Pre-Kindy

What is Pre-Kindy?

Our KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy is a learning community where children are inspired, nurtured and supported by passionate educators to reach their full  potential. We acknowledge that each child is a creation of God, a unique and valued individual, who brings with them a diverse life experience, passion, knowledge and abilities. Through experimentation, exploration and experiences our young learners develop a love for creativity and expression.

Pre-Kindy classes encompass the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) of Australia and the NSW Government Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabus.  We define quality learning by “providing a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations”.  

Pre-Kindy aims to further support our young learners by providing them with transitional activities with our primary school. Our highly effective school readiness program for children who will attend Kindergarten the following year, creates a sense of comfort and belonging, aiding our young people with a smooth transition into primary school.  To be eligible to attend KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy, children need to turn 4yrs old by March 31st in the year they attend.

While the EYLF guides our psychology of Pre-Kindy, children are exposed to the Early Stage One outcomes which will then continue in their learning journey in Kindergarten through play-based, hands-on and integrated activities.  

The flexibility of the KAS KIDS program allows families to choose attendance up to three days per week.

KASKIDS Program

KAS KIDS are introduced to the daily routine of school life through an innovative Pre-Kindy program.  Children benefit from a fun-loving, stimulating learning environment where caring Christian teachers prepare them to confidently enter Kindergarten the following year.  KAS KIDS are encouraged to create and explore, discover the excitement of books and experience the joys of music, sport and friendship.

The unique education focus at KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy integrates best practice from early years teaching with the careful and gradual introduction of more formal schooling.  Each day, activities are focused around the development of skills that prepare KASKIDS for their formal education. These skills are fostered through age-appropriate learning tasks that involve play-based, active, and real life experiences.

The caring environment at KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy encourages kindness, curiosity, confidence, laughter, and a love of learning.

Familiarity with the school surrounds, teachers and classmates puts KAS KIDS ahead of the rest when it comes to staring Kindergarten.  KAS KIDS can enrol for up to three days each week.

KAS KIDS are provided with skills, knowledge and dispositions to learning through a balanced use of intentional and spontaneous teaching practices.  Our educators aim to make learning experiences relevant and meaningful, embracing the significance of outdoor and indoor play environments.  

The unique education focus at KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy integrates best practice from early years teaching with the careful and gradual introduction of more formal learning. Each day, activities are focused around the development of skills that prepare our KAS KIDS for their future. We aim to nurture and encourage children’s creativity and allow for thinking to flourish. These skills are fostered through age-appropriate learning tasks that involve play-based, active and real life experiences. The caring environment at KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy encourages kindness, curiosity, confidence, laughter, and a love of learning.

Skill Development

Social and emotional

The social and emotional development of the students is nurtured by the educators in Pre-Kindy. This is done through daily interactions, as well as play based activities and Early Stage One curriculum. These activities, including circle time, present opportunities to learn respectful social cues for both sharing and listening to others. The students follow a routine at Pre-Kindy which ensures consistency and predictability to their day. Additionally, the roster of educators at Pre-Kindy is consistent with minimal change, which enables strong relationships to be formed with the students. The educators provide opportunities throughout the day for the students to work in both groups and individually. These experiences accommodate the students’ development of important social skills such as taking turns, negotiating and sharing.

Literacy

The language and literacy of students in Pre-Kindy is strengthened on a daily basis through both play and the Early Stage One curriculum. The educators have been specifically trained in EYLF – Early Years Learning Framework.  This program promotes a combination of speech and language pathology that focuses on early childhood education. The students are provided with daily activities and experiences to support their writing, phonics, oral language, vocabulary development and phonemic awareness knowledge. The pre-literacy skills (phonological awareness and early alphabet knowledge) of the students is assessed twice through the year using SPAT-SE which is an Australian phonological awareness test. The test focuses on the skills which should be fully in place by the time children are exposed to formal literacy instruction.

Numeracy

Mathematical principles are explored daily through play, activities and formal instruction. The students explore concepts throughout the year which include numbers, colours, patterns, 2D shapes, time, measurement, pictorial graphs, volume, money and simple addition and subtraction. The students’ knowledge of certain mathematical skills are closely observed throughout the year. This enables their educators to best prepare them for the following year of formal education by tailoring certain learning concepts to them and their needs. 

Fine and Gross Motor

The fine motor skills of students are strengthened through a range of activities in Pre-Kindy. These include using playdough, controlled cutting and pasting, drawing, painting, threading, puzzles and more. Gross motor activities to practise and strengthen body movement and control are also embedded throughout the day in Pre-Kindy, through both activities and play in the outdoor environment and a daily indoors music and movement session. 

Exploring our World

The Pre-Kindy curriculum provides opportunity and resources for young learners to explore and interact with the amazing world around them. These areas include Science, Sport, Creative Arts, Geography, History, Technology and Health. These areas are embedded through play and learning throughout the day in Pre-Kindy, as well as in a session of focused learning.

Timetable

A sample timetable for a KAS KIDS child:

8.55am

Arrive and sign in

9am – 10am

Outside play
Focusing on gross motor skill development. Includes sand and water play, bat and ball play, dramatic play, climbing and swinging, art and craft 

10am – 10.20am

Roll call, prayer, worship, Bible
Whole class and small group activities focusing on the development of faith and values. Includes Bible stories, prayer time, art and craft

10.20am – 10.40am

Numeracy activities
Whole class and small group activities focusing on number, measurement, space, patterns and problem solving

10.40am – 11am

Music and Movement or Physical Development activities
Whole class and small group activities focusing on music and gross motor development. Includes music appreciation, moving to music games, locomotion, ball skills, balance and coordination

11am – 11.18am

Pre-writing actvities
Small group activities focusing on developing fine motor skills. Includes manipulation of play-dough, threading, cutting, pencil control in pattern making and name writing

11.18am – 11.58am 

Lunch and outside play

11.58am – 1pm 

Developmental play
A combination of teacher and child initiated small group activities.
Includes dramatic play, art and craft, cooperative games, construction, thematic exploration, and literacy and numeracy development

1pm – 1.24pm

Literacy Actvities
Whole class and small group activities focusing on language development and pre-reading skills

1.24pm – 1.44pm

Recess and outside play

1.44pm – 2.15pm

Theme or library activities
Whole class and small group activities exploring the world around us

2.15pm – 3pm 

Rest time 

3pm – 3.10pm

Story time and prayer

3.10pm

Pick-up

KAS KIDS Staff

For a detailed list of KAS staff, click here

Fees

Fees

KAS KIDS Pre-Kindy fees are $20 per day (2020).

Several payment options are available:
• Option A: Fees are paid up-front for the year
• Option B: Fees are paid up-front for the term
• Option C: You may arrange weekly, fortnightly, or monthly direct debit payments

It is important that you notify the KAS office of the payment option you intend to use.