St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre, St Thomas Aquinas Preschool and St Thomas Aquinas Preschool outdoor area.

The NCEC Early Childhood Education Network Group met at the Catholic Education Office, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn last week and visited two early learning centres co-located on primary schools in the diocese: St Thomas Aquinas Preschool West Belconnen, and St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) Wanniassa.

The St Thomas Aquinas Preschool is a purpose built state-of-the-art early learning centre for children aged four years. The centre allows children to play and learn in welcoming and sustainable outdoor spaces and indoor environments designed to meet the individual needs of children.

The early learning centre and the primary school work closely together to provide children with a strong play-based learning foundation and transition programs. Small group and one-on-one intervention support programs are provided for children that need additional help. The pre-school encourages children to follow their interests and to respect and take care of their local environment.

St Anthony’s (ELC) provides a strong focus on Catholic ethos and values as the main principle for developing the child. Religious education is strongly embedded throughout the curriculum through play-based learning experiences.

The ELC caters for children from six weeks to six years and also operates as a long day care. St Anthony’s has a strong focus on sustainability, and the children are able to play and experience open-plan outdoor spaces, sensory gardens including a vegetable garden, a worm farm and participate in an active recycling program.