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Preschool
Rona Glynn Preschool is part of Ross Park Primary School. The teachers have and maintain strong connections with primary school staff and meet regularly with Early Childhood teachers from across the school,town andregion. Rona Glynn Preschool is a place to learn through play: to explore, to interact, to discover and to grow in a safe and healthy environment. Learning takes place in our varied and rich indoor and outdoor learning spaces. Our extensive natural playground allows children to follow their interests and learn through touching, feeling and risk taking in the environment.
Play allows children to explore, discover, negotiate, take risks, create meaning and solve problems – all the important foundations for developing literacy, numeracy and social-emotional intelligence. Play is a complex form of natural enquiry. Through play we want our children to learn the skills of being a learner, to take risks, try new things and learn to bounce back after failure or disappointment. All of this learning takes place alongside peers and contributes to developing a child’s social and emotional intelligence and wellbeing.
The Rona Glynn Preschool philosophy is based around understanding and nourishing the whole child and an understanding that children are not isolated individuals but belong within their family and their community. Our philosophy reflects the central idea of the Early Years Learning Framework that children’s lives are characterised by Belonging (to family, community & culture) Being (taking opportunities in the here and now and learning and growing through experience) and Becoming (forming their identities and who they will be).
Session times
Monday / Tuesday (Bilbies/Aherte group)
Hours of attendance are:
Monday 8am — 3:30pm
Tuesday 8am — 3:30pm
Wednesday / Thursday / Friday (Echidnas/Inarlenge group)
Hours of attendance are:
Wednesday 8.30am – 2.45pm
Thursday 8.30am – 2.45pm
Friday 8.30am – 11am
Where possible, families are offered a choice of group for their child. Parents are asked to contribute $280 per year which can be paid to the preschool or through the school (see Parent Contribution for bank details).
Belonging, Being, Becoming
The learning program at Rona Glynn Preschool is designed using the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). This is Australia’s first national Early Years Framework and was developed to assist educators to provide young children with opportunities to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for future success in learning. It has a specific emphasis on play-based learning and recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. Fundamental to the Framework is a view of children’s lives as characterised by belonging, being and becoming.
Belonging is the basis for living a fulfilling life. Children feel they belong because of the relationships they have with their family, community, culture and place.
Being is about living here and now. Childhood is a special time in life and children need time just to‘be’ – time to play, try new things and have fun.
Becoming is about the learning and development that young children experience. Children start to form their identity from an early age, which shapes the type of adult they will become.
The Framework puts children’s learning at the core and comprises three inter-related elements: Principles, Practice and Learning Outcomes.
The policy outlines the enrolment practice for accepting enrolments at the preschool and how the process is implemented. It takes into account changes introduced under the Australian Government initiative Universal Access;
NT Department of Education and Training (DET) Preschool Guidelines;
A child is eligible to begin preschool from the start of the school year if:
· s/he is already 4 years old; or
· her/his 4th birthday is on or before 30th June of that year.
In the event of there being vacancies later in the year, children may be accepted to begin from the date of their 4th birthday of that year and would continue preschool for the whole of the following year.
Enrolment Capacity
Rona Glynn has capacity for a maximum of 62 students, spread across 2 groups.
Priority Enrolment Criteria
When the number of students on the waiting list exceeds the Preschool’s capacity, the following criteria are used to determine which students will be offered a place:
· if the child has a sibling attending Ross Park School
· if the family’s home address is in our designated enrolment area (proof of residence may be required)
· age of the child i.e. older children on the waiting list have priority.
The final decision about the offering of positions at Rona Glynn when the waiting list exceeds the number of places rests with the Principal of Ross Park Primary School.
Enrolment Expression of Interest List
Families with children turning 4 should contact the preschool to place their child’s name on the preliminary Expression of Interest list. While this gives the preschool an indication of children who are possible enrolments, it is not a guarantee of a place.
Enrolment Confirmation
During term 3, families who have placed their name on the Expression of Interest list and who meet the criteria will be contacted in writing and offered a place for the following school year. Families need to complete the NT DET enrolment form in order to confirm their acceptance.
Where there are too many children on the Expression of Interest list, those families who do not meet the criteria will be notified that they are not able to be enrolled and will be advised to contact other preschools. These students may remain on the Expression of interest list in case of a vacancy.
After Rona Glynn Preschool
Children who turn 4 years of age on or before June 30, 2022 will usually complete one year of preschool and move into Transition in 2023. In some cases, students will complete a second year of preschool. Decisions around this are made by the family with input from Preschool and school staff.
Children who turn 4 after June 30, 2022 will continue in preschool in 2023 and commence Transition at the beginning of 2024.
The vast majority of students who complete Rona Glynn’s Preschool program continue on to Ross Park’s Transition program.
For a number of years, the demand for enrolments has necessitated the implementation of a Priority Enrolment Policy. This is due to Ross Park Primary School being at capacity for the classroom space available. This policy guarantees entry to students living within our Priority Enrolment Area and allows others to enrol, subject to capacity, special circumstances and/or School Council consideration.
As such, entry to Rona Glynn Preschool does not guarantee enrolment in Ross Park’s Transition program.
You are eligible to enrol your child at Ross Park Primary when:
· Two forms of proof of residency within our Priority Enrolment Area are provided or
· Your child’s siblings attend the school.
The principal, in consultation with Ross Park Parent Council, has discretion for enrolments outside of these situations, under the special considerations within the policy.
A map of Ross Park’s Priority Enrolment Area is available in the school office and on the website: https://www.rossparkprimary.nt.edu.au/
If you have any questions about this, please contact Suzi Burgess, Principal Ross Park Primary School to make an appointment.
Rona Glynn Preschool
2a McKay Street, Alice Springs NT 0870
PO Box 364, Alice Springs NT 0871
(08) 8952 1792
ronaglynn.preschool@ntschools.net
Working together with Ross Park Primary School