Our Programs
Our programs are where the learning happens.
PreLit
Designed by Macquarie University for children about to enter formal schooling, PreLit is a skills-based early literacy program which teaches pre-literacy skills and concepts in a fun and engaging way.
Movement and Music
In line with the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards outcomes. We partner with the wonderful Miss Rachel and Lady Bug Musik weekly for age specific music classes. Our music program fosters growth in the young child not only in musical areas but also in physical, emotional, social, language, literacy and cognitive areas, which takes place in our huge adjoining hall.
Rock Around the Block
A sense of belonging is essential to any child’s wellbeing. We regularly take walks around our area to help children understand their community better. We visit new streets, important sites, the beach, the post office, and even cafes!
Chapel
Children and their educators visit the beautiful St Nicolas’ Anglican Church (directly next to the preschool) for Chapel, where they hear a Bible story told in an age-appropriate level, sing songs and pray together.
Intergenerational program
We’re proud to be partnering with a team of world-class researchers and community workers to create an intergenerational integration initiative – a program that creates connections between preschoolers and senior citizens within the community through play.
The ABC approached us to use our beautiful facilities and some of our wonderful children to film the second series of Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds in 2020. We’re continuing the groundwork laid out in the program: we’re working with a highly qualified international team of researchers on a program to create a sustainable, community delivered, evidence based model for intergenerational integration within Australian preschools, to be a blessing to Australian families.
We look forward to presenting this Intergenerational program next in 2024.
Good food habits for life
Healthy choices are a lifelong habit, and they start at a young age. With an onsite chef producing delicious and healthy meals in line with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating everyday, children stay healthy and experience new tastes from diverse cultures. Children help to harvest ingredients from the preschool’s native foods garden, helping them to understand the concept of food from garden to table. Here are a few examples from our evolving menu:
Day 1:
Morning tea: carrot and bran muffins with a fruit platter
Lunch: veggie/egg nasi goreng
Afternoon tea: fresh baked cheese & tomato pinwheel scrolls
Day 2:
Morning tea: ricotta pikelets with berry smash and fruit platter
Lunch: lemon and thyme chicken with brown rice and corn cobs
Afternoon tea: egg & chive wraps
Day 3:
Morning tea: roast veggie dip with homemade crackers
Lunch: wholemeal spaghetti bolognese with green beans
Afternoon tea: orange and poppyseed mini-muffins and fruit platter
Transition to School Program
You might think that preschools or prep schools provide better school readiness programs than a log day care centre. This is not correct! All preschools, including St Nics’ Christian Preschool, follows the mandatory Early Years Learning Framework curriculum.
This curriculum provides an excellent start to your child’s educational journey. We use this framework to provide a comprehensive Christian education that helps your child become a lifelong learner.
The moment your child enrols
Our educators plan activities and routines to develop independence, confidence, ability to work in groups, initiate conversations and make friends, strengthen gross and fine motor skills, understand concepts such as sharing and turn taking as well as foundational literacy, numeracy and general knowledge concepts.
Learning and growing
As children get older, more is expected of them and our curriculum extends to include structured activities as well as deeper focus on specific self-help skills, cognitive skills, social-emotional skills, physical skills and problem solving skills which will be essential for children to be ready for the challenges of a classroom environment.
Transition to school
In their final months at SNCP, educators plan experiences and activities for children who are about to start school. Some our of activities include:
Having exclusive school visits where your child will be taken on a tour of the local primary schools
Past students come and talk to children about their kindy experience
Bringing their own packed morning tea and lunch
An end of year graduation ceremony, performance and celebration
Opportunities to share knowledge about primary school and include it in our ‘transition to school’ book