Kindergarten students at St Joseph's Primary School Wingham and across the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese are taking part in a new program, Successful Foundations, and it is proving the secret to learning really could be as simple as child's play.
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Making the transition from preschool to 'big school' is traditionally a huge step for children and parents alike, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Successful Foundations is a positive, play-based action research project that transitions early learners to school and helps establish collaborative relationships between children, families, teachers and the community.
"It's definitely resonating with me," said Melinda Rego from St Joseph's Wingham, which began implementing the program for the first time this year.
"Listening is important. It's such a valuable teaching experience for us. I'm going to sit back and really redirect our understanding of how better to allow the children to learn."
In the first five weeks of school, kindergarten students are given a learning block at the beginning of each day to engage with a variety of open-ended, play-based provocations.
The hour of play learning provides students with the opportunity to actively demonstrate their knowledge, build relationships and become familiar with the school environment. It also provides opportunities for teachers to become familiar with students and their families.
Kim Moroney, education officer (Early Learning) for the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) said when the children immerse themselves in play, it provides a power for learning and wellbeing.
"Our educators set up meaningful provocations such as florists or vet shopfronts, or building environments, which are designed to engage the students and provides us with a pedagogy of listening and observation," Ms Moroney said.
"We step back and watch students so we can see all their capability. We're seeing their interests and all the things they can do. Not just through literacy and numeracy, but socially, interaction, problem-solving, collaboration and creativity. All of that is there in Successful Foundations."
Ms Moroney developed Successful Foundations along with education consultant Dr Cathie Harrison, formerly senior lecturer in early childhood education at Australian Catholic University.
Successful Foundations supports the CSO's early learning policy and strengthens classroom practices. This year, eight new schools are adopting the program, after it was piloted with great success at 11 schools in 2019. The strength the Diocese places on relationships underpins the program.
