The curriculum at OAK follows the National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years and Development Framework (VEYLDF).

We deliver a fun and engaging program:

• That is play-based to provide children with opportunities to explore, experiment, question and discover new concepts about the world in playful ways.
• Where Educators play and explore together with children, to extend their learning through warm and engaging interactions.
• That is intentionally planned by Educators for each individual child, as well as the whole group, involving thoughtful guidance to extend each child’s learning, development and wellbeing during play while also fostering their independence.
• Where children are active participants and decision-makers. Our Educators understand, respect and work with each child’s unique qualities and capabilities.

Olympic Avenue Kindergarten delivers a language program in Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) to the children in Red and Purple groups every week. The benefits of learning sign language are that children:

• Have enhanced educational and personal development
• Increase their memory retention and motion processing
• Have stimulated brain development and mental flexibility
• Experience increased enjoyment in communicating.

In 4 year old Kinder, the Red group participate in a Bush Kinder program during terms 2 and 3. This is often a highlight of their year, and provides so many benefits including:

• Learning outdoors in natural spaces encourages children’s active exploration and experimentation promoting cognitive development
• Research overwhelmingly concludes that over time, with continued opportunities for learning outdoors, children experience increased self-awareness, self-regulation, intrinsic motivation, empathy, social and communication skills, independence, positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence
• Children make discoveries that occur naturally in the environment – seeing puddles formed after rain, trees changing throughout seasons, gardens growing…..
• Exposure to literacy and numeracy experiences in the environment – for example, distances, heights, slopes, signs, conversations and observations
• Revisiting familiar open spaces week after week encourages children to learn, discover and take safe risks
• Increases awareness of the existence of the broader community, and the people and places in it