0-3 years

Evolution Program

The educator teams at Young Academics are committed to providing children with the best possible start to their future education and fostering a lifelong love of learning. Our Evolution Program focuses on seven key areas which promote the holistic learning and development of a child. Our educators actively engage children in play-based experiences that challenge and extend their thinking and learning around these key areas of focus.

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7 key areas of focus

Every activity is designed to help infants develop and move towards key milestones, from reading stories & singing songs with children, to promote oral and aural language skills to stimulating curiosity through sensory experiences. 

1
Core
2
Scholar
3
Creative
4
Wellness
5
Wellbeing
6
Our World
7
Discovery
Evolution Program
0-2 Years
Infants

Young Academics’ Evolution Program for infants recognises that this is a period of rapid growth and development for young children, and allows for tailored goals and milestones according to each child’s individual developmental timeline.

Some examples of how our Evolution Program supports your child’s learning and development during this important time include:

Active Learning Experiences

Every activity is designed to help infants develop and move towards key milestones, from reading stories & singing songs with children, to promote oral and aural language skills to stimulating curiosity through sensory experiences. 

Age-Appropriate Resources

Through carefully selected resources, equipment and facilities such as sensory panels, toys and mirrors, infants naturally learn to recognise basic concepts and colours. 

Routines and Consistency

To foster positive behaviours, our educators ensure that children’s individual needs for sleeping, eating, active and quiet play are met on time, every day. 

2-3 Years
Toddlers

Toddler learning happens through exploration and discovery and our Evolution Program focuses on stimulating curiosity through play-based learning and intentional teaching.

Some examples of how our Evolution Program supports your toddler’s learning and development include:

Learning Environments

Our outdoor environments and toddler rooms have been strategically designed to enhance every child’s experience, allowing them to learn, develop and explore freely through texture, space, colour and more. 

Play-Based Learning

Our toddler program promotes positive learning through play where our educators lead the way for your child to discover, create and problem solve. This is done in both indoor and outdoor learning environments. 

Nutrition

Every day, our in-house cooks prepare five healthy and nutritious meals and snacks that have been specifically planned by a dietician. Every child in our care is taught about the importance of nutrition, planting the seeds for a healthy lifestyle later in life. 

Evolution Program
How the program
is implemented

Play-based learning is a nationally recognised approach based on child-led and open-ended play. Play-based learning allows children to learn through exploration, developing and practicing language and physical skills and experimenting with new ideas. Children build confidence, express themselves creatively, and develop their sense of self and identity. 

  • Core
  • Scholar
  • Creative
  • Wellness
  • Wellbeing
  • Our World
  • Discovery

1Core

1
Core

A part of teaching children resilience is providing the autonomy and confidence to make their own decisions. We guide infants by interpreting their non-verbal cues to allow them to choose the songs we sing, books we read and whether they want to participate in activities. Older children further develop independence once they are able to verbalise decisions through ‘yes’ and ‘no’.

2Scholar

2
Scholar

Vital to this stage of life, is assisting children to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Our educators promote oral and aural language skills in infants through reading, singing and dramatic play, while toddlers are supported by a combination of gestures and speech sounds in social games and nursery rhymes

3Creative

3
Creative

As an early introduction to the creative arts, infants are taught to recognise different textures, colours, and patterns with experiences such as fingerpainting or play dough. Our educators encourage toddlers to take this a step further and use art as a form of communication and share their thoughts and feelings through free drawing, dramatic play or dancing.

4Wellness

4
Wellness

Fine motor skills are an important part of a child’s physical development. For younger children this is about learning to control small hand and finger muscles to successfully move, grasp and hold onto objects. In turn this leads to drawing and writing as children begin to develop the necessary muscle tone and movement to operate a range of tools such as pencils, scissors, and brushes.

5Wellbeing

5
Wellbeing

Children are first taught how to label emotions and, in time, how to recognise these emotions in themselves and others. This is not only important for their emotional wellbeing, but also essential to developing social skills. Educators introduce children to emotions with interactive games, songs and interactions.

6Our World

6
Our World

Our centres allow children to explore and appreciate diversity by showcasing different cultures. This is achieved by pointing out and supporting children to notice the differences and similarities between themselves and others, or exploring different cultures through song, special celebrations, language or food.

7Discovery

7
Discovery

One of the core skills that falls under this focus area, mathematics is taught through everyday experiences which prompt children to begin to recognise and understand basic mathematical concepts. Children are encouraged to pick up different items from around the centre, sort them into groups, and put them back where they belong as they learn to arrange, count, classify and compare.

Assessment of learning

As outlined in the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework, regular assessments are essential when it comes to your child’s overall development. At Young Academics, we fulfil these requirements by setting goals with each family which are tailored to each individual child. 

Each month we then plan different learning experiences to help your child reach those goals to align with their individual developmental milestones. Families are kept up-to-date on their child’s progress through regular parent/ teacher evenings and meetings, allowing you to speak one-on-one with your child’s educator. Parents will be provided with a formal developmental summary, linking it to each area in the Evolution Program and the child’s individual goals every six months.

Faq

What is Play-Based Learning?

Play-based learning is a nationally recognised approach based on child-led and open-ended play. Play-based learning allows children to learn through exploration, developing and practicing language and physical skills and experimenting with new ideas. Children build confidence, express themselves creatively, and develop their sense of self and identity.

What is the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)?

The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the Australian National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care, and describes the principles, practices and outcomes essential to your child’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school.  

The framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. There are five learning outcomes defined by the EYLF:

o  Children have a strong sense of identity

o  Children are connected with and contribute to their world

o  Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

o  Children are confident and involved learners

o  Children are effective communicators

What is the National Quality Framework (NQF)?

The National Quality Standards is part of the National Quality Framework which provides for increased quality in education and care services. The Standards focus on seven quality areas that underpin quality and provide for better outcomes for children. There are: 

o  Educational program and practice

o  Children’s health and safety

o  Physical environment 

o  Staffing and arrangements 

o  Relationships with children 

o  Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

o  Governance and leadership

How do you monitor my child’s development?

At the start of the year, our educators work in partnership with families to set goals for your child. Then, each month we plan different learning experiences to help your child reach these goals that will align with their developmental milestones. Families are kept up to date on their child’s progress though regular updates on OWNA, our family communication platform, and annual/ bi-annual parent/teacher evenings allowing you to speak one-on-one with your child’s educator and a formal developmental summary milestones and engagement.

How are families involved in their children’s learning?

Young Academics believes in inviting families to be partners in their child’s learning through enriching communication and providing experiences to extend learning at home.

STAY CONNECTED
WITH YOUR CHILD

OWNA is a safe, secure and private way for you to stay in touch with Young Academics while your child is in our care. We use this app to share news, events, photos and videos about your child – all in real-time.

OWNA also offers insights and updates into your child’s progress and developmental milestones. Through the OWNA app, you can ask questions or comment on your child’s learning, creating a meaningful relationship with our educators.

Programs at
young academics
Young Academics promises stimulating, quality instruction and
child care programs which spark curiosity in your child.
3-5
preschool sydney
Transition to School Program
Our Transition to School Program is designed to develop foundational skills, providing fluid transition into Early Stage One of the Australian School Curriculum.
Music & Movement

Designed to complement our existing programs, the Young Academics Workshops bring a new level of excitement to learning.