HazelGrove’s Baulkham Hills School Readiness program uses a tried-and-true curriculum for kids ages three to five. The curriculum is designed to present basic mathematics, literacy, and science ideas to young children following the EYLF (Early Years Learning Framework). It’s a terrific stepping stone for kids who are just starting school or continuing their education on a part-time basis.
A child’s first day of school marks the beginning of an important new chapter. We place particular emphasis on helping kids develop the mental, emotional, and physical abilities they’ll need to thrive in a classroom setting. Children will have the best chance of adjusting to a school setting and reaching their learning potential if they are provided with these core skills and ties are established between families and schools.
Smart Start Baulkham Hills Program- Building Strong Foundational Skills
Our rigorous standards ensure that kids have the groundwork they need for further schooling and foster a lifelong love of learning. To this end, we use play to foster inquisitiveness, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities. Loose parts play, s Sequencing and planning games, and hands-on experiences in the kitchen are just a few of the many everyday activities that can introduce young children to the fundamentals of mathematics and the sciences.
Language, name recognition and storytelling are all strengthened via group discussions and storytime. Creativity and artistic expression are also promoted in the school readiness program, to help children learn to distinguish colours, explore different shapes, and make their marks. These activities provide kids with valuable learning opportunities that lay the groundwork for later academic success.
Emotional and Social Skill-Building
When we ask parents what they worry about most, they typically tell us that their child’s ability to socialise and emotionally adjust in a new setting is at the top of their list. At the heart of our goal is the belief that all children deserve the opportunity to grow up with the interpersonal and emotional skills necessary to thrive in today’s world.
Games and play that promote role-playing, sharing and turn-taking, and talking about our feelings as a group are just some of the many ways in which we develop emotional intelligence, which includes interpersonal qualities like compassion, empathy, and collaboration. Supporting children in being open and adaptable to new situations and situations that they may not be prepared for helps them develop resilience.
To foster independence and self-determination, we incorporate self-help routines into the transition to school program, such as dropping off, eating, getting ready for bed, and washing hands. Children are given the freedom to make their own decisions while yet being able to approach their educators for guidance if they get stuck. Children who develop these crucial emotional abilities before school report experiencing fewer difficulties in the new setting.
Various Activities Of The Transition To School Program
Teachers also network with their peers in the community to plan activities, organise field trips, and exchange teaching strategies that provide students with a positive first school experience. Teachers report that their students who attended HazelGrove’s high-quality early learning atmosphere were better prepared for “big” school, had larger vocabularies, better social skills, and could work well in groups.
Ensuring Continuity of Learning
HazelGrove’s School Readiness programme places a premium on fostering strong relationships with area schools to guarantee students’ continued success in the classroom and a positive transition for their families. We achieve this by giving kids a chance to try on real school uniforms, taking them on field trips to area schools, hosting workshops for parents on helping their kids make the transition to school, and welcoming in-person educators to our service.
Children get a transition to school report summarising their educational journey and individual development, as well as a graduation ceremony at the end of the programme. Children are helped as they make the change from childhood to school so that they may enter their new educational setting as ready students who can think critically and solve problems on their own.
Physical Skills Development in the Smart Start Baulkham Hills Program
Children will be better prepared physically for the demands of a classroom setting if they have had the opportunity to hone the fine and gross motor skills necessary to do things like use scissors, grasp a pencil, and sit still for extended periods. At HazelGrove, we encourage the early development of fine motor skills by providing opportunities for children to practise techniques like pencil grip, scissors use, tool use, and creative activities like weaving and play dough handling.
Activities like climbing, dancing, balancing, and yoga are incorporated into our transition-to-school program to help youngsters build the core strength necessary for academic achievement.
Get In Touch
For more information about our unique transition to school program, call us at 02 9639 1439 or send your enquiry through this form.