TAS Early Learning Centre Prospectus

Kewarra Beach Campus

Early Learning–Year 6

White Rock Campus

Early

12

Welcome to Trinity Anglican School Early Learning Centre!

Early Learning is an exciting milestone in the educational journey for children and families.

At Trinity Anglican School Early Learning Centre, we consider it the greatest privilege to nurture your curious little learner.

About

TWO-YEAR PRE-KINDY AND KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM

Our Early Learning Centre offers a two-year program, which aligns with Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), the national guideline for Early Childhood Education. The two-year program consists of:

12 months Pre-Kindy Program (2.5 years+)

Pre-Kindy is the entry point into the TAS Early Learning Centre and allows children an additional year to develop fundamental social-emotional, language, and cognitive skills needed for Kindergarten and beyond.

HOURS OF OPERATION

12 months Kindergarten Program (3.5 years+)

Following Pre-Kindy, children enter a year of the registered Queensland Kindergarten Program, where curriculum is underpinned by five key areas of essential learning.

Our centres offer full-time places only (children attend 5-days per week). We are open from 7:30am to 5:30pm and are closed on Queensland state public holidays and for two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period. The dates of the closure depend on when Christmas falls.

FACILITIES

Our modern centres are located at both the TAS White Rock and TAS Kewarra Beach campuses, where children explore vast learning opportunities:

• TAS White Rock Campus

4–54 Sheehy Road, White Rock

• TAS Kewarra Beach Campus 45 Poolwood Road, Kewarra Beach

Each Centre has four rooms, designed for the developmental needs of young children, including indoor and outdoor play spaces and learning environments.

WHY TRINITY ANGLICAN SCHOOL EARLY LEARNING CENTRE?

• An ‘Exceeding’ National Quality Standard Rating at both Centres.

• Newly built, state-of-the-art Early Learning Centres with modern facilities with both indoor and outdoor learning environments.

• Caring and consistent educators who support children to feel safe, secure and connected.

• Variety of co-curricular programs allow students to explore their curiosities and skills.

Two-year program and school integration best prepares children for the transition to prep.

• Dedicated in our partnership with families to improve children’s experiences and the program.

Community

OUR EDUCATORS

Our team of dedicated staff and qualified educators view school readiness as a holistic objective, and the early years are seen as a valuable opportunity to instil a lifelong love of learning. Full-time educators see their role as an extension of your family, working in partnership with you to ensure your child is not only a confident learner but also ready for their transition to kindergarten or Prep.

OUR FAMILIES

As the most important people in your child’s world, families are encouraged to be active participants in their child’s development and to offer input and feedback.

Family participation is highly valued, and your ideas, experiences, and skills enable us to enrich each child’s interests, abilities, and knowledge. We welcome families, including grandparents, who have the time to volunteer to read a book or share their interests and culture with our students.

Families can also contribute to the centre by donating recyclables for crafting, or adding a photo to the community family wall, which helps children feel their family is part of the ELC community.

COLLABORATION WITH FAMILIES

Our centre values open communication and invites parents to discuss their child’s learning progression, challenges, or worries whenever necessary. Here are three ways we communicate with families:

• Families participate in parent-teacher check-ins regularly.

Staff share a story each day on ‘Story Park’, where parents can see and learn more about what their child is doing each day.

Our centre provides a portfolio for each child that contains their unique work, progression of learning, goals, observations, and evaluations.

THE CURRICULUM

Educational Framework

The curriculum in the Early Learning Centre program is aligned with:

• The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF), which aims to extend and enrich children’s learning from birth to five years, and

The Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines (QKLG), which are specifically designed to further enrich children’s learning in the year prior to their entry to Prep. The QKLG highlights five key areas of learning including Identity, Connectedness, Wellbeing, Active Learning and Communicating.

Learning Contexts

SCHOOL INTEGRATION

Children benefit from the extensive resources of the integrated TAS Primary campus. At the end of their two-year program, this approach can prepare them for the transition to Prep, by building a sense of belonging and security.

LEARNING IN NATURE

Children explore many natural resources and environments to develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Dynamic indoor-outdoor learning spaces promote discovery and connection with nature through textures, sounds and smells.

LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY

In line with the QKLG, children engage with technology using iPads or interactive whiteboards to create visual representations and explore topics of interest.

INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING

Educators introduce questions during learning that encourage children to utilise loose parts to create and build visual representations of their imaginations, which builds critical thinking skills, creativity, socialisation and information gathering.

Enrichment

When children enter Kindergarten, they can participate in an exciting range of Extra Curricular Programs during their day, including:

INCURSIONS AND EXCURSIONS

Children participate in ageappropriate incursions and excursions as a learning tool to enhance the curriculum. Learning by doing allows children to better grasp and retain concepts while promoting engagement, confidence and teamwork.

LIBRARY

Children turning five within the year enjoy weekly visits to the school library where they learn how the library operates, listen to stories and have the chance to borrow a book for the week.

SPORTS AND SWIMMING

Children turning five within the year are encouraged to explore athletics by joining entrylevel TAS Sports clubs such as Football, Netball and Hockey. We encourage students of all ages to begin Learn to Swim classes at the TAS Aquatic Centre.

BIRTHDAYS

Our educators ensure each child enjoys the excitement of their birthday and the opportunity to share it with their friends and teachers.

Wellbeing

Good health and wellbeing are essential for optimal learning. Children will be taught to practice good personal hygiene at our centre, as modeled by our educators. This includes frequent handwashing, covering their mouth while coughing or sneezing, and following general hygiene rules.

A child’s early years are a critical time for mental and physical development, and this is when many lifetime eating habits are formed. Parents should provide healthy food and drinks in accordance with centre processes and policies. Sugary foods and processed snacks are discouraged, and the school aims to enforce a litter-free rule for lunches.

MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES

• Labels and stickers so children can identify their belongings

Reusable water bottle and esky or lunch box

Fruit and Vegetables

Dairy (yoghurt, milk, cheese)

Protein (meat, fish, eggs)

• Healthy carbohydrates (sandwich, rice cakes)

Enrolment Information

FEES

To view the Early Learning Centre fee schedule, please scan the QR code below.

SCHOOL-AGE CALCULATOR

To calculate your child’s eligibility for TAS Pre-Kindy, Kindergarten or Prep:

FREE KINDY INITIATIVE

The Queensland Government Free Kindy initiative applies to the Trinity Anglican School Kindergarten program only and provides 15 free hours per week to eligible children.

To calculate what is payable by parents each day, we take the daily rate, apply the CCS percentage and CCS withholding percentage, and then deduct the 15 free hours. Please see the diagram below for a full-time example:

Applies to all children enrolled in an approved Kindy and who are at least 4 years old by 30 June in the year they are registered.

Australian Government Childcare Subsidy (CCS) may apply if eligible.

Enrolment Process

Step 1

If you initially have any questions about the Early Learning Centre or our programs, please contact the Admissions Team.

E: admissions@tas.qld.edu.au

Ph: (07) 4036 8111

Step 2

When you are sure TAS is right for you, please scan the QR code to complete an Expression of Interest form. You will be notified when enrolments open for your child’s age group.

Step 3

When we begin accepting enrolments for the year your child is eligible to attend, our Admissions Team will be in contact to help you complete an Enrolment Form and begin the application process.

Step 4

Following submission of your Enrolment Form, you may be invited to a pre-enrolment meeting and tour of the facilities.

Step 5

Following your pre-enrolment meeting, you may be offered a place through a formal letter of offer. To confirm your child’s place, accept the offer and pay the security bond.

Step 6

Prior to commencing at the service, families will be invited to the Early Learning Onboarding Hub and orientation events.

Pre-Kindy to Kindergarten

At the end of your child’s Pre-Kindy year, parents will be asked to formally indicate their intention to continue to Kindergarten or forfeit their place.

PRIORITY PATHWAYS

Due to the high volume of applicants,