- 02 9072 7900
- littlefoundationschildcare@gmail.com
T
he preschool room for children aged 4 to 5 years is a dynamic, engaging environment that fosters growth across all developmental domains while preparing children for their transition to formal schooling. This stage is a pivotal time in early childhood as children consolidate essential skills and gain confidence to embark on their school journey.
O
ur focus in the 4–5-year-old preschool room is to provide a nurturing, stimulating, and inclusive setting where children can develop independence, critical thinking, social-emotional skills, and academic readiness. We aim to create an environment that encourages exploration, curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning through a play-based, intentional curriculum tailored to each child’s strengths and interests.
A key priority is to build the foundational skills required for a successful transition to school. We work closely with families and local schools to ensure continuity of learning and smooth transitions, supporting children emotionally, socially, and academically.
C
hildren in this age group typically achieve significant milestones including:
Our educators plan a rich variety of experiences designed to enhance learning across all developmental areas, including:
A major focus for children aged 4 to 5 years is preparing them thoroughly for school entry. We support children to develop the academic, social, emotional, and self-regulation skills necessary for success in a formal learning environment. This includes:
We believe strong family involvement is key to a successful transition to school. We provide regular updates on progress, offer school readiness workshops, and encourage families to reinforce learning and routines at home. Open communication ensures that children feel supported and confident as they take this important step.
We understand that the year before school can be a daunting and exciting time for families and children alike, which is why we believe so firmly in having a strong school readiness program to set for our children a lifelong foundation for early literacy and numeracy.
The School Readiness Program involves daily experiences that are based on the children’s current topics of interests and learning. The program has been designated to combine the use of worksheets, along with hands-on experiences which merge the primary school outcomes of the NSW Curriculum & Syllabuses with the emergent curriculum of Early Childhood philosophy and practice.
Mathematics: Early numeracy concepts, patterns, counting, more or less, number, identification, shapes.
English: Language, talking/listening, early literacy, writing skills, letter recognition.
Science an PDHPE: Experimenting, built environments, hypothesising, reflecting, critical thinking, science concepts, gross motor movements, growth an development, interpersonal relationships, healthy practices.
Creative art an HSIE: Music concepts, elements of art, art theorists an concepts, cultures, our community an world.
This can look like:
Emotional Readiness
Self-Awareness
Social Skills
Communication Skills
Understanding rules
Such as being able to use the toilet unassisted, dressing and undressing independently, being able to cope with smaller amounts of supervision, being able to look after their own belongings, being able to cope with a more structured environment, being able to communicate efficiently and make friendships.
At Little Foundations we will work closely with you to ensure that these elements are in place as your child moves on to Kinder and beyond. We have developed a highly successful curriculum such as visiting the local schools, bringing in a packed lunch (and choosing what to eat), learning listening skills throughout group times and much more.)
Teach your child how to say their name clearly.
Teach your child how to look after their possessions.
Teach your child about personal hygiene: when to use a tissue and to cover their mouth when coughing.
Help your child learn to use the toilet without help and learn to flush.
Help your child to learn to dress themselves independently.
Plan for lunches with your child, you can even let them help.
Allow your child to begin learning to pack their pre-school bag so that they can be prepared and ready to pack their school bag in future.
Allow your child to carry their own bag into pre-school so they are used to this when they get to big school.
Read a children’s book about starting school with your child. Reading books about school together can help you talk with your child about his feelings. You could try Starting school by Janet and Allen Ahlberg, or Starting school by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker.
Give your child lots of love and support. Be excited and enthusiastic about your child starting school. This sends your child the positive message that school is exciting and that she’ll cope and have fun.
Ensure that your child knows which school they are attending, even driving past it and letting them know ‘this is your school’’
When talking about ‘Big School’ with your child, be excited and enthusiastic.
Visit the school prior to your child’s start date and show them around the school, introducing them to their teachers if possible, and showing them where the toilets, canteen and office are.
Ensure you have purchased all uniforms, shoes, bags, hats, lunchboxes, drink bottles and anything else that’s needed and that it is clearly labelled with their name. Spend time going through these items with your child so they become familiar with their new big school possessions.
Try to organise playdates with other children before the first day of school. It can help if your child knows another child going to the same school before school starts.
Attend the schools orientation days and parent information nights so that you have a keen understanding of how the school runs and give your child comfort and ease by seeing how safe this transition is.
Make sure to get your child into a good sleeping routine. It is very important that they get enough sleep as this will help with their transition to school. For children aged 4-5 the recommended about of sleep is 10-13 hours.