Our kindergarten program
A program refined over 60 years
Emily Foord Kindergarten is a not-for-profit, Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten which is rated ‘exceeding’ across all seven quality areas. Our program is run with an emphasis on nature-based, play-based learning and aligns with Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Framework.
We learn through play
Play-based learning provides opportunities for children to actively and imaginatively engage with people, objects and the environment. When playing, children may be organising, constructing, manipulating, pretending, exploring, investigating, creating, interacting, imagining, negotiating and making sense of their worlds.
It promotes the holistic development (physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative) of a child and depending on how it is utilised, may also support a broad range of literacy and numeracy skills.
We learn with nature
Children are given time and space to freely interact with the natural world in our beautiful garden space. Trees to climb, grass to run on, mud to explore and water courses to channel are just some of our daily pursuits. Creatures large and small that call our garden home are looked after with great care.
As children’s appreciation of the natural world grows, their desire to love and care for it is strengthened. Time, resource and intent is given to support children’s understanding of sustainable practice both now and into the future. Excursions and visitors to the centre complement our nature program.
We pay our respects
Each and every day, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we learn and play. At Emily Foord Kindergarten, we actively promote children’s understanding, respect and connection with Indigenous Australians and other cultural groups.
We recognise the Turrbal and Jagera people as traditional custodians of Meanjin, the land where we play and learn, where there is a rich and complex history. Through connecting with Elders and other Indigenous members of our community, we strive to plan and implement a program which embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, history and culture into our program for all children and families.
We celebrate individuality
Children are valued for who they are, and individuality is celebrated. Our educators take time to listen and watch children, identifying their strengths and understandings of the world before environments and experiences are presented. No two days at Emily Foord are the same - the children who come each year ensure that our days are full of new ideas, creativity and inspiring directions for play and learning.
We also cater for diverse educational and developmental needs and champion inclusiveness. We encourage children to share their family and cultural backgrounds, so we can celebrate those too.