Bradshaw Preschool
Bradshaw Primary School has been providing quality preschool educational programs in Alice Springs since 1974. We have continued to strive for excellence in a relaxed, friendly and caring atmosphere that offers all families an opportunity to become involved in their children’s first experiences of schooling. Children are central to everything we do and families are our partners on this journey.
Practices at Bradshaw Preschool have been rated as meeting the National Quality Standards with exceeding in two areas.
Preschool staff take a collaborative approach to operations. This involves developing policies and procedures that include ideas and suggestions from staff, families and students. High quality early learning that involves each child, family and our community is our major goal. Giving children the chance to love learning through a play based setting allows them to grow and strengthen who they are, what they’re good at and to introduce them to the marvels of the world.
Bradshaw Preschool operates three classes, two on Monday/Tuesdays and one on Thursday/Friday. The groups alternate for a half day on Wednesdays. The building is made up of two units with adjoining kitchen, library, bathroom and outdoor play facilities.
Motto & Philosophy
Playing to Learn.
Loving to Learn.
Our Preschool values and respects the partnership between staff and families in caring for and educating their children through developing a supportive, nurturing and secure environment. Parents are always welcome and are encouraged to participate in the daily operations of the preschool.
Our Preschool forms a part of the Bradshaw Primary School and shares its vision in encouraging and promoting a community that values and celebrates its diversity and culture to produce high educational excellence for all students.
Bradshaw Preschool values the importance of continued professional development in the setting of goals and the systematic evaluation and review of everyday practice to ensure and maintain high quality education.
Curriculum
Belonging, being, becoming
The learning program at Bradshaw Preschool is designed using The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in partnership with the Northern Territory Preschool Curriculum (NTPC), which focus on belonging, being and becoming. Programs consider and respect the three components that allow children to participate in everyday life, develop their interests and construct their own identities and understandings of the world.
We use the following Learning Outcomes to ensure quality educational programs are offered to all individuals:
- Identity
- Connectedness
- Wellbeing
- Learning and Thinking
- Communication
The learning program both follows and stimulates the interests that the children bring with them to preschool.
The children are always busy at preschool selecting different activities according to their interests. At this level it is the process not the product that is usually important. Preschool is important for the development of self-identity, interest in learning and preparation for formal learning.
Learning Through Play
Learning outcomes are achieved through the medium of “play”. Play provides opportunities for children to:
- Observe and be involved in the learning environment first hand
- Make decisions and solve problems
- Develop body awareness
- Express feelings in a socially acceptable manner
- Extend language skills
- Interact with others
- Develop a positive self-concept
Literacy and numeracy skills are included and encouraged in the learning program, but please remember that preschool is not an academic year.
Learning Mindsets
We aim to develop ‘growth mindsets’ at Bradshaw School, in contrast to ‘fixed mindsets’. A growth mindset is a way of thinking that believes that intelligence can be developed through hard work, persistence, embracing challenges and rejoicing in the learning gained from mistakes and failure.
As educators we help children to develop growth mindsets through providing feedback based on their effort and process rather than innate ability. For example, instead of a comment like ‘how clever you are’ we would say ‘wow, that was a really tricky task, I saw that you tried really hard’.
Bradshaw Preschool, in line with Bradshaw Primary School, emphasises three learner qualities that are necessary for lifelong learning. They are:
• We challenge ourselves.
• We are responsible.
• We learn together.
Learning Activities
Indoor activities include a large, rotating variety of equipment available for children to:
- Paint and draw
- Cut, paste and create with collage materials
- Build and create with blocks
- Express themselves through dramatic play
- Model with clay and dough
- Construct and investigate with manipulative toys
- Explore using books, puzzles and other cognitive games and equipment
Outdoor activities offer children free choice to develop skills in various ways, including:
- Sand and water play
- Climbing, jumping and running
- Ball games
- Balance activities
- Bike riding
- Gardening
- Cubby house play
- Sensory exploration
- Throwing and catching
- Investigative project work, enhancing children’s love of the outdoors
Group time activities may include:
- Singing and dancing
- Show and tell
- Watching, discussing and reflecting on pictures, books, videos and live performances
- Discussing experiences
- Listening to visitors
- Playing group games to develop skills
Interactions with Children
Preschool is a place where children feel safe and secure and where they can belong, be and become. They learn about themselves and others through their interactions so these interactions should be positive and promote a child’s sense of self.
Educators act as role models to guide children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance to support children finding it challenging establishing relationships with others.
At Bradshaw Preschool all children are supported to develop positive relationships with other children and educators and are provided appropriate support when they are finding it challenging engaging with others. Children are involved in rule making and conflict resolution and are empowered to respond appropriately to behaviour they find unacceptable.
If there are ongoing behaviour issues these will be discussed with families and appropriate action plans developed in consultation with families and other professionals as required.
Excursions
Excursions to various town venues are part of the preschool curriculum. They are valuable in the development of a sense of community and our role in it.
It also strengthens vocabulary, self-confidence, social skills and general knowledge. You will be asked to sign a permission form before each excursion. A bus fee of $5 applies if you have not paid a voluntary contribution.
Excursions to Bradshaw Primary School occur routinely and increase in frequency in the second half of the year. You provide consent for your child to attend these excursions on the enrolment forms.
Bush Preschool
Bush Preschool occurs every term. It is a wonderful opportunity to take learning outdoors.
The whole day of preschool occurs in such places as the Telegraph Station, Olive Pink Gardens, Simpsons Gap and Ormiston Gorge. In conjunction with Rangers from Parks and Wildlife, children have the opportunity to learn about the environment, animals and conservation in their community. Families are always welcome to attend for the day or for a picnic lunch.
Session Times
Students complete 30 hours of preschool education per fortnight. We have two different sessions and your child will be in one of these sessions.
Please ensure that your child is collected on time and if you are unavoidably late, please contact the preschool so your child can be cared for appropriately until you arrive.
Two Monday / Tuesday Groups
Hours of attendance are:
Monday 8:15am-2.45pm
Tuesday 8:15am-2:45pm
Wednesday 8:15am-12.15pm (Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
One Thursday / Friday Group
Hours of attendance are:
Thursday 8:15am-2:45pm
Friday 8:15am-2:45pm
Wednesday 8:15am-12.15pm (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Back to School Vouchers
The Northern Territory Government provides a Back to School Payment entitlement scheme which provides families with a credit of $150 to purchase items through the school.
Families usually use this money to purchase 1 or 2 preschool t-shirts, an art pack, a hat, a library bag, a subscription to Reading Eggs and then allocate some funds towards excursions over the year.
The $150 needs to be fully expended or allocated by the end of first term.
Further information about this scheme will be provided at the beginning of the year.
Uniforms
Uniforms are not compulsory but many families take advantage of the Back To School vouchers to purchase Bradshaw Preschool T-shirts for their children to wear at preschool.
Wearing a Bradshaw Preschool tshirt gives children a further sense of belonging and it can make getting ready for preschool a little easier in the mornings. As children are involved in some messy activities at preschool, preschool shirts save childrens special clothes from being stained. Tshirts are available at the Preschool in a variety of bright colours and sizes.
It is compulsory for students to wear a wide brimmed hat or bucket hat when playing outdoors. Preschool hats which are identical to the Bradshaw Primary School hats, are also available at Preschool for $10, or children can bring their own hat if they prefer. Hats are kept at preschool to ensure that children have a hat each day and are laundered regularly.
Preschool Governance
Parent Committee
Early in the year staff will arrange a meeting time for parents. Depending on parent interests and the needs of the preschool, the committee may focus on things like preschool events, fundraising and/or preschool policies.
The parent committee is an advisory body to the school.
In addition to the preschool parent committee, there is a position reserved on Bradshaw School Council for a preschool parent. Bradshaw School Council is responsible for the governance of the school and preschool and meets once a month.
The National Quality Framework
The NQF for Early Childhood Education and Care helps to ensure your child is given the best possible start in life. Every state and territory in Australia is working to achieve the same quality outcomes for children, no matter where they live.
There are seven domains in the NQF:
- Educational program and practice.
- Children’s health and safety.
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Leadership and service management
Bradshaw Preschool has been assessed as Meeting the National Quality Standards included in the NQF.
As part of our commitment to improve and provide the best early childhood service for you, your family and your child, we have developed a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). Through this we continuously reflect, adjust and write policies and procedures to ensure all seven areas of the National Quality Standards are met.
We encourage parents to join us on this journey as we continue to improve by joining one of our committees.
More information about the NQF can be found at www.acecqa.gov.au/families
Policies & Procedures
In accordance with the NQF, Bradshaw Preschool has a range of policies and procedures that direct how we operate.
If you have any questions, please speak to the Teacher-In-Charge or browse the information provided in the foyer.