LEAPing into school in 2021

As the effects of COVID-19 are felt across our economy, the Towards 2025 Financial Viability workstream could not have been formed at a more pressing time. Teaching and learning across the Catholic education spectrum has been adapted in light of the new challenges posed by social distancing and home based learning.

The L.E.A.P. (Learning Exploring Active Play) program for pre-schoolers who will begin Kindergarten in 2021 is just one program which has been developed to meet this challenge.

“These programs are a response to COVID,” said Sally Harrison, Student Achievement Workstream, who developed the program.

“Pre-schoolers might be vulnerable in some areas because they’ve had limited access to familiarise themselves with the school environment and begin to understand what school might look like.”

“We developed L.E.A.P. around ten different themed units with specific skills highlighted for parents, such as literacy, numeracy or fine motor skills,” Sally explained.

Sally Harrison, Student Achievement Workstream Schools across the Diocese offer this free L.E.A.P. program to all parents considering that school as an option for kindergarten enrolment in 2021. The program is supported with resources for the child to engage with at home, including the L.E.A.P. booklet.

With the “Learning Together” playgroups now on hold, children who would have been able to go on-site and meet their prospective teachers no longer have that opportunity.

L.E.A.P. has now been adapted as an online program, allowing parents to work with their children to familiarise them with the expectations of school. If COVID restrictions are lifted we may well be able to offer the sessions back on school sites again.

In the program, teachers read stories online and parents are provided with activities by the school, with the opportunity for children to share their learning with the school.

“The L.E.A.P. session was wonderful,” said Amber Nolan, whose son Harley is beginning Kindergarten at St Joseph’s Catholic School, Narrabeen in 2021. “Harley really can’t wait to go to school now. He has already finished the activity book and has asked for more ‘homework’ - I will take that while it lasts!”

Paul McGuire, Principal St Mary’s Catholic School Manly entertaining the preschoolers

Sally Harrison, Student Achievement Workstream