A Great Pathway to School

Learning & Development
 21 Nov 2024

See how Story House Early Learning prepares children for primary school in the best ways possible.           

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

A high-quality kindergarten/preschool program makes all the difference when your early learner is en route to primary school, and if you’re looking for an offering that’s interesting and individualised, then we can recommend Story House Early Learning’s Pathway to School program.  

Story House has early learning services in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, which means the state government may subsidise your kinder/preschool fees, and whatever your circumstances, the Pathway to School program has priceless benefits. 

The curriculum has been carefully designed to build children’s confidence, social skills, love of learning and academic know-how in the lead-up to school, and to learn more, we’ve reached out to Suzie Wood, Head of Early Learning at Story House.  

Suzie explains that the Pathways to School curriculum is offered over two years, and a dedicated learning program called Pathway to School is offered to every Story House child in the six months before they start formal schooling.   

This allows plenty of time to get prepared, and Suzie explains that the program guides every child to become a STRONG, capable, independent, kind and thoughtful learner – which lays a solid foundation for successful academic learning in their lives. 

Story House’s qualified teachers provide personalised support to little learners; and the Pathway to School program develops each child’s language, literacy and STEM knowledge, with an inquiry-based approach that focuses on critical-thinking, problem-solving and investigation.   

Suzie says, “Our Pathway to School curriculum is designed to foster a love for reading, and enhance language skills for each child, with an emphasis on interactive learning experiences that engage children through storytelling, vocabulary building, and phonological awareness.” 

Art, music, movement and dramatic play are all in the mix, and whether children are learning about native bees or coding Bee-Bot floor robots, they’re encouraged to explore and cooperate with a STEM curriculum that’s genuinely awe-inspiring.  

Practical life skills are also an important part of the school readiness program.  

Suzie says, “We help children to understand the importance of nutrition and how to make healthy choices around food and physical activity.” 

Story House children also learn how to enter play situations, look after their belongings independently, and understand the rhythm of the school day. 

There are centre-based experiences that mirror school life, and because every Story House service has a strong partnership with its local schools, children get the opportunity to visit different school spaces and accept invites to special school events.  

The partnerships are reciprocal, so Suzie explains that, “We invite teachers and Principals from the local schools to introduce themselves and participate in our information sessions and the learning program. 

“Our teachers also regularly connect with local schools to ensure each child’s transition meets their individual needs, allowing them to be a STRONG and passionate learner for school and life.” 

Suzie says, “These partnerships between our services and local schools shape a positive and stress-free step into school for Story House children and their families.”  

Parents definitely appreciate the practicality and personalisation of the Pathway to School program.  

Story House services offer the program within long day care hours, which is convenient for working parents, and the extended hours also allow for highly individualised attention to children’s developmental needs.  

Suzie says, “Our teachers have more time to assess and support children’s progress in areas such as communication, problem-solving and socialisation, and they foster strong relationships with children and families both before and after the child moves into our kindergarten/preschool program.” 

This means children are ready to learn and thrive from the beginning of the year, and whether you’re looking for two full years of a school readiness program, or half a year straight before school, Story House is a great option.  

The KindiCare App and Childcare Comparison Website make it easy to explore a Story House service near you, and if you’re not sure whether your little learner ready for the leap to big school, this article contains some great tips. 

Happy reading, and here’s to positive start for your preschooler!  

www.shel.edu.au