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Surounded by peaceful rainforest and tropical gardens, every child can connect with nature at Flinders Early Learning Centre
ou would be forgiven for missing the turn-off to Flinders Early Learning Centre, located in Buderim in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. The Centre (FELC) is surrounded by tropical gardens and borders a wetland forest corridor, which makes it difficult to spot at first glance on the drive past. The rainforest is part of the neighbouring 22-hectare campus of leading Queensland Prep to Year 12 school, Matthew Flinders Anglican College. Many parents choose to continue their FELC experience by applying for a place in the Preparatory Year at Flinders, enabling their children to enjoy the smooth transition next door to ‘big school’ through the College’s extensive orientation program, which involves parent information sessions, orientation mornings for play visits and a staggered start to the Prep school day. FELC Director Jo Osborne explains the Centre’s natural setting is one of the major drawcards for parents.
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“We are blessed to have this beautiful One of the Centre’s most popular offerings rainforest on our doorstep and strongly with the 120 families in its pre-kindergarten believe our role at FELC is to guide children to and kindergarten programs is its quality explore their natural environment,” Jo says. bush kindy. The program enables every child “Our whole philosophy values play and at FELC to connect with the forest space, enquiry for stimulating and shaping child explore its wonders and consider their place development and early learning at this in the natural world. crucial young stage of life,” “We give children the she said. opportunity to venture into “We know that playing the forest on a regular basis. Our whole in nature gives children In the forest, the children have the opportunity to build philosophy values different opportunities to play, confidence and resilience, and to build courage. play and enquiry learn boost their physicality “They may try climbing and wellbeing, be creative the rope tree, balancing on and curious, and explore fallen trees, climbing vines or responsibility and problem-solving. walking over the rickety bridge; they collect “Parents are extremely supportive of natural resources and learn how to safely our Centre’s values of enabling nature play play with big, long sticks. through a Reggio Emilio experience because “The children learn about the forest as they want their children to experience the they map the natural space, consider the joy of connecting with nature as often as natural landmarks, identify the flora and possible in their early years.” fauna, and get muddy! K I D S O N T H E C O A S T.C O M . A U • K I D S I N T H E C I T Y.C O M . A U
