Age Groups
There are four different age groups catered for at John Street. They are:
- The Jungle Room (4 months -2 years)
- The Farm Yard Room (2 -3 years)
- Treetops (3-4 year olds)
- The Octopuses Garden Room (Kindergarten programme with a qualified teacher five days a week)
The Jungle Room (0-2 year olds)
The Jungle Room caters for children aged 4 months to 2 years. Four staff are assigned to the room and there are places for up to 15 children.
The environment is a warm, friendly and relaxed one with indoor and outdoor areas set up to provide a variety of play experiences for the children. The needs and abilities of children vary significantly in this room according to age and staff ensure that attention is given to all age groupings from babies to 2 year olds striving for independence.
Lunchtime is a fun and only occasionally chaotic time as the children sit in small groups at tables and enjoy a cooked meal - the meals are provided by a contracted firm and the Centre has taken care to ensure a high quality and varied menu is maintained. Fruit is provided at lunch times as well as at morning tea.
Staff liaise with parents to ensure sleep times for children are in line with the usual routine at home. Children who do not have a day time sleep or are not able to sleep are helped to settle for a rest time after lunch.
Staff in the Jungle Room recognise that parents are often leaving children for the very first time and are sensitive to the needs of parents and children at this time - mums and dads are welcome to stay with their children for any amount of time as this adjustment is made. From the outset communication with parents and understanding the individual needs of the children is recognised as crucial to providing a quality care environment.
The Farm Yard Room (2-3 year olds)
The 2 - 3 year old room at John Street is one of increasing independence. The children in this room are assisted, nurtured and encouraged by staff towards achieving this increasing independence through interacting at the experiences provided and throughout the routine times. We know that learning can and should take place at all times of the day so aside from the learning experienced through play activities, staff encourage developing toileting skills and other self help skills by making routine times a relaxed and integral part of the day. Staff view each aspect of each child's day as an important opportunity to extend and enhance their knowledge and understanding of their immediate environment.
The staff in this room are sensitive to each child as an individual and assist them to achieve their desired goal whilst maintaining the child's respect and offering their full support at all times. There is a strong focus on the use of language throughout the day so the children's emerging communication skills can be supported as they practice their new found skills.
The 2-3 year old children are also introduced to Music and Movement session. We are very fortunate to have Sue from Mangala Studio's and singing sessions with a specialist teacher each week and this has proven to be a very enjoyable and popular time for all involved.
Throughout the year these children go from dependant toddlers who want to do everything for themselves but are not quite capable to very confident and increasingly independent young children who are ready to move into the Kindergarten Program.
The Treee Tops Room ( 3-4 year old room)
Upstairs is our 3-4 year old room is a calm nurturing programme where the children have the oppurtunity to explore their changing world. The staff in the room encourage the children's developing skills and independance. The children are encouraged to build on their existing skills and learn new ones.
The Octopuses Garden (Kindergarten programme with a qualified teacher five days a week)
The Kindergarten room at John Street Community Early Childhood Co-Operative is a very busy place with children who are exploring, talking and playing. Because we know that children from 4-5 learn far more effectively through direct interactive experiences, we design our children's programs accordingly to meet each child's individual needs.
The children are involved daily in a wide range of experiences that take advantage of their natural desire to learn through manipulating materials and exploring new ideas. The Kindergarten room at John St is organised in such a way as to encourage children to act directly with the environment, not only gathering sensory information but also refining their senses and motor skills.The children in this programme also have the opurtunity to begin exploring their local community through regular excursions to the Fitzroy library, and for a sporting programme at a local park.
A competent fully trained Kindergarten Teacher provides a Kindergarten Program over the course of a whole day. She is supported by other highly skilled staff, providing space, opportunity and materials to support children's play and learning.
The staff at John Street are eager to learn as much as they can about each child's family, cultural background and past experiences and look forward to meeting you and you child.