At Maraylya Early Learning Centre we believe that every child deserves, and needs, a solid foundation for school. MELC provides that foundation through our Prep Program which incorporates the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
With over 12 years of formal schooling in front of them, your child needs all of the pieces of their life’s education to fit together, so that they have the easiest transition possible between stages.
A good quality “prep program” will equip your child with all of the basic skills they need to succeed at school and the confidence they need to be happy. It will help them to form friendships and understand the expectations placed on them at school and help them to feel more comfortable in their new surroundings.
The Pre-School Approach at MELC
The MELC Prep Program is a stand-alone 12 month school readiness program designed to meet, and extend on, a child’s changing needs prior to starting school. In play children engage in a hands-on, visual and interactive program in which they are challenged to develop their curiosity, seek out additional information, and establish a love of continuous learning.
The program has been designed by qualified teachers to help your child make a smoother transition to big school, and unlike many other pre-schools, it forms an integral part of our every-day activities - not just an hour of pre-reading/pre-writing exercises.
The MELC program focuses on the key areas of childhood development:
1. Cognitive Skills
Cognitive ability relates to a child’s thinking and problem solving skills - it is how they process their thoughts and put what they learn into practice.
The MELC prep program has a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy. Literacy in early childhood requires an understanding of the sounds that letters make, that letters make words, and words make sentences. Numeracy entails understanding and recognising numbers through interest-based activities, while developing an understanding of ‘more’ and ‘less’ and the ways in which numbers can be grouped.
We incorporate specific programs and activities that build the childrens’ phonological and numeracy knowledge and understanding. By utilising the latest research, proven educational theories and current innovative teaching techniques, we can equip the children with key literacy and numeracy skills that will help them when they transition to school.
2. Social and Emotional Skills
Your child’s social and emotional development is very important. Social skills help your child to form friendships and “fit in”, whilst emotionally they need to have a positive attitude, self-confidence and self-esteem and be able to regulate their emotions.
We encourage the children to take turns, play cooperatively, follow rules, share, and speak in front of the group during activities like “News”. We also use role-plays and games to demonstrate appropriate behaviour while giving children skills to engage in play, build friendships and cope with conflicts.
Our close proximity to Maraylya Public School also plays an important role in our Prep Program. With two sides of our property bordering the school grounds, our prep children get to engage with the school at various events during the year and gain an insight into what ‘big school’ is like. This allows them to become familiar with certain school routines and gives them a chance to watch school life first hand. The confidence, reassurance and developmental advantage this provides cannot be underestimated – regardless of where your child eventually goes to school.
3. Physical Skills
At MELC we help to develop your child’s gross and fine motor skills and build and strengthen their fundamental movement skills and spatial awareness. We also spend a lot of time focussing on the fine motor skills that are necessary for correct pencil grip by working with small Lego blocks, threading beads, using scissors and playing with dough and other manipulative items.
Having substantial grounds in a safe, semi-rural, environment enables MELC to provide uninterrupted play outdoors that falls within the EYLF. Our children are exposed to the natural environment through programs such as “bush kindy” which improves their physical and cognitive development, awareness, reasoning and observational skills. The uninterrupted outdoor play enhances physical skills and the strengthens the dispositions towards learning that children need to be ready for school.
4. Creative Skills
Creative activities are an important way for children to express themselves. Different activities allow children to explore new ideas and find their own personal interests.
In our program, we engage the children in creative activities every day. They are encouraged to express themselves through art, craft, music and dancing from a range of music styles, story-telling, “News”, construction activities, gardening, language and poetry and they are exposed to a range of creative mediums to enhance these skills.
MELC Prep (4-5 years) FAQs
How much does MELC cost and how do I have to pay?
The cost of childcare at MELC is as follows (effective 10 June 2024);
- Children 0-2 years $160 per day
- Children 2-3 years $160 per day
- Children 3-4 years $148 per day
- Children 4-5 years $148 per day
In terms of government assistance, the Centre is licensed and accredited by ACECQA. By contacting the Family Assistance Office and quoting our Customer Reference Number (407 185 690H) your rebate entitlement can be calculated. For further information please go to www.education.gov.au/childcare
Payment of fees can be made via direct debit or credit card. Fees are payable weekly in advance and a bond of $500 per family is payable on booking to confirm your place.
What is the daily routine in the Prep Program?
Everything we do in the pre-school room is designed to help prepare your child for school, but we make it fun, interest-based, interactive and exciting with a focus on developing the relevant skills and confidence they will need at school.
A typical day in the MELC prep program might include:
- Morning group time/discussion - “Signing-in”, counting the number of children in attendance, discussing the day of the week, the month, the weather and the season etc
- Programmed activities based on the children’s interest, including art/craft, painting etc
- News - every child is allocated a day of the week for news or “show and tell” which helps them learn how to structure their thoughts and relay information in front of a group
- Lunchtime - including developing self-help skills such as pouring, scraping, serving etc whilst encouraging respect for friends and informal discussion within the group
- Quiet time/time for rest
- Music and movement activities incorporating a variety of musical styles, dancing, yoga, singing
- Revisit group activities such as pre-reading and pre-writing activities, letter and sound recognition
- Outdoor play including physical activities including ball games, climbing equipment, running, jumping etc
What do we need to bring each day for the Prep Program?
At MELC we provide:
- Breakfast, morning tea, hot lunch, afternoon tea, late afternoon tea
- All drinks, including milk (soy, full cream, etc)
- Sunhats and sunscreen
- All bedding
You will need to supply a change of clothes (labelled clearly) and a comfort item for rest time if required.
Why is a specific Prep Program so important for my child?
Attending a quality prep program, such as the MELC program, allows your child to gain:
- Confidence in their own ability
- A desire to learn
- Improved self-esteem
- Sound social skills
- A head start on the basic school kindergarten program
- Pre-math and reading skills
It also gives you peace of mind in the knowledge that your child is “ready” for school.
Do you offer any special learning opportunities for children about to start school?
Preparing your child for school is much more than teaching them the alphabet or how to count to 100. At MELC we provide many opportunities for your child to learn how to relate well to other children, the self-help skills needed for school, and even how to recognise and celebrate their own achievements. For example:
School Orientation
Throughout the year the children in the MELC Prep Program make regular visits to the kindergarten classroom of Maraylya Public School. They spend time with the teachers and children at the School participating in special activities designed to help build their confidence and familiarise themselves with the ‘big school’ environment. Even if your child is not going to Maraylya Public School, participating in this orientation program is highly beneficial to their preparation for school.
Graduation Day
Every year, MELC holds a special “graduation” ceremony for the children who are leaving us and heading off to big school. The ceremony gives the children a sense of achievement. It reinforces the message that they have done something important and that the next step for them is very special. It also gives you an opportunity to celebrate with them.
Lunch Box Days
Being able to tell the difference between “little lunch” and “big lunch” is very important in the first year of school... so is being able to open your lunch box and unwrap your food! Towards the end of the year, MELC designates special “Lunch Box Days” to give the children an opportunity to practice these important aspects of school life. Parents are asked to provide a lunch box, with the child’s name clearly marked, and the chef packs their lunch for them so that they become confident with the process.
What are your opening hours?
We are open from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday - Friday, 51 weeks per year.
Parents are encouraged to come in and visit our fabulous facilities at any time, or to call us if you have any questions.
Is my child’s progress & development recorded?
To assist you in seeing your child’s progress during their time at the Centre, portfolios are prepared by the carers for each child. They contain observations, examples of work, photos, art/craft and information on children’s current interests or work in progress and become a lovely memento of your child's time here with us.
There are regular times throughout the year when the portfolios are sent home for parents to look at and add to, and you are welcome to view your child’s portfolio at the Centre at any other time.
How do I book a place at MELC?
If you are thinking about enrolling your child in long day care and considering which centre to attend, we would encourage you to come in and take a look around our Centre at any time. We’d be delighted to meet you and show you how we do things at MELC.
If you have already decided that you would like to book your child in to MELC, then simply print and complete the Request for Placement Form and send it back to us via email. This form then adds you to our waiting list for the first available place.
When a place becomes available, you will need to complete and return the Enrolment Form to ensure that we have the necessary information on file regarding your child.
