About Us
Our Philosophy
Hallett Cove Karrara Kindergarten Philosophy
(Created by 2022 children, staff, and families)
Karrara children believe they have a right to “play, learn, be safe, have fun, make friends, be kind and have diverse and engaging experiences”. We continuously reflect on our teaching pedagogy and practice to ensure that we are continuously evolving.
The Hallett Cove Karrara team believe that children are competent, curious and capable. We acknowledge each child’s potential and desire to learn. We continuously reflect on our teaching pedagogy and practice to ensure that we are continuously evolving.
We value play-based learning. We program for innovative and inspiring experiences that encourage children’s multiple ways of thinking and problem-solving skills. As children learn through inquiry, educators listen to children and transcribe their questions, conversations about their interests and prior knowledge to develop their research, wonderings, hypothesis, theories, and discoveries about their world. We develop documentation as a shared learning journey between educators, children, and families.
We believe that children co-construct learning through collaborative interactions with each other. We encourage children to express themselves through verbal and written communication, e.g., drama, drawing; painting; building; sculpture.
We believe that the environment is the third teacher and children learn through risk taking and their surroundings, both indoors and outdoors. We provide children with open-ended resources that challenge their thinking and inspire their curiosity for learning.
We support children’s well-being and relationships by incorporating approaches such as the Zones of Regulation and the Kimochi program.
Children learn on Kaurna Land and we teach them to care for Country, our plants, and animals through a sustainable program. We value partnership with families, the local school, TAFE and University students and Kaurna elders so we walk side by side in children’s learning both in the Kindergarten and outside in the community.
Curriculum
The curriculum of the Centre is based on a program of active learning through play. This is formalised in the National Early Years Learning Framework document. Copies of this document may be borrowed from the staff.
What we offer
We offer a number of programs and services to support your child’s early years learning.
Inquiry Learning
Inquiry Curriculum
– Guided by the principles of Reggio Emilia
At Hallett Cove Karrara Kindergarten we use an inquiry approach to teaching and learning. We believe that children have 100 languages, so they learn by expressing themselves in many ways. For example, through art, music, dancing, singing, painting, drawing, drama, and play. The curriculum is guided from the children’s questions, interests, and current development. The environment is the third teacher, so it is set up in a home-like way, the furniture and resources are based on natural materials, and the children have many beautifully set up play spaces to choose from. The children are involved in many collaborative projects throughout the year.
