Early
Childhood
Welcome to Early Childhood
At GMAS, we recognise the early years as a time of exploration and discovery, and believe that each child is a strong, capable and resilient learner who abounds with awe and wonder.
At our Early Learning Centre (ELC), each child is supported in developing their own special gifts through a child-focused curriculum that acknowledges the whole child and further develops their unique capabilities and a love of learning.
Children develop their creativity, emotional well-being, sense of belonging and social skills throughout their time in the Early Childhood sub-school at GMAS.
We believe this vital period of learning should foster children’s foundations for knowledge by acknowledging each child’s characteristics of belonging, being and becoming in an intentional play-based and reflective environment.
Discover more about Early Childhood and more information on what GMAS offers in our handbooks here.
Early Childhood Offering
For children who are not yet 3 years of age, we invite you to come along to the GMAS Playgroup, run by Playgroup WA. Held each Tuesday morning from 9am - 11am during school term, Playgroup provides an excellent opportunity to meet other families and experience a taste of Little Georgies for those who would like to ease the transition.
Little Georgies is our dedicated Pre-Kindergarten program for children who are 3-4 years of age. Children are able to enrol in one or two sessions a week. Sessions run from 9am until 3pm on Wednesday and Thursdays during term time.
Our Little Georgies program is priced to be similar to that of daycare, with the added benefits of qualified and passionate teaching staff and access to the school’s community, resources, facilities and events. Our Little Georgies program embraces the Early Years Learning Framework.
Play is a very important part of Little Georgies and our staff will gently guide your child’s play through intentional activities and stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments.
If your child has not turned 3 years of age at the commencement of the school year, they may be enrolled and a place will be held until after their 3rd birthday.
Our Kindy program is for children who turn 4 years of age, before or on 30 June in the year they are in Kindergarten. Here they continue to wonder, explore and create.
We offer two options for Kindergarten enrolments: a four day a week option or a five day fortnight whereby the child attends two days one week and three days the following week. Sessions run from 8.40am until 3.10pm.
Pre-primary is the first compulsory year of full-time schooling at GMAS. Teachers guide your child through a range of activities and learning areas and further develop their skills in the social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and physical areas of development.
Our Learning Environment
Our staff create a caring, safe and engaging environment that nurtures your child’s character to wonder, explore and construct meaning about the world.
Our Early Childhood students are based in the School’s Early Learning Centre and adjacent class blocks located near the School’s entrance on Joseph Drive.
All areas of the ELC are modern, airconditioned and designed to spark imagination, creative play and an early love of learning. Space, time and resources are intentionally organised, both inside and outside, to maximise the opportunities for the children to move and discover, using all of their senses.
Our Little Georgies and Kindergarten classes share a fully-fenced nature inspired playground with a mud kitchen, sand pit, edible gardens, open grassed area and flexible space to inspire imaginative games and play.
Pre-primary students enjoy a separate fully-fenced nature playground which includes a large sandpit, water play feature, climbing equipment, cubby house and big trees to climb and explore.
Year 1 and 2 students also enjoy a dedicated play area with climbing equipment, slides, cubbies, vegetable beds and have access to open grassed areas and flexible spaces to encourage their imaginative play and social skills.
Our Approach to Learning
Our Early Learning programs are innovative, engaging and educational. Based on the Early Years Learning Framework, our programs centre around play-based learning, the importance of communication, language, and social and emotional development.
Children develop their creativity, emotional well-being, sense of belonging and social skills throughout their time in the Early Childhood sub-school at GMAS.
We believe this vital period of learning should foster children’s foundations for knowledge by acknowledging each child’s characteristics of belonging, being and becoming in an intentional play-based and reflective environment.
The physical, social and emotional development of the children is regarded as of utmost importance. A purposeful, developmentally appropriate approach to literacy and numeracy is used consistently across the Early Learning years.
Our knowledgeable and experienced teachers are well supported by passionate and motivated Education Assistants.
Pre-primary to Year 2 children have access to specialist teachers for Music, Digital Technologies, Visual Art, Physical Education and Japanese.
STAY & PLAY
The decision to enrol your child in a school environment for the first time can be daunting. A trial day (or half day) is a unique opportunity for children aged 3-6 to experience our Early Learning offering, without the pressure of enrolling.
During a trial day, children join a classroom appropriate to their age and participate in play-based activities with their new friends. Our teaching staff will care for your child and help them to feel comfortable in their new surrounds. Parents are welcome to stay or to leave and come back to collect their child.