Pre-Kindergarten at St Paul’s

“Little Saints” Pre-Kindergarten at St Paul’s is a multi-purpose learning environment, where children are able to explore, inquire and play in safe and secure surroundings.

Our students at Little Saints are immersed in learning experiences that are framed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), and work towards Early Stage One outcomes (NSW Board of Studies). The flexibility of the PYP for the Early Years allows teachers to support children’s interests, build up their self-esteem and confidence and guide students through real-life learning experience. Children engage in quality learning in all areas of the curriculum, including Mathematics and English, through play-based learning opportunities. Students in Pre-Kindergarten are active inquirers and contributors to the world around them.

At Little Saints the learning is challenging, engaging and purposeful. This philosophy prepares our students for their many years of learning through inquiry at St Paul’s. The transition programme into the first year of ‘formal schooling’ is focussed on building confidence and skills ready for learning in Kindergarten and beyond. While at Little Saints, children and their families develop supportive relationships that continue throughout their learning journey at St Paul’s.

At Little Saints the learning is challenging, engaging and purposeful. This philosophy prepares our students for their many years of learning through inquiry at St Paul’s.

In early 2020, Pre-Kindergarten students have enjoyed the opportunity to inquire into the Central Idea “cultures shape the way we express ourselves”, with a focus on Australia. Students have taken the opportunity to engage in a range of child-initiated and teacher-guided learning experiences.

They have built their pre-reading skills through singing songs about Australia and listening to stories, and developed their fine motor skills and numeracy by using cotton tips to explore patterns and Aboriginal art.

Students continuously develop their language and imagination, role taking and sharing as they create stories with small world play. They have posed insightful questions about fire, cricket and other cultures during outdoor play.

These rich experiences allow the children of Little Saints the opportunity to explore, question, grow in confidence and express their individual interests and abilities – core skills for their future educational journey at St Paul’s and beyond.

But of course, the children call all of this play!

They have built their pre-reading skills through singing songs about Australia and listening to stories, and developed their fine motor skills and numeracy by using cotton tips to explore patterns and Aboriginal art.