**Exploring the Magic of Tiggers Place Early Learning Centre's Toddler Room**

Tiggers Place Early Learning Centre is not just a place where children are looked after; it's a vibrant, nurturing environment where young minds blossom. At the heart of our service lies the Toddler Room, a sanctuary designed to ignite curiosity, foster growth, and cultivate a love for learning in our little ones. The Toddler Room at Tigger's Place Early Learning Centre is more than just a room; it's a nurturing cocoon where toddlers spread their wings and begin to explore the wonders of the world. With a dedicated team of caregivers, a play-based curriculum, and a focus on holistic development, we provide the perfect foundation for our little ones to grow, learn, and thrive.

**Curriculum Tailored to Toddlers:** We understand that toddlers are at a crucial stage of development, where every experience shapes their understanding of the world. That's why our curriculum is carefully crafted to meet the unique needs and interests of this age group. Through a blend of structured activities and free play, toddlers are encouraged to explore, experiment, and express themselves in a supportive environment. The toddler educators implement the RAMSR program (Rythm and Movement for self-regulation) Which is designed to support their attentional and emotional regulation skills as well as mental flexibility inhabitation and working memory. We also incorporate daily Abecedarian conversational reading time as well as weekly extra-curricular activities, centre events and regular trips to Carnation Park across the road.

**Learning Through Play:** Play is the language of childhood, and in the Toddler Room, it takes center stage. From sensory bins filled with colourful materials to imaginative play corners stocked with dress-up costumes and props, every corner is designed to spark joy and curiosity. Through play, toddlers develop essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, and socialisation. At Tigger's our educators incorporate outdoor learning on a daily basis where our children experience real life skills such as gardening, food harvesting and learning about sustainable practices.

**Nurturing Relationships:** At Tigger's Place, we believe that strong relationships form the foundation of a child's emotional well-being. Our caregivers strive to build trusting, nurturing relationships with each child, providing them with the love and support they need to thrive. Whether it's cuddling during story time or offering words of encouragement during a challenging task, our caregivers are always there to lend a caring hand.

**Holistic Development:** Our approach to early learning goes beyond academic achievement; we focus on nurturing the whole child. Through a combination of music and movement, arts and crafts, and outdoor exploration, toddlers develop their physical, cognitive, and emotional skills in a holistic manner. We have an on site chef who cooks meals from scratch each day using herbs and produce from our gardens that our children have grown and nurtured to maturity themselves.

**Parent Partnership:** We recognise that parents are a child's first and most important teachers. That's why we strive to maintain open communication and strong partnerships with families. Through regular updates, parent-teacher meetings, and family events, we ensure that parents are actively involved in their child's learning journey every step of the way. We also pride ourselves on co-regulation practices and planning around each individual child's emotional needs. Our educators are present with children to support their settling in process and ensure all children are supported during their transition into our service.

Our junior kindy room is full of busy little adventurers. Catering for children aged 2.5 years to 5 years with a maximum number of 21 children and 4 educators per day. Our lead educators and Assistants in this room are consistent and chosen for their ability to provide a fun and exciting program that instils a love of learning formany years to come.

They actively promote children's learning through worthwhile and challenging experiences and interactions that foster high-level thinking skills. They use strategies such as modelling and demonstrating, open questioning, speculating, explaining, engaging in shared thinking and problem solving to extend children's thinking and learning.

Our junior kindy children enjoy community outings, trips to Carnation Park and many in cnetre special events that promote wellbeing and holistic learning for each and every child in or care. Families are encouraged to provide us with information about your child's life / routine to

ensure we are meeting their needs for rest and relaxation as we aim to support all families in their parenting role at home. Children who do not require rest are offered alternative options such as outdoor play or quiet restful activities.

The kindergarten room caters for children aged 3.5 years to 5 years. The staff ratio in this room is 1 to 11. There is a registered teacher and an assistant in the room.

The room has five sections: a change room/bathroom, sleep room, kitchen and most of all play area inside and outside. All meals are supplied in the centre: morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, they are offered a wide variety of nutritious foods throughout the day. A copy of our monthly menu is available for viewing on our programming wall. Water is available at all times throughout the day.

During the day, the children have opportunities to participate in both planned and spontaneous activities. They range from blocks, puzzles, art and craft, storytelling, singing, group time activities, table activities and much more. We have a program displayed in the room of our daily activities. These activities are based on observations taken of the children to help develop their interest and cater for their needs. Miss Greer does two half hour group time sessions a day.

We complete outside yard equipment daily. A hat must be worn whilst children are involved with outside play. The centre supplies sunscreen which is applied 30 minutes before and child goes outside. Singlets are not to be worn in the yard.

The classroom has reverse cycle air conditioning to help make the children more comfortable. Whilst children are resting /sleeping, carers undertake 15 minutes checks on all children. Rest time is a compulsory part of the day as outlined in the national childcare regulations. It states that we must offer children no more than 2 hours rest time daily. We do not expect that all of our children sleep during this time but we do require all children to be on their beds for health and safety reasons while the floors are mopped and the toys are sanitised. Quiet activities on beds are fine.

We have information charts for parents to view daily throughout the room. We provide a safe and warm environment for children to develop at their own pace and routine are flexible to cater for each child.