Welcome to the May Magazine

Our 2023 Flying Start info nights are coming soon! Alex from Toronto tells us more.

May Book of the Month

We join Liz in reading “Rockin’ Robbin”

May Blog – School Readiness vs Transition to school

As the commencement of our Flying Start Transition to School program for the Mighty Meteor children approaches, it is timely to understand the difference between school readiness and transitioning to school. Just how does Little Miracles cater to both of these journeys?

School readiness

At Little Miracles we believe that ‘school readiness’ begins the moment your child joins us. We view school readiness as being a combination of abilities and skills that take time to develop, which is why every room at Little Miracles values the kind of learning experiences that will help your child grow in their school readiness. The abilities that will assist your child to be successful in a school environment include but are not limited to;

• Social and Life Skills.

• Communication Skills.

• Cognitive skills. 

• Motor Skills.

Some School Readiness skills that even our youngest Little Angels can develop included: 

• Managing the emotions that come from separating from family members at drop off time.

• Building secure and meaningful relationships with carers outside of the family. 

• Learning self-help skills such as feeding, using their water bottles.

• Being a member of a group of children.

• Choosing to join and interact in small group experiences.

• Seeking out ways to make their needs heard.

• Confidence to explore and experience things that are new.

Flying Start: Transition To School Program

Flying Start is a unique transition to school program offered at Little Miracles that is specifically designed for older children. The program runs during term 3 and 4 in the year prior to your child starting school. Our aim is to extend children’s existing knowledge and help them build abilities, confidence, and behaviours that will support them during the transition into school, giving them a “Flying Start.”

The program comprises a range of carefully designed activities and experiences that build on the play-based learning your child has already been doing, but in a more structured format similar to what they will experience in Kindergarten.

Some of the key components of the program include:

• Being a member of a group learning experience being led by an educator.

• Games with a higher level of structure and rules to follow.

• Social problem solving abilities.

• Cognitive problem solving and early numeracy skills.

• Being independent in looking after themselves and their belongings

• Literacy-enhancing activities that will scaffold children towards conventional literacy and involves phonics and decodable books.

• Fine motor skill activities that encourage children’s writing, cutting and creating abilities.

By engaging in the flying start program at Little Miracles, you really are equipping your child to be the most prepared they can be for school. Our children develop literacy skills that speak for themselves. 

Transition to School Statement

Little Miracles is required by the Department of Education to provide all children who are attending school the following year with a Transition to School Statement (TTSS). A TTSS is a document created by your child’s educator and given to your child’s new school. It will have information about your child and their development to support your child to have a successful transition to school. The TTSS provides valuable information, and it creates a connection between family, preschool, and school. More information will be provided at the upcoming Flying start information evening in June.

There is so much depth that goes into preparing your little miracles for school and it really does start from the Little Angels room. We hope this clarifies some of what goes into our curriculum planning  and we look forward to inviting parents of Mighty Meteor children to our upcoming information evening held at each center in June. We can dive into all things flying start and how we will specifically be supporting your child to prepare for Kindergarten next year. Watch out for communication from your little miracles center for information on when your information might be held. 

Be blessed, 

Hometime with Robbie and Susie

Playtime with Robbie and Susie

This month we revisit episode D of Playtime with Robbie and Susie.

Feel free to share with your friends!