School Readiness
School Readiness Kinder Preparatory Program
Our School Readiness and Kinder Preparation Program prepares children with the foundational knowledge and skills to transition confidently to any school setting. It combines school-styled workbooks with practical school readiness skills to develop a positive and confident attitude towards school.
Preparation for School
School Readiness Skills
- Demonstrates independence and self-help skills
- Ability to communicate and express thoughts and feelings
- Capable of listening attentively and concentrating
- Asks and responds to questions
- Ability to organise work
- Demonstrates problem-solving skills
- Ability to choose and respond to challenging activities
- Shows respect for the classroom and packs away
- Demonstrates fundamental movement skills
How Innocent Minds Supports School Readiness
Prepared Environment
The Innocent Mind classroom encourages children to take an active role in their learning. They explore, collaborate, and direct their own learning. This structure encourages children to develop confidence, independence, and a positive approach towards school and life-long learning.
Supporting School Readiness Skills:
- Freedom of movement and choice
- Independence
- Decision making and problem-solving
- Collaboration and social skills
- Belonging to a community
School Readiness Booklets
School Readiness and Kinder Preparation Workbooks cover a broad range of primary school subjects. They provide extensive opportunities for writing practice, reading, problem solving, counting and classification.
Supporting School Readiness Skills:
- Introduces children to primary school learning formats
- Extensive opportunities to practice literacy and numeracy skills
- Pencil-grip, hand-writing, and cutting skills practice
- Introduces children to language-based problem solving and comprehension
- Develops children’s understanding of subjects and topics introduced in Primary School
Daily Routines
Daily routines prepare children for the structure of the primary school environment. Throughout the day, students practice self-help skills, such as independent toileting, unwrapping their lunch, and putting on a hat and sunscreen.
Supporting School Readiness Skills:
- The Innocent Minds Work Cycle develops children’s independence, concentration, problem-solving, and decision making skills
- Group times encourage collaboration, communication skills, and teamwork
- Show and Tell prepares children to communicate with confidence
- Self-serving meals and unwrapping lunches prepares children for independent mealtimes
- Scheduled school readiness time prepares children for the routine of primary school
School Partnerships Programs
Many Innocent Minds childcare centres have established school partnership programs that connect children and families with local primary schools. They also provide opportunities for excursions and buddy programs that develop positive associations with transitioning to school.
Supporting School Readiness Skills:
- School excursions provide children with opportunities to experiences different primary school settings and developing feelings of familiarity
- Buddy programs help children learn how to socialise with older children and develop positive associations with school
- School Information Nights provide families with opportunities to connect with other families in the area and learn more about each local school’s offering
Practical Life
Through practical life activities, children develop fine motor skills, independence, and self-help skills.
Core school readiness skills:
- Fundamental movement skills
- Distinguishes left from right
- Independent with self-help skills
- Ability to cut using scissors
- Ability to spoon, pour and transfer
- Ability to zip, button, lace, hook and snap
Sensorial
Through sensorial materials, children refine their senses, and develop the necessary foundations for language and mathematics.
Core school readiness skills:
- Understands dimensions
- Recognises and names colours and shapes
- Distinguishes between textures, weights and temperatures
- Distinguishes between smells, taste and sound
- Understands and identifies difference
- Can classify and group objects
Mathematics
The mathematics materials teach children how to count, sequence, add, subtract, identify patters, and learn about number systems.
Core school readiness skills:
- Recognises and names numerals
- Counts by rote
- Relates quantities to numerals
- Relates decimal system to quantities to symbols
- Awareness of the function of addition
- Awareness of the function of subtraction
Language
Through language activities, children learn letter recognition, letter formation, phonics, vowels and consonants, and the early stages of writing and reading.
Core school readiness skills:
- Can follow directions and answer questions
- Can express thoughts and feelings
- Speaks in sentences
- Reads simple sentences
- Constructs phonetic and non-phonetic words
- Can write and recognise their own name
Culture
The Culture Curriculum introduces children to the arts, geography, science, environment, national culture, music, and history. They discover similarities and differences, and develop an understanding and respect for diversity.
Core school readiness skills:
- Awareness of Geography, Botany, Zoology, Science and History
- Demonstrates an interest in culture and responds to diversity with respect
- Responds with appreciation to music & art
- Demonstrates creative interests
- Demonstrates awareness of social responsibility and sustainability
Early Years Learning Framework
Through the EYLF, children develop a strong sense of being, belonging, and becoming.
Core school readiness skills:
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children have a strong sense of well-being
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators
