ELC & Eblana Campus Introduction

LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS ELC & EBLANA

MARY JONES EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

At the Mary Jones Early Learning Centre, children feel happy and secure in their environment. They have the opportunity to contribute to the development of their program and build upon personal experiences while making connections. Children develop a sense of ownership towards their learning within indoor and outdoor play spaces.

All staff in the ELC are professional, dedicated, passionate and inspired educators who nurture, encourage, engage, and challenge children to reach their full potential.

At the Mary Jones Early Learning Centre we believe that family is an integral part of our service and a strong, supportive and joint partnership with the Centre can achieve the best results for every child. Mentone Grammar values and supports a sense of community.

Our program facilitates equal opportunities for both boys and girls. The environment at the Mary Jones Early Learning Centre provides countless opportunities for adventure, discovery, and interactive play so children can begin to develop and acquire preliminary tools and skills for life-long learning. Experiences both inside and outside the classroom foster curiosity, creativity, imagination, reflection and resilience. This is supported by the RULER program within the classrooms. These are integral to maximising and enhancing student learning at Mentone Grammar.

THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

We believe that three interrelated components combine to form our context for learning.

1. OUR ENVIRONMENT Encompasses all areas of the community that we, our families and children have access to influence and are influenced by. The environment is diverse, safe and engaging. We believe that social interaction with and between peers, families and educators is the foundation for learning these interactions. This opens doors to new ideas and experiences.

2. VALUES Our Community strongly supports the School’s values. Framework documents and our Philosophy provide a foundation for our practice and reflect our aspirations and the broader Australian education context. School is a happy place where families have a sense of ownership and belonging. We feel a deep commitment to our Reconciliation Action Plan. We are committed to environmentally sustainable practices throughout the Early Learning Centre.

3. THE CURRICULUM Combines a blend of intentional teaching moments, child initiated explorations, collaborative inquiry and individualised learning experiences. Our play-based curriculum is strongly influenced by the children’s interests. It is subject to ongoing evaluation and modification as we assess and scaffold children’s learning and skill development.