We Believe Children Learn Best Through Play.
Our Early Learning Curriculum creates engaging learning environments that support each childs’ individuality, understanding of the world and sense of community.
Each child is unique
We cater to each child’s individual personality and optimise their potential through our innovative education.
Play based learning
Our planned programs help your child to understand the world in which they live, and encourages them to participate, communicate, investigate, create, and reflect on their learning.
Understand the world we live in
We help our children connect with and contribute to their learning, become confident and involved individuals with developed and effective communication skills.
Develop a strong sense of community
We instil children with a sense of well-being and nurture growth that helps them to develop a strong sense of community.
Our devoted team
St Clare’s passionate, playful and professional team of educators are continuously seeking improvement, self-reflection and growth as a part of their personal and professional pedagogy.
Exceeding expectations
We are dedicated to providing an early childcare experience that exceeds expectations on a daily basis.
Active Early Learning (AEL) Curriculum
Healthier, Fitter and Smarter Kids
The St Clare Group implemented the Active Early Learning (AEL) Curriculum in our centres to support healthier, fitter & smarter children.
The AEL Curriculum is a physical literacy program. It isn’t just about helping children ‘be active’ and ‘fit’ while they are with us; instead it is a holistic program that helps children build their fundamental movement skills, motivation and physical confidence. These skills become the foundation for a healthy and physically active lifestyle now and in the future.
The AEL Curriculum was developed over two years via a study partnership with the University of Canberra, Deakin University and Active Early Learning. The study investigated the impact of threading core movement education throughout an early learning centre curriculum.
University of Canberra Identifies Curriculum Benefits
Improved fundamental movement skills, which lead to confidence and enjoyment of physical activities.
Significant improvements
Improvements in memory
Improvements in social behaviour including empathy, sharing, negotiation and teamwork.
Improved ability to focus on instructions and complete activities, an important requirement for school.
Classroom confidence and behaviours
Healthier Childen
The AEL curriculum supports children in a lifelong health and wellbeing journey. The program has been developed to cultivate a childs appreciation and motivation to live an active lifestyle. The study estimated that children participating in the curriculum were receiving 28 additional minutes of exercise each day, compared to less progressive early learning centres that don’t have the curriculum. These levels of exercise exceed the World Health Organisation recommendations.
Fitter Children
The curriculum teaches fundamental movement skills and promotes the development of stronger muscles and joints via active play-based games. Not only do the games deliver physical benefits, but they also assist in the development of important skills and social behaviours required for school, meaning your child will be physically AND mentally equipped for the next stage in their learning journey.
Smarter Children
Ongoing research from the University of Canberra has shown that active children perform better academically, even displaying a 20% improvement in NAPLAN test results. The AEL Study identified the contributing factors, with children who participated demonstrating increased vocabulary, cognitive development, behaviour, concentration, and the ability to complete activities. These factors provide a solid foundation for a successful transition to the school environment.
Reggio Emilia Approach
The Reggio Emilia Approach is a child-focused educational practice which is named after the city in which it was first developed and practiced, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. The Reggio Emilia approach was developed by educator Loris Malaguzzi, who functioned under the belief that children are both smart and capable enough to construct their own learning pathways.
This practice is implemented within some of our centres. We strongly believe that children can construct their own knowledge and hold the ability to develop thoughts and ideas independently, as practised within the following principles:
- Children are capable of constructing their own learning
- Community is important and children learn by collaborating with their communities
- Humans are natural communicators and children should be encouraged to express themselves
- The environment is the third teacher and must be enriching and supportive
- Teachers are partners, nurturers and guides to children and help them explore their interests through projects
- Children’s learning must be documented
A key tool of the program is found within the poem written by founder Loris Malaguzzi, “No Way. The Hundred is There“, voicing the idea that children are at the centre of this educational approach, equipped with 100 languages.
In Reggio, the expression ‘the environment as the third teacher’ shares Malaguzzi’s belief that the physical environments in which we raise and educate children have a strong impact on the nurturing, learning and development they receive. There is a key emphasis which is placed on the quality of the learning environment, which is why our centres boast state-of-the-art facilities. Productive learning environments can both support and enrich a child’s ability to enhance their ‘sense of self’. Educational environments which actively participate in the Reggio Emilia Approach encourage creativity, active communication, personal relationships, teamwork, learning, ethics, and responsibility.