In Term1, 2019, the former Coomandook & District Kindergarten will re-open as an integrated learning environment catering for Kindergarten, Foundation and Year 1 learners within the Coomandook Area School.

The kindergarten was established almost 40 years ago in a shed that served the local tennis club. However, mice running wild inside and sheep grazing in the play area outside soon made the building unsuitable.

During this time, the TRB’s Registration Manager, Sue Fox (pictured above left) was Director and she witnessed the successful lobbying and official opening ceremony of the new kindy building on Coomandook Area School grounds on 22 August 1986. Thirty-two years later, on Friday 7 December the end of an era was marked with a closing ceremony conducted in conjunction with a graduation ceremony for the final seven kindy children.

Coomandook Area School Principal, Kaye Fitton (pictured above middle), who attended the ceremony, is aware of the particular challenges and requirements of early years learning and the responsibility of introducing it into an established school environment.

“We want to enable every child to engage with every learning experience be it in the early years or at the other end of the spectrum in a student’s final school years,” Kaye said.

“Loose parts play will continue to be integrated into early years learning along with other experiences that promote learning through play and social interaction.”

The integration of early years learning into school sites is becoming more common as new Birth to Year 12 schools are established in South Australia. Research indicates this model has better learning outcomes for students as it strengthens the entire education site as a learning community and fosters collaborative practice amongst teachers. Other benefits include:

• consistent and positive transition to school strategies
• improved communication, planning and information sharing between the early years, primary and secondary educators
• the development of strong relationships between schools and families.

While these benefits are clear, it is important that a school understands the different perspectives of early childhood education and care personnel, primary and secondary teachers in respect of skills, practices and pedagogy.

Coomandook Area School aims to provide an engaging environment that inspires all children to reach their full potential.

“Our pedagogy involves strong anchoring in play-based learning, inquiry-based learning that actively support children at differing levels of readiness and outdoor learning using our dedicated learning spaces and beyond,” said Kaye.

“We see occasional care and pre-kindy programs as critically important to both the ongoing development of our early years learning and teaching program and our community and these will continue to be offered in 2019.”