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The Early Learning Centre connecting play, learning and natureEDUCATION
Surounded by peaceful rainforest and tropical gardens, every child can connect with nature at Flinders Early Learning Centre
You would be forgiven for missing the turn-off to Flinders Early Learning Centre, located in Buderim in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. "e 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. "e 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.
“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. "e 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 in nature gives children Our whole the forest on a regular basis. In the forest, the children have the opportunity to build philosophy values different opportunities to play, confidence and resilience, boost their physicality play and enquiry learn and to build courage. “"ey 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 “"e 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!
“Some days, we set up an activity in the forest, such as clay, playdough or drawing.
“It’s so peaceful amongst the trees, and it’s wonderful to feel the children relax into it and find their own pace and rhythm as they go.
“It is also very special to observe how the children develop a sense of ownership of and responsibility for the forest space.”
Children at FELC also regularly visit the Flinders Farm, which is just a short walk through the neighbouring College campus and operates as a vibrant learning hub for Flinders students from Prep to Year 12.
On the farm, children learn from the College’s farm manager, Jeff Maclennan – a.k.a Farmer Jeff – about animals, veggies, food scraps, compost, seedlings and irrigation. Farmer Jeff enjoys engaging the FELC children in the farm and observing their excitement and wonder in the little things.
“Over time, the children learn how to hold chickens without hurting them and collect eggs without breakages,” Jeff said.
“"ey soon know which veggie leaves Erol the Emu enjoys most and which ones he isn’t too fussed about!” he said.
“From one visit to the next, they marvel at the rate the seedlings they planted have grown.
“As an educator, it is wonderful to witness their fascination with our natural world.”
Earlier in the year, the FELC children visited the farm almost daily as Farmer Jeff taught them how honey is extracted from the farm’s beehives.
“"ey were enthralled in the process as I showed them the cells that the bees make for the Queen Bee to lay her eggs and told them how the eggs then ‘grow into bees’,” Jeff said.
“"ere are always plenty of questions, in this instance, ‘how are they born?’, ‘what do they eat?’, and ‘where is the Queen Bee?’”
Jo says that one of the best outcomes of the Flinders Farm visits is the play it inspires upon the children’s return to the Centre. "e children will gravitate to the space in the Centre that best suits their imaginative play, whether it is the light-filled classrooms, outdoor learning areas, rainforest gardens, veggie plots, mud kitchen, art studios, writing
www.mfac.edu.au/flinders-early-learning-centre
stations, discovery areas or reading nooks.
“During the honey extraction project, the friends decided to return to FELC and make honey in the sandpit outside,” Jo said.
“And very soon a team was formed as they helped one another use the water pump in the garden and took turns adding it to the mixture,” she said.
“It is wonderful to see the children lead their own play and experience the joy of working together towards a common goal.”
Another project at FELC is the new community garden, which the children and families are helping to design from the ground up with Farmer Jeff’s guidance.
Last year, the children hosted a morning tea event at FELC for their parents and grandparents and served the fruit, veggies and herbs they had grown in their veggie plots within the Centre’s gardens. "e morning tea was a chance to involve their families in the new community garden project and to proudly show their drawings of the food they would like to grow.
“We invite our FELC families to contribute their design ideas about the project, from
Students regularly visit Flinders Farm to feed the animals.
seasonal planting recommendations to plans for water collection tanks, seating options and how we might enjoy the bounty after harvest,” Jo said.
“"e walls and shelves in our FELC foyer are decorated with beautiful drawings, collages and clay models that the children have been inspired to create through this project.
“During the home-learning phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we gave families seed packs and invited them to plant and grow the seeds, and then make observations of the growing process through drawings and written stories.
“We had such a lovely response to this simple project and many parents observed how their children felt proud to initiate a family activity in their homes for their older siblings and parents to enjoy.”
Jo says the children are at the heart of the learning at FELC, which makes every day a fascinating adventure.
“At FELC, we are mindful to engage a child’s five senses to provoke wonder, curiosity and intellectual engagement – and what better place to explore this than in nature.”
