AEL: Proven, World-Class Curriculum

Unlocking the Potential: AEL's Vision for Child Development:

1. Healthier ChildrenDive into AEL's comprehensive approach to nurturing lifelong health and wellbeing in children.
   Discover how our curriculum instills an appreciation for an active lifestyle, exceeding World Health Organisation recommendations.
   Hear how children enrolled in our program engage in 28 additional minutes of exercise daily compared to other early learning centers.
   
2. Fitter ChildrenExplore how AEL's curriculum emphasizes fundamental movement skills and physical development through active play-based games.
   Learn how these activities not only build stronger muscles and joints but also foster essential social and cognitive skills necessary for school readiness.
   Hear testimonials from parents witnessing their children's physical and mental transformation through our curriculum.
   
3. Smarter ChildrenUncover the latest research from the University of Canberra highlighting the academic benefits of active children.
   Understand how AEL students demonstrate a 20% improvement in NAPLAN test results, supported by increased vocabulary, cognitive development, and concentration.
   Learn how these cognitive gains lay a solid foundation for a seamless transition to the school environment.
   

Empower Your Child's Future with AEL's Proven Curriculu.

Join the AEL community today and witness the transformative impact of our world-class curriculum on your child's holistic development.

Nurturing Bright Futures at St. Clare

At St. Clare, we firmly believe that the journey of learning commences within the family unit. As educators, our duty is to build upon this foundation, laying the groundwork for each child's prosperous future.

We take pride in transcending mere childcare, synergizing with families and the wider community to foster holistic development during the crucial early years.

Learning Through Play: A Cornerstone of Development

Central to our philosophy is the profound belief in learning through play. We recognize the paramount importance of fostering a sense of belonging for children, educators, and families alike within the St. Clare community.

Understanding that children thrive when given the time, space, and encouragement to be themselves, we champion opportunities for imaginative exploration and positive engagement.

Empowering Educators for Optimal Learning

Our dedicated educators serve as catalysts for optimal learning experiences. Passionate, committed, and continuously striving for improvement, they embody our ethos of self-reflection and collaborative growth.

We foster an environment where educators challenge each other's perspectives, ensuring that our learning environments remain dynamic and child-centric.

Championing Environmental Stewardship

At St. Clare, we instill in our children a profound sense of environmental stewardship. Through sustainable practices and immersive learning experiences, we empower them to cultivate a deep-seated reverence for our planet, laying the groundwork for a sustainable future.

Early Education: Building Blocks for Success

We are steadfast in our belief that early education lays the cornerstone for a brighter tomorrow. By partnering closely with families, we forge a robust foundation that nurtures each child's unique potential, fostering a lifelong love for learning.

Celebrating Diversity, Fostering Community

Embracing the richness of our diverse community, we cultivate an environment where every child is valued and celebrated. Our educators forge strong bonds with each child and family, creating a supportive village where every individual thrives.

Through our "educaring" approach, we honor and nurture the unique learning dispositions of each child, fostering connections with their world, people, and places.

Active Participants in a Global Community

Our ultimate aim is to empower children to become active participants in their local and global communities. By nurturing curiosity, resilience, and a sense of responsibility, we equip them to navigate and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

At St. Clare, every child is embraced as a cherished member of our vibrant learning community, where the journey of discovery knows no bounds.

The Brook has a dedicated team of early education professionals who have worked tirelessly since opening in 2016 to create an experience for children and their families which is centred around encouraging a joy of learning.

We operate with dedicated education and support staff at each of our centres, plus a management team overseeing all aspects of operations, recruitment, education programs, enrolments, marketing, nutrition and dietary requirements.

1.. Reggio Emilia Approach

The Reggio Emilia Approach is a child-focused educational practice which is named after the city in which it was first developed and practiced, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. The Reggio Emilia approach was developed by educator Loris Malaguzzi, who functioned under the belief that children are both smart and capable enough to construct their own learning pathways.

This practice is implemented within some of our centres. We strongly believe that children can construct their own knowledge and hold the ability to develop thoughts and ideas independently, as practised within the following principles:

• Children are capable of constructing their own learning
• Community is important and children learn by collaborating with their communities
• Humans are natural communicators and children should be encouraged to express themselves
• The environment is the third teacher and must be enriching and supportive
• Teachers are partners, nurturers and guides to children and help them explore their interests through projects
• Children’s learning must be documented

A key tool of the program is found within the poem written by founder Loris Malaguzzi, “No Way. The Hundred is There“, voicing the idea that children are at the centre of this educational approach, equipped with 100 languages.

In Reggio, the expression ‘the environment as the third teacher’ shares Malaguzzi’s belief that the physical environments in which we raise and educate children have a strong impact on the nurturing, learning and development they receive. There is a key emphasis which is placed on the quality of the learning environment, which is why our centres boast state-of-the-art facilities. Productive learning environments can both support and enrich a child’s ability to enhance their ‘sense of self’. Educational environments which actively participate in the Reggio Emilia Approach encourage creativity, active communication, personal relationships, teamwork, learning, ethics, and responsibility.

2. Montessori Method of Education

The Montessori approach to education inspires children to become confident, responsible, independent learners, who are enabled and encouraged to trust in their own abilities. The inclusivity and positive social development facilitated by the Montessori program forms the basis for a persistent attachment to learning and knowledge.

Research has shown that children in a Montessori approach has shown more success than any other educational approach in the world. The Montessori method offers 5 areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural Studies.

• Practical life: In this area the children develop fine motor control, coordination, independence, concentration and a sense of responsibility.
• Sensorial: The activities in the sensorial area help children broaden and refine their senses and enable them to become more logical, perceptive and aware.
• Math: This area of activities gives a sequential understanding of mathematical concepts.
• Language: The activities in this area enable the children to engage with each other and achieve collaboration and cooperation. Many Montessori schools choose to teach Italian, due to the country in which the program was founded.
• Cultural activities: These holistic activities help the children develop an interest in learning about the world, science, nature, history, culture, music and art.

The Montessori classroom is a well-prepared environment with specific Montessori materials for each area. Each child works independently by choosing the activities from the five areas of learning. By engaging in all the activities from these five areas, the Children develop a strong foundation for both their academic and personal wellbeing.

Montessori education contributes many benefits to the child’s early learning. The hands-on experience, practical day to day application, and problem-solving activities help the child to become an active learner for life. Through Montessori education each child becomes a confident, responsible, independent learner, who trusts in his/her own abilities. Research has also shown that Montessori children develop a greater sense of community.