The St Mark’s Early Learning Centre provides a learning environment of the utmost care. It honours the development of the ‘whole child’, puts each child at the centre of all it does, and supports children in belonging, being and becoming.
Teachers in these early years consider the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of the children. The youngest students at St Mark’s experience discovery through play, and inquiry-based learning in an intentional, nurturing environment. A purposeful, developmentally appropriate approach to literacy and numeracy is used consistently across the early years, alongside the teaching of the important skills of self-awareness and self-regulation. The knowledgeable and nurturing teachers are well supported by passionate and motivated education assistants. The children have access to specialist teachers for Music, Physical Education, Languages (French and Chinese) and Christian and Values Education.
The Early Learning Centre is a beautiful self-contained facility for Kindergarten, Pre-Primary and Year 1 students. Its indoor and outdoor spaces provide children with calm and routine as well as provocations for curiosity, creativity, learning and wonder. Space, time and resources are intentionally organised to maximise the opportunities for the children to move and discover, using all of their senses. There is a focus on reusing materials, an open grassed area, a nature play playground, dramatic play areas, creative arts materials, edible gardens, a pond, an open flexible ‘Imaginarium’ space, a wellbeing space called ‘The Book Nook’, and multipurpose rooms for learning enrichment. A drive-through facility is available for quick and easy drop-offs and pick-ups.