We support children and families by providing a quality pre-school education in a nurturing Christian environment. Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (Belonging, Being and Becoming) with material also drawn from the Christian Studies Curriculum Framework.
Early Years Learning Framework
At St Martin’s Kindergarten, our curriculum is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which has a vision for all children to experience play-based learning that is engaging, meaningful, and builds success for life. The Framework sees childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.
The EYLF outcomes shape everything we do, from planning intentional learning experiences to guiding spontaneous play to creating meaningful relationships with each child and their family. At the heart of the EYLF is a commitment to belonging, being and becoming – a belief that each child brings their own unique identity, capabilities, and potential into the learning environment.
Belonging: Children develop a sense of belonging through their connections with family, community, culture and kindy. Feeling secure in these relationships helps children to grow with confidence and a strong sense of identity.
Being: Childhood is a unique and precious stage of life. We value time for children to simply be – to play, explore, imagine, wonder, try new things, make sense of their world, meet challenges, and have fun.
Becoming: Throughout childhood, children’s identities, knowledge, relationships, skills and understandings continue to evolve. These experiences shape who they are and lay the foundation for who they will become as capable, confident and compassionate lifelong learners.
Christian Content:
The Christian Studies Curriculum embraces studies of Christian Beliefs, Christian Church, Christian Living and Christianity in the World. It is taught in Lutheran preschools and schools through to year 12. Children hear Bible stories and participate in discussions, songs and prayer. Christian content is integrated across the program, with Christian songs and activities set up related to Bible stories and concepts.
Kimochi Program:
To support children’s emotional and social wellbeing, we also embed the Kimochi Program into our daily practice. Kimochi (which means “feeling” in Japanese) is a social-emotional learning program that uses characters, emotion “feeling pillows,” and role play to help children:
- Recognise and name their emotions
- Understand the feelings of others
- Develop empathy and kindness
- Practice important social skills like taking turns, apologising, making amends, and using respectful language
The Kimochi characters each represent different personality traits and emotional challenges. They help children safely explore common real-life situations and learn strategies to manage feelings, solve problems, and build positive relationships.
