Programming Information
As with all Early Childhood Care and Education Services in Australia, Bunya uses a national framework called the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) when building curriculum in each room. The Framework has principles, practices and outcomes on which educators base their curriculum decisions. These decisions are about what we want children to learn. How this is taught, and the judgements made about how children are getting along are what are used for programming and assessment of the learning taking place.
Research is definite that children learn best through play. While play is difficult to define, evidence suggests that it is interconnected with learning and development. Programs at Bunya are play-based. They allow children to explore their world, express themselves, develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity and creativity, stimulate well-being, and importantly, enable connections between prior experiences and new learning. Play-based learning is described as “a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations” (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009, p. 49). Click on the link here to gain a better understanding of play-based learning:
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-publications/every-child-magazine/every-child-index/every-child-vol-16-3-2010/play-based-learning-free-article/
Educators work with children and families and carefully plan play-based activities to promote learning for achieving EYLF outcomes. Educators' professional judgements facilitate children’s learning and these differ depending on contexts, needs and interests.
Children’s learning journey is shared with families primarily electronically. We find this platform strengthens connections between Bunya, families, and the community, creating a strong sense of belonging. The additional use of floorbooks shared with both children and families reinforces this sense of community, assisting children's higher order thinking and involvement in their own learning.
Research is definite that children learn best through play. While play is difficult to define, evidence suggests that it is interconnected with learning and development. Programs at Bunya are play-based. They allow children to explore their world, express themselves, develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity and creativity, stimulate well-being, and importantly, enable connections between prior experiences and new learning. Play-based learning is described as “a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations” (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009, p. 49). Click on the link here to gain a better understanding of play-based learning:
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-publications/every-child-magazine/every-child-index/every-child-vol-16-3-2010/play-based-learning-free-article/
Educators work with children and families and carefully plan play-based activities to promote learning for achieving EYLF outcomes. Educators' professional judgements facilitate children’s learning and these differ depending on contexts, needs and interests.
Children’s learning journey is shared with families primarily electronically. We find this platform strengthens connections between Bunya, families, and the community, creating a strong sense of belonging. The additional use of floorbooks shared with both children and families reinforces this sense of community, assisting children's higher order thinking and involvement in their own learning.