Dragonflies - MELC Prep Program

Preparing your child for school

At Maraylya Early Learning Centre we believe that every child deserves, and needs, a solid foundation for school.   MELC provides that foundation through our Prep Program and the children are known as the Dragonflies. 

With over 12 years of formal schooling in front of them, your child needs all of the pieces of their life’s education to fit together, so that they have the easiest transition possible between stages. 

A good quality “prep program” will equip your child with all of the basic skills they need to succeed at school and the confidence they need to be happy.  It will help them to form friendships and understand the expectations placed on them at school and help them to feel more comfortable in their new surroundings.

Read more about our innovative program below or contact us to request an enrolment package and tour of the Centre.

• How your child benefits from a good pre-school program
• The pre-school approach at MELC
• Keeping parents informed
• Special learning opportunities including school orientation
• A typical day in the MELC prep program
• Enrolment form

How your child benefits

Attending a quality prep program, like MELC, allows your child to gain:

• Confidence in their own ability
• A desire to learn
• Improved self-esteem
• Sound social skills
• A head start on the basic school kindergarten program
• Pre-math and reading skills

It also gives you peace of mind in the knowledge that your child is “ready” for school. 

The Pre-School Approach at MELC

The MELC Prep Program is part of our fun and interactive pre-school program.

It has been specifically designed by qualified teachers to help your child make a smoother transition to big school, and unlike many other pre-schools, the program forms an integral part of our every-day activities - not just an hour of pre-reading/pre-writing exercises.

The MELC program focuses on the key areas of childhood development:

1. Cognitive Skills

Cognitive ability relates to a child’s thinking and problem solving skills - it is how they process their thoughts and put what they learn into practice.   At MELC we use a number of activities to develop your child’s cognitive skills, including counting games, “Bingo”, matching and memory games, recognising letters and sounds, puzzles, sequences, science and problem solving exercises, computer skills, construction and shape recognition.  We also look at the concept of time and regularly discuss days of the week, months, seasons, birthdays and holidays such as Easter or Christmas.

2. Social and Emotional Skills 

Your child’s social and emotional development is very important.  Social skills help your child to form friendships and “fit in, whilst emotionally they need to have a positive attitude, self-confidence and self-esteem.

We encourage the children to take turns, play cooperatively, follow rules, share, and speak in front of the group during activities like “News”. We also use role-plays and games to demonstrate appropriate behaviour while giving children skills to engage in play, build friendships and cope with conflicts.

3. Physical Skills

At MELC we help to develop your child’s gross and fine motor skills with games that include ball play, running, jumping, hopping, climbing on play equipment and dancing in music and movement.  We also spend a lot of time focussing on the fine motor skills that are necessary for correct pencil grip by working with small Lego blocks, threading beads, using scissors and playing with dough.

4. Creative Skills

Creative activities are an important way for children to express themselves.  Different activities allow children to explore new ideas and find their own personal interests.   In our program, we engage the children in creative activities every day.  They are encouraged to express themselves through art, craft, music and dancing from a range of music styles, story-telling, “News”, construction activities, language and poetry. 

Keeping parents informed

In addition to regular parent/teacher meetings and on-going communication regarding your child’s progress, your child’s learning journey is documented over each 12 month period in a portfolio which is presented to you at the end of the year.

The portfolio is a precious collection of work samples, songs and poems that your child has learnt, photographs and observations taken during the year, examples of things they have shown particular interest in, their achievements, milestones, and experiences at MELC. 

Special learning opportunities

Preparing your child for school is much more than teaching them the alphabet or how to count to 100.  At MELC we provide opportunities for your child to learn how to relate well to other children, the self-help skills needed for school, and even how to recognise and celebrate their own achievements.

• School Orientation

Throughout the year the children in the MELC Prep Program make regular visits to the kindergarten classroom of Maraylya Public School.  They spend time with the teachers and children at the School participating in special activities designed to help build their confidence and familiarise themselves with the ‘big school’ environment.  Even if your child is not going to Maraylya Public School, participating in this orientation program is highly beneficial to their preparation for school. 

• Graduation Day

Every year, MELC holds a special “graduation” ceremony for the children who are leaving us and heading off to big school. 

The ceremony gives the children a sense of achievement.  It reinforces the message that they have done something important and that the next step for them is very special.  It also gives you an opportunity to celebrate with them.

• Lunch Box Days

Being able to tell the difference between “little lunch” and “big lunch” is very important in the first year of school... so is being able to open your lunch box and unwrap your food! 

Towards the end of the year, MELC designates special “Lunch Box Days” to give the children an opportunity to practice these important aspects of school life.  Parents are asked to provide a lunch box, with the child’s name clearly marked, and the chef packs their lunch for them so that they become confident with the process.