Castles and fairy tales delight

Medieval music, games, dressing up, a banquet, and even some knighthoods have been planned as part of the St Andrew’s College Pre-school’s investigation into castles and fairy tales. Head of Pre-school Beverley Rose says the catalyst for the topic was a drama production, (based on Sleeping Beauty), which was presented by the children to the Preparatory School Junior Department. “The children were fascinated by the story, and during a group discussion asked if we could find out more. The rich investigation we have planned includes a number of curriculum areas such as architecture (castles), music, dance, drama and games.” The castles and fairy tales topic has proved so popular the Pre-school’s teachers have observed the children independently acting out the roles at playtime and spontaneously creating stories around the elaborate castles peopled with princess figures, knights, bad dragons and dinosaurs they are building in the construction area. Beverley says observation is a critical element of the teachers’ role at the Pre-school, as it allows them to enter the children’s richly imaginative world, a place adults may sometimes otherwise only glimpse. “Observation also informs the evaluation and ongoing assessment of each child and the environment, and generates the documentation that makes the children’s learning and development visible to parents. It also identifies further possibilities for learning.” To support each child’s exploration and discovery, the environment (and the teacher) must be able to change and evolve in relationship to the emerging needs and interests of those who inhabit it, says Beverley. “In essence the environment should clearly reflect the children’s current interests, ideas and experiences. Our Pre-school teachers value the ideas of each child, and actively listen to, observe and document them. This intimacy facilitates learning in meaningful contexts.”

Zoe and Henry at play in the construction area.

Henry, Zia and Jaden having fun with blocks.

Beverley says St Andrew’s College Pre-school is committed to providing an exceptional environment to facilitate an optimal learning experience for each child that build competencies and dispositions such as inquiry, perseverance, risk taking and especially a positive self-image. “Everything we do is informed by the child, as each individual brings a unique set of experiences to different learning situations. The environment is created and the teachers developed to work collaboratively and dynamically to provide the children with rich catalysts for meaningful experiences and learning.” St Andrew’s College Pre-school is open daily from 7.30am–5.30pm, and offers 20 hours free Early Childhood Education.