Minaret College

Early Learning Centre

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu to all the new families that have enrolled in our Early Learning Centre this year and families that are considering joining our centre.

Our Early Learning Centre caters for three and four year old pre school children and allows them to experience the short or long day care setting, which encompasses the Islamic culture and Muslim beliefs. The kindergarten has been operational since 2000.

CURRICULUM

STAFF

WHAT TO BRING

COMMUNICATION

CONTRACTED HOURS

FEES

SESSION TIMES

CURRICULUM------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

Minaret offers a quality curriculum that will prepare your child for those formative school years, and supports a smooth transition from Kindergarten to Prep with much involvement from the Prep staff at Minaret College.

This year, we aim to introduce Letterland to our preschoolers as Letterland is already being implemented in the junior school. This program enhances your child’s basic understandings of letter and sounds as well as how to improve on recognising vocabulary and sight words in English. This is achieved through songs, story books and activities about letters of the alphabet such as Annie Apple, Dippy Duck and Sammy Snake.

Our curriculum is based on developmental play activities that develop your child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive learning.
They will undertake activities such as dramatic play, fine and gross motor activities, painting, construction, exploration of nature, art, craft, music, and science. Children develop skills at different rates and we cater to promote individualised learning. Your child is also taught the Qu’ran and Arabic.

STAFF--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

Our staff maintains ongoing training and professional development and work closely with the primary school in supporting curriculum. The Centre Co-ordinator is a fully qualified Early Childhood teacher and the 2 kindergarten teachers are continually kept up to date in planning and provision of best practice.

WHAT TO BRING--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

When your child attends the Early Learning Centre, we ask that you supply the following;
• A sun hat (legionaire or broad brim only) for summer and a jacket and winter hat for colder weather.
• 2 changes of clothes in case of mishaps or spillages (please allow for weather changes too)
• Children who are toilet training will require lots of extra underpants and outer clothing for mishaps
• A packed lunch that includes healthy food only (junk food is not allowed to be eaten in our centre, due to new regulations)
• A packed morning tea for those in long day care sessions.
• Wear appropriate footwear (no thongs or sandals unless they have a back strap)

COMMUNICATION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

Parents and staff will be expected to communicate any changes or issues that may affect your child. Each time you collect your child or drop them off please ensure that you find out how your child’s day was and also inform us of any issues that we can assist your child with during the session.

Please regularly read signs and displays as they are regularly updated and our kindergarten will run more smoothly if everyone is aware of what’s going on in the kindergarten.

A monthly newsletter is going to be sent out to each family to assist you in keeping up to date with events such as working bees, celebrating, birthdays, excursions etc.

In the foyer area you will find pockets that your newsletters and receipts will be placed into. Please check them regularly.

CONTRACTED HOURS--------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

Please ensure that you make sure your child attends their session times as booked, as consistency assists them with school readiness. It is also important they arrive on time and leave on time. Arrival is important as they are introduced to new concepts and if they miss that part of the session, they will struggle to understand the instructions. Picking up your child on time is vital as kindergarten staff have their own families to get home to and are very tired after working all day with out leaving the kindergarten. Parents who continually come late may be charged a late fee.

FEES-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

Our fees are presently set at:

$32 per week for 2 full days a week for children attending the 4 yr old group on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

$24 per week for 3 half sessions a week for children attending the 3 yr old group on Mondays (morning), Wednesdays (afternoon) and Fridays (morning).

If a parent would like their child in full time (Monday to Friday), it is $75 per week.

SESSION TIMES---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^Top

Half day morning sessions: 8.45 am – 11.45 am

Half day afternoon session: 12.15 pm – 3.15 pm

Full day sessions: 8.45 am – 3.15 pm