early years learning centre 2018 - warringa park school€¦ · the early years learning centre is...
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Early Years Learning Centre 2018
Welcome The vision of Warringa Park School is the achievement of excellence in education that will deliver improved learning outcomes for students with additional learning needs in literacy, numeracy, science and technology as well as History, Geography and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics).
The Early Years
The Early Years Learning Centre is an exciting and nurturing environment for your child to start their formal school life.
We are committed to creating an inclusive, challenging and supportive learning environment for every student. Each learning environment is set up differently to cater for the diverse range of needs of
the students in the Learning Centre. Students use their iPads for their everyday learning and teachers
ensure iPads are personalized to support each student’s individual needs.
In the Early Years Learning Centre we have students ranging from 5 to 10 years old. Classrooms will have 8-12 students
who are placed in a given class based on their learning needs.
Team Structure and Organisation
The Early Years teaching staff consists of four Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) with four
to five teachers in each team. In 2018 our PLT leaders are Lauren Wagner and Tegan
Mensinga (also Assistant Team Leaders), Chloe Bunting and Alexandra Cochran.
Each class will have a teacher and an Education Support Officer working in the room. Some
classes depending on the needs of the students will have more Education Support staff in the
classroom. Teachers communicate with parents regularly on the learning experiences
happening during the week. You will also be able to read fortnightly about the work that is
happening in each professional learning team in our school newsletter.
In the Early Years Learning Centre we personalise the curriculum to match student needs and
interests. All students have their own Individual Learning Program that is designed in
consultation with parents/carers, teachers and allied health staff. The Early Years Learning
Centre is committed to improving student learning outcomes based on the Victorian
Curriculum. Student goals are guided by this curriculum and a variety of assessments are
used throughout the year to capture and assess learning.
Communication is an important focus in the Early Years and students are supported in many
different ways to communicate effectively and to access the curriculum at their level.
Communication support includes the use of Aided Language Displays, PECS (picture
exchange communication system), visual schedules, iPad communication apps (Proloquo2go)
and programs and signing.
Students in the Early Years attend four specialist subjects per week from P.E., Visual Art,
Music, PMP, Technology, Performing Arts and STEAM. These programs enrich the core
curriculum, equipping students with a variety of creative skills through active and engaging
learning experiences.
Curriculum
Inquiry Learning
Inquiry plays an integral role in teaching and learning at Warringa Park. It serves as a stimulus for engaging in investigative and inquiry models of learning which promote student independence and provides a platform for acquiring skills that can be used across all domains. Through inquiry students are able to develop skills in questioning the world around them, investigating the Earths’ resources, engaging in scientific experiments and exploration and researching historical events including family history. Over the course of the year students will participate in hands-on learning experiences that are engaging and that extend their learning. Teachers plan and implement inquiries that are based around student interests, questions and wonderings; this leads to higher levels of engagement and a personalised learning experience. Students also develop skills in using inquiry language, science safety skills and working in collaboration with their peers to explore, experiment and discover. The Early Years Learning Centre uses the Victorian Curriculum for delivery of curriculum content in English, Maths and Science. Science is used to deliver engaging, hands on learning activities and is integrated into learning activities across all subjects. In 2018 this enquiry learning model will be extended to History, Health and STEAM. Each Term teachers plan an inquiry unit of work around a particular area in Science, History,
Geography and/or STEAM taken from a whole school Scope and Sequence. Technology, through the use of iPads, is the main driver for capturing and presenting learning in engaging and innovative ways.
eLearning
Warringa Park School is a 1:1 iPad school and in Early Learning iPad technology captures, enhances and
drives student learning. All student learning is driven by a combination of hands on activities and personalised
use of iPad apps for Learning.
All students use their iPads as a learning companion both at school and at home. Every term students work with teachers to produce their own personal ePortfolio
of their term’s work in English, Maths, Science, Technology and Specialist subjects. Teachers in Early
Years are dedicated to using iPad technology to find new ways to enhance and improve student outcomes in English, Maths and communication for all students.
Assessment includes the use of the Seesaw App.
Specialist Programs
Visual Arts Program
Creativity is fostered through the Early Years Visual Arts program.
Activities are designed to build confidence in the handling of tools and
in using a variety of materials. The basic elements of the visual arts
are colour, line, shape and texture. These elements are all explored
through drawing, painting, collage, construction and printing.
Physical Education Program
The Physical Education Program provides
activities that promote the development of gross
motor skills, coordination, flexibility and strength.
The program emphasises turn-taking and
cooperation. Simple team games are introduced
in Physical Education during the early to middle
years.
Perpetual Motor Program
The Occupational Therapist works with classes alongside the Physical Education teacher to
provide a developmentally appropriate Perceptual Motor Program. Students participate in gross
motor activities designed to enhance learning readiness and enable students to become more
efficient users of their bodies. The activities promote development in areas including body
awareness, balance, coordination and turn-taking.
Music Program
At Warringa Park the music program has been designed to give students the opportunity to
explore sound and how it is produced in a variety of different ways. Students are
encouraged to be hands-on learners and experience paying a wide range of musical
instruments.
Technology is also a part of the music
program with students using music Apps
such as Space Twinkle, Bloom, Bebot
and Beatwave to access a more sensory
experiences as well as other Apps to
compose and play in a more traditional
sense.
Students are encouraged to participate in
the extra curricular ensembles that we
have in the school to enhance their
knowledge and ability in music and to
allow them to enjoy themselves and to
perform.
Allied Health
The Allied Health Team work in consultation with the classroom teacher to provide support
with program adaptions and resources for individual and groups where needed. This team
includes Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, a Physiotherapist, a Movement
Therapist and a School Nurse.
Promoting Positive Behaviour
PBS is a school wide program which promotes,
implements and maintains positive change within the
school environment to achieve improved social and
learning engagement.
We follow three school values:
Learning
Respect
Working Together
Wellbeing Team
The Wellbeing Team provide support to students, parents and carers and deliver a range of
programs. The team provides referral support for families and students and works in partnership
with community and government agencies. It focuses on working with students and families to
identify needs and to provide support where required. The team includes a Student Wellbeing
Worker, Social Worker, Male Youth Mentor Worker, School Nurse and an Assistant Principal.
Excursions
Students in the Early Years Learning
Centre will have a range of opportunities to
attend excursions and incursions
throughout the school year. These are
considered an important part of the
curriculum as well as an integral
component of personal development.
Excursions and Incursions are sequenced
with the curriculum and aim to provide
opportunities for a diverse range of
experiences.
Contact
If you would like further information or to book a school tour, please contact:
Amy Byrne
Early Years Learning Centre Leader
0477 771 070
Uniform
Warringa Park has a uniform which is
compulsory for all students. Uniforms can
be purchased from Rushfords Schoolwear,
shop 1/13 Barnes Place, Werribee. A copy
of the school’s uniform list can be obtained
from the office.
Warringa Park School
81 Warringa Cres
Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029
PH: (03) 9749 5774
Email: [email protected]
www.warringapark.vic.edu.au
Our Vision
Excellent education for every student.
Our Values
Respect
Learning
Working Together