Where Learning Comes Alive
Our curriculum at Sherbourne Preschool is a dynamic, living framework that responds to children’s interests while ensuring comprehensive development. We believe the best learning happens when children are engaged, curious, and having fun.
Our curriculum is guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and exceeds National Quality Standards, ensuring your child receives the highest quality education.
Our Learning Approach
🎨 Play-Based Learning
Play is serious business at Sherbourne Preschool! Through play, children:
- Explore concepts naturally and at their own pace
- Develop skills in authentic, meaningful contexts
- Build relationships through shared experiences
- Express creativity and test theories
- Learn resilience through trial and error
🔍 Emergent Curriculum
Our curriculum emerges from:
- Children’s interests - What captivates them becomes our focus
- Developmental needs - Targeted support for each child’s growth
- Community events - Local happenings that spark curiosity
- Seasonal changes - Nature’s classroom provides endless learning
- Cultural celebrations - Honoring our diverse community
Exploring through sensory play
Creativity in action
Problem-solving through play
Learning Areas
📚 Literacy & Language
- Daily story times and discussions
- Name recognition and early writing
- Phonological awareness games
- Dramatic play for oral language
- Multi-lingual resources and support
🔢 Mathematics & Logic
- Counting and number concepts through play
- Pattern recognition and creation
- Measurement in cooking and building
- Problem-solving challenges
- Spatial awareness through construction
🔬 Science & Discovery
- Nature exploration and observation
- Simple experiments and predictions
- Life cycles in our garden
- Weather and seasonal changes
- Sustainability practices
🎭 Creative Arts
- Visual arts with varied materials
- Music and movement daily
- Dramatic play and storytelling
- Cultural art experiences
- Process-focused creativity
🏃 Physical Development
- Gross motor skills on our playground
- Fine motor through art and manipulation
- Yoga and mindfulness
- Ball skills and games
- Risk-taking in safe environments
🤝 Social & Emotional Learning
- Recognizing and expressing feelings
- Conflict resolution skills
- Building friendships
- Developing empathy
- Self-regulation strategies
A Week in Our Program
Sample Weekly Overview
| Time | Experience | Learning Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Arrival & Free Play | Social connections, choice-making |
| 9:00-9:30 | Morning Circle | Language, community, planning |
| 9:30-11:00 | Indoor/Outdoor Program | All learning areas integrated |
| 11:00-11:30 | Group Time & Lunch | Nutrition, social skills |
| 11:30-12:00 | Rest/Quiet Time | Self-regulation, mindfulness |
Note: This is a guide only. Our responsive curriculum means we follow children’s needs and interests.
School Readiness
While we don’t “teach to the test,” our play-based curriculum naturally develops school readiness skills:
📝 Academic Foundations
- Letter and number recognition
- Early writing skills
- Listening and comprehension
- Following multi-step instructions
🎒 Independence Skills
- Self-care abilities
- Organization of belongings
- Task completion
- Time management awareness
🧠 Executive Function
- Working memory development
- Flexible thinking
- Impulse control
- Planning and prioritizing
💬 Social Readiness
- Turn-taking and sharing
- Group participation
- Respect for others
- Communication skills
Documentation & Assessment
📸 Making Learning Visible
We document children’s learning through:
- Learning Stories - Narrative documentation of significant learning
- Portfolios - Collections of work showing progress
- Photos & Videos - Capturing learning in action
- Children’s Voices - Their own reflections on learning
- Family Input - Your observations from home
📊 Ongoing Assessment
Our assessment is:
- Authentic - Based on real experiences
- Continuous - Happening all the time
- Collaborative - Involving families
- Strengths-based - Focusing on capabilities
- Informative - Guiding our planning
Family Partnership
🏠 Extending Learning at Home
We support home learning through:
- Weekly newsletters with curriculum highlights
- Activity suggestions linked to current interests
- Resource lending library
- Parent workshops on child development
- Home-school projects
💡 Parent Tip
The simplest activities often provide the richest learning. Cooking together teaches math, science, and literacy. A walk in the park becomes a science expedition. Your child's questions are the beginning of wonderful investigations!
Special Programs & Experiences
🌟 Enrichment Opportunities
Throughout the year, we offer:
- Excursions to local places of interest
- Incursions with visiting experts
- Cultural celebrations from our community
- Science Week special investigations
- Book Week author visits and activities
- Sustainability projects and gardening
- Community service initiatives
Ready to Learn More?
See Our Curriculum in Action
The best way to understand our curriculum is to see it in practice.
We invite you to visit and observe the magic of learning through play.
Questions About Our Curriculum?
We'd love to discuss how our curriculum will support your child's learning journey.