REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
Dee’s Message
28 October 2022
Dear Parents and Caregivers, “Belonging for young children is being in a place where they feel comfortable enough to play without having to look over their shoulders seeking approval – or dodging disapproval – to explore without fear, to redefine their space, and to use materials found around them to create for themselves a sense of order, pattern and structure.” So said author and early learning specialist, American Bev Bos. I think her sentiments capture perfectly what we in the ELS try to do each day. Creating a space where the children can feel safe, affirmed and encouraged to explore is critical if they are to develop to their full potential. At the same time, we trust that they will be enjoying rich, meaningful relationships, both with their peers and with their teachers. The ELS classrooms and areas to play are more often than not the first place where children will become aware of their social identity. They will start to realise that they are good at certain things, and that they enjoy some experiences, while not enjoying others
to the same degree. They will also notice that some of their friends are better at certain tasks than they are, while at others they show greater proficiency than their friends do. This is, after all, the way of life. We are always going to have certain activities which we love doing – and are often very good at – while there will be others which we will avoid. However, for young children this can be quite a challenge, and a dent to their stilldeveloping confidence, especially if they feel less able than those around them. One of the cornerstones of the Reddam House philosophy of education is that we celebrate and honour the unique individuals who are part of the school. Rather than making comparisons, or trying to turn out a bunch of clones, we love encouraging the children to find their own voices and to develop their own individuality.
REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL | WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
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