The staff and Committee of Beaconsfield Kindergarten would like to welcome another group of families for 2018. At Beaconsfield Kindergarten, all of our groups begin the year with a Family Orientation session. These are an extremely important time for educators to spend with children and their families. During this time, educators can ensure that all enrolment information is finalised, gather specific information on all children, such as medical information, asthma and allergy management plans and information related to learning and development. Parents are also able to discuss any concerns they have about their child beginning kindergarten, such as separation and independence. The children enjoy exploring the learning spaces alongside a caring and trusted adult.
The next few sessions are in half-groups, which enables children to continue to become familiar with the kindergarten environment in a smaller group. Some children begin to interact with their peers, and educators are able to facilitate these early relationships. In these early sessions, one of our main aims is to help the children feel safe, secure and supported. Their sense of belonging is enhanced if they trust the educators and feel comfortable with their peers.
Children are also invited, together with their families, to participate in a ‘Family Picnic Night’ in the kindergarten playground, with kindergarten educators also in attendance. This is an ideal opportunity for families in each group to get to know one another in a relaxed setting while enjoying a picnic dinner. Social events such as these support the children to feel safe, secure and supported in the kindergarten environment, and to develop a sense of belonging to their kindergarten group and the broader kindergarten community. Furthermore, connecting with families is integral in family inclusive practice – feeling a sense of belonging is as important for families as it is for the children in our programs.
The children have now settled nicely into their groups, and we are very pleased with how well they have started the year. We look forward to another fantastic year with our 2018 children and families!
