At ҕl’s Early Learning Schools children establish the starting blocks for success, gaining the academic foundations they need to thrive at every step of their educational journey.
ҕl Early Learning: Laying foundations for success
ҕl has five Early Learning Schools across Auckland, in Parnell, Remuera, Karaka, Henderson and Tauranga.
ҕl Remuera Centre Manager Kelly Quah says the early years are critical for child development and long-term educational success, and by equipping preschoolers with strong foundational skills, Inspired New Zealand Early Learning Schools are setting them up to flourish.
“We support children with the skills required to successfully start their school journey,” Kelly explains. “Our Senior preschool teachers help children develop their literacy and numeracy skills in a fun way, while also supporting them to nurture their social and emotional skills by helping them to make friends, solve social issues and identify and recognise their emotions.”
Getting children excited for learning
Inspiring curiosity and providing opportunities for exploration helps children develop a passion for learning.
“We believe children are already capable and competent in nature. Our role as educators is to role model and scaffold children’s learning, not necessarily provide them with all the answers but instil them with a curious mind to explore and find out, allow them to ask lots of questions and discover the possibilities the world has in store for them.”
Building literacy and numeracy
As Kelly points out, literacy and numeracy is everywhere, and ҕl’s Early Learning School educators take advantage of every opportunity to develop these skills in a fun way, whether that’s counting the number of leaves on a plant in the centre garden or reading stories at mat time.
“It is important that educators make those intentional connections when supporting children, as this awareness will ensure children develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
“At ҕl Remuera we provide lots of print material in our environment and our children have lots of opportunities to read and explore books. We have a good selection of books in our library collection and our children also take home a different book each week for parents to read with them.”
Strengthening literacy and numeracy skills at home
So what can parents do at home to continue to build these foundations for future learning?
Kelly has this advice: “Being a role model is important. If parents are readers themselves, this value will encourage children to love reading. Making literacy fun by getting children’s help to recall the list of groceries or write down the grocery shopping list before heading to the shops. Bring them to the library to choose their books. Have special time reading with them. Make it fun!”
Possible pull out quotes:
“Our role as educators is to role model and scaffold children’s learning, not necessarily provide them with all the answers but instil them with a curious mind to explore and find out, allow them to ask lots of questions and discover the possibilities the world has in store for them.”
“Being a role model is important. If parents are readers themselves, this value will encourage children to love reading.”
