It is natural to wonder whether infants and young children can benefit from time spent in an early childhood environment. At Affinity Education-owned centres, our Lifelong Learning Curriculum (LLC) begins as soon as your child commences their enrolment with us, regardless of age. Our Curriculum has been thoroughly designed alongside an in-depth analysis of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). It was identified that the most crucial development among the infant age group is their relationship with the people and environment around them. Our skilled Early Childhood Educators believe that your child's time in our care is an essential period of growth, and we're committed to fostering their development in a safe and nurturing environment. So, yes, infants do learn in our Early Childhood Education environment!
Continue reading to discover the Affinity Education point of difference and the benefits your child gains from being a part of the Affinity family.
How does the LLC support infants' learning and how is it different from other non-Affinity centres?
Age-appropriate learning at every stage of childhood is an essential component of Affinity's Lifelong Learning Curriculum. The EYLF was developed nationally to support Early Childhood Teachers and Educators. The Framework extends and enriches children's learning from birth to 5 years and through the transition to school. The Lifelong Learning Curriculum is thoroughly developed by scrutinising the EYLF and adapting it to an evidence-based approach based on different developmental stages within our centres.
Our Healthy Beginnings program highlights learning through:
Attachment theory
The bond between a parent and a child is incomparable, but the primary caregiving approach recognises a warm and nurturing environment for babies. In practice, that means when your child is in our Nursery environment, you see the key Educator approach in practice. Your child will have a secure base that enables them to develop holistically, and the secure base allows infants to explore learning zones confidently, make friends, and learn new things daily.
It's proven by contemporary research that one adult who provides a secure, consistent environment will positively impact the physical and emotional wellbeing of the child.
Play schemas
Schemas are innate behaviour patterns that children use to explore and make sense of the world around them. By understanding and embracing infants' play schemas, Educators can create a nurturing and engaging learning environment that supports their holistic development. Play is the primary way infants learn, and Educators play a crucial role in facilitating this process.
Secure Base in practice!! Our infant is enjoying singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with actions.
There is never a dull moment in our Healthy Beginnings environment, and the Festive period is no exception!
The Festive Season is a wonderful opportunity for us to extend children's learning and continue kicking their developmental goals over Summer. Often families assume that over Summer learning programs are paused or reduced, however, this is not the case! Our Educators use the excitement of the Festive Season and change in warmer weather to their advantage to provide extra engaging and enriching learning experiences.
We know your baby’s earliest emotional, social and physical experiences will directly impact their future resilience and wellbeing, and we are here to support that journey. Our qualified educators are trained and accredited by Affinity Education Group in the Lifelong Learning Curriculum. Find out more about the Healthy Beginnings (Birth-1 year) program in the below video: