9 August 2024, KU Bradfield Park Children's Centre and KU Bligh Park Preschool
KU BRADFIELD PARK AND KU BLIGH PARK CELEBRATES EARLY LEARNING MATTERS WEEK
On Friday 9th August, KU Bradfield Park Children’s Centre and KU Bligh Park Preschool celebrated Early Learning Matters Week with their community with a visit from their local MP’s.
Local MP Zali Steggall, Member for Warringah visited KU Bligh Park and local MP Paul Fletcher, Member for Bradfield visited KU Bradfield Park. CEO Chris Legg also attended to celebrate along with the staff, children, families and communities to learn more about the services impactful play-based learning programs.
Guided by this year’s theme of ‘Learning through play’, Early Learning Matters Week organised by Early Childhood Australia (ECA) aims to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of early learning and the difference the profession makes to the lives of young children and their families.
KU Children’s Services CEO Christine Legg said, “KU is delighted to be a major sponsor of Early Learning Matters Week alongside Lego and welcoming MP Paul Fletcher and MP Zali Steggall to observe KU children engaged in play-based learning at our services today. Play based learning forms the basis of our pedagogy and supports children’s learning and development in relationships, communication and social skills, emotional regulation, independence and confidence. We pride ourselves on being the leaders in the sector of high quality early childhood education and where KU children have a voice.”
Vinsensia Christanto, Director of KU Bradfield Park Children's Centre said, "At KU Bradfield Park, we value both play-based and relationship-based learning. In our program, children are supported to inquire and follow their ideas in learning about the world around them.
We believe that children learn best when they are trusted, and they believe that we will keep them safe in taking risks – an important aspect of play. Children are given the opportunities to use their imagination and creativity, without worrying much about making 'mistakes'.
We offer opportunities for them to construct theories and hypothesise on how things work, instead of giving them instructions on how to solve problems. This also provides children with important life-long learning skills and a good foundation to develop critical thinking – a higher-order thinking skill, which is beyond basic observation of facts, memorisation, and rote learning."
At KU Bligh Park Preschool, Director Mary Stenmark said, "Learning through play is integral to quality early childhood pedagogy and education. Play-based learning at KU Bligh Park Preschool, empowers children to grow in their understanding of their world by critically examining their environment and making meaning through imaginative and creative investigations.
Children are given time, space and opportunity to join with and build relationships with peers, share their discoveries and connect to the natural world through play. The notion of layering their play by revisiting spaces, resources and experiences, invites children to build knowledge and mastery.
Our play inspired curriculum is carefully constructed as we tune into the children’s ideas and cues. Our program is relevant and exciting, building upon children’s strengths and curiosity. We know that this approach works as we witness children’s thinking, theories, designs and opinions, making learning visible."
KU is proudly not for profit and committed to supporting exceptional outcomes for children and families as well as creating optimal experiences for staff. Part of the KU Difference is the high level of support provided to our teachers and educators, and other service-based staff through the expertise of KU’s Central Office teams. Our specialist teams include Early Childhood Education, People Services, Finance, IT, Marketing and more.
As we deliver leading high quality inclusive play-based learning programs, KU continues to provide opportunities for children to become the creators, thinkers, and doers of today and tomorrow.
For more information about the services visit KU Bradfield Park Children’s Centre and KU Bligh Park Preschool Established in 1895, KU Children’s Services remains proudly not for profit and enriches the lives of more than 10,000 children and their families each year through services including long day care, kindergartens, preschools, NDIS services, inclusion services, family programs and more.
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KU Media Contact Travers Lee Manager, Marketing and Communications T: 02 9268 3913 M: 0401 008 420 E: Travers.Lee@ku.com.au