment that give them the opportunity develop the sense of “Becoming” part of a community group where they can express themselves and gain different perspectives.
Transition to School
The key points that were raised are as follows:
• Children do not need to be proficient in writing their names but they do need to be able to recognise it and attempt to write it.
• It is very important that children have the confidence to ask questions, make their needs known and take care of themselves in an environment where there may be one teacher for up to 35 children.
• There is no expectation that children need to be able to read and write before school as long as they have an understanding of what letters mean and how they are used. Many parents teach their child differently to how a school will teach and therefore the child will become very confused and bored if they know too much.
• There is an expectation that children are independent at toileting and dressing themselves
• Children should be encouraged to maintain their home languages
• Children will be asked to complete a variety of gross motor activities to assess their level of competence
• Children need to show an interest in learning
• Children need to understand the way recess and lunch works as they are used to being given hot nutritious meals during the day
• It is important that children are able to make friends, share and negotiate with others
• Concentration skills are important so that children learn
What we do here at Jack and Jill Kindergarten to assist with this transition to school:
• Confidence – building a child’s confidence is extremely important to their continual success at school and beyond. Here at our centre children are given lots of opportunity to succeed in front of peers and teachers. ‘News time’ is a great opportunity for children to get up in front of their group and talk about something important to them. They are given the chance to answer questions from their peers.
• Reading and writing - The children are surrounded by language and literature throughout the day. There is a wealth of story books, resource books, signs and labels for the children to learn that letters and meaning of words (phonics), the phonics program we use here at Jack and Jill is ‘Ants in the apple’ the wonderful staff here also have amazing and resourceful creative ideas of teaching your child phonics. The children have access to a variety of writing materials that are available to them all day. Children are not forced to write, but when an interest is shown, children are encouraged to extend on it by ‘writing’ their names-e.g. invitations for events, information from interest projects, words for the day book
• Toileting and dressing - Here at the centre we encourage children to become independent at toileting by close supervision of the bathroom, especially whilst toilet training so that they can ask for assistance if required. Children are also encouraged to dress themselves before and after sleep time and any other times throughout the day. They are given many opportunities to develop self-help skills, from making their own beds to cleaning up after themselves at lunch time
• Gross motor experiences - We have a lot of gross motor equipment at the centre for children to play in and we also program for specific gross motor games, such as parachute games, dancing, long jump in the sandpit , etc. In order to continue to build the children’s confidence, these activities always remain competition free and all children are encouraged to participate. This is also a good opportunity for children to learn about games with rules which can be quite complex for them to understand.
• Interest in learning - Our whole program is designed to ensure that children are interested in learning and have an inquisitive mind about the world around them. We want to foster their natural curiosity at the stage in their lives. All of our day to day programs and projects are based on the children’s interests and therefore they are much more likely to invest the time to explore, investigate and learn. These experiences give ownership to children and encourage problem solving and decision making. We use realistic materials and equipment so that their experiences are more genuine.
The best things for parents to do for their child:
• Read the Day Book every day and ask your child open ended questions about their day.
• When we put up the schools listings later in the year, try to make a connection with at least one other family who are going to the same school – just leave a note in their communication pocket.
• Encourage your child to help with tasks at home (even if they don’t always do a perfect job), including setting the table, clearing away after dinner, putting their clothes away.
• Support children’s attempts at dressing themselves and encourage their independence with toileting.
• Read to your child as much as you can from a variety of sources including story books, reference books, signs, labels , etc.
• When the orientation process starts at your child’s school, follow the recommendations for a smooth transition.
The following information is all the local schools in this area:
• Berowra Christian Community School – Cnr King St and Berowra Waters Rd Berowra 9456 2444
• Berowra Public School – Hillcrest Rd Berowra 9456 1319
• St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School – Warrina Street Berowra Height 9456 2104
• Wideview Public School – Wideview Rd Berowra Heights 9456 1633
We participate in the termly meetings with all the local preschools and schools with 'transition to school meetings' this gives our centre the opportunity to network with all the other centres and schools and talk about the important issues that may arise.