Pre-Conference Educational Experiences

We invite delegates to immerse themselves in the local landscape of educational possibilities as well as engaging with educators keen to share aspects of their practice and context.

Tours will commence at 8:00am and 12:30pm on Thursday 11 July, with one tour commencing at 2.00pm. Some departure times will vary depending on the distance to be traveled and requests from the host centres to respect busy times in their centre/site.

Please note:

• All tours will depart from and return to the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre. Delegates must arrive and depart from centre venues via the accompanied bus tours.
• The pre-conference Educational Experiences are optional and tickets must be purchased separately to conference registration.

The 2019 Pre-conference Educational Experiences are generously hosted by:

Bold Park Community School

Bold Park Community School (BPCS) is an independent school situated on the banks of Lake Monger (Galup), catering for around 270 students from Pre-kindy to Year 12. (Hours of operation 8:30 – 3:30pm).

A visit to Bold Park Community School is an opportunity to see how a community has developed a PK – Year 12 educational setting inspired by the principles and practices of Reggio Emilia. Participants may be interested in some of the organisational structures in place to support the complex learning environments that promote collaboration, creativity and connection to community. With an emphasis on learning through the Arts and out in nature, Bold Park Community School continues to provide an authentic and relevant learning contexts for children.

Clifton Hills Primary School

Clifton Hills Independent Public School is located on the slopes of the Darling Escarpment, approximately 25 km South East of Perth. Currently there are 442 students, Kindergarten to Year 6. School hours 8.30 am to 2.50 pm, 2.30 pm every Wednesday.

Clifton Hills would like to celebrate and showcase how ‘loose parts’ and ‘nature play’ is utilised in fostering children’s imaginative play and cooperation. The educational tour will also include some very simple ideas and resources to use in the outdoor classroom. Sustainability is a focus at Clifton Hills where children learn about plant and insect life in the vegetable garden. A more recent addition to our outdoor environment is our ‘mud play’ where children have been heard to say ‘this is the best day of my life!’

Como Children

Como Children is a privately owned and operated, multi-age early learning centre (LDC) serving children aged 2-5 years within a beautiful home-style setting. The centre is open from 7.30am – 5pm and can accommodate 35 children per day.

Inspiration at Como Children stems from nature and their wonder for the mystery of every child’s development. Many contemporary theorists and pedagogies shape the teachings and the program, (regarded as an ever evolving work of art), including the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood and Malaguzzi’s ‘Hundred Languages of Children’. The learning environment is based on social constructivism and a pedagogy of ‘listening’ or being present to nature of which we are part. Como Children look forward to sharing their own unique philosophy with delegates and showcasing their ‘free-flowing’ home-style environment.

Curtin University’s School of Education Digital Investigations Atelier

The Digital Investigations Atelier is a collaborative project created by a team of Curtin academics, alumni and school/community partners. It is a three-dimensional space in which participants can explore, build and manipulate a constantly transforming lightscape using a rich array of materials including digital projections and a diverse combination of physical materials – transparent and opaque, natural and recycled, smooth and textured. This multimedia space encourages creativity, play and design thinking using digital technologies.

Indigenous Walking Tour – Point Walter, Bicton WA

This is an educational experience conducted via a 90min bush walking session with an indigenous guide includes follows. The venue is approximately 10 minutes from Freemantle.

The WA Indigenous walking tour includes:

• An introduction of the local history and tribal area
• A dreamtime or creation story
• An artefacts presentation which including items such as: kangaroo skins, fire lighting sticks, stone axe, stone knife, carrying dishes, digging stick, spear thrower and various bush seeds.

Lance Holt

Lance Holt School is an independent, inner-city primary school in Fremantle’s historic West End. The school caters for children Pre-Kindy to Year 6, operating from 9 to 3:15 Monday to Friday. Currently the enrolment is approximately 115 students.

Lance Holt offers a unique learning environment with strong connections to the local community and natural environment. Operating since 1970 the school has consistently focused on values such as social justice, sustainability and community participation. The schools ‘whole child approach’ has an emphasis on student wellbeing, school connectedness, a strong pedagogical repertoire and at the heart of all, an image of the child as capable and competent individuals with unique strengths and interests.

Marjorie Mann Lawley Day Care Centre

Marjorie Mann is a not-for-profit Long Day Care centre nestled in the Mount Lawley community (operating 7.15am-6pm x 5 days a week x 51 weeks a year). The centre was opened in it’s current premises in 1969 by Mrs Mann and they work with the inspirations of Reggio Emilia.

The Marjorie Mann Lawley Day Care Centre open their doors to people who share a common passion for children, inviting delegates to experience the beautiful environments and to be inspired by their child-focused provocations, all within a homelike setting. Delegates will be invited to move freely through the centre to experience the setting as it runs daily, seeing provocations including both natural and recycled materials and great relationships between children and educators.

Methodist Ladies’ College

MLC is an independent all-girls’ boarding and day school. Girls and boys can attend from six months of age and start their learning adventure in the Early Learning Centre.

The College boasts a new learning space where the environment is the third teacher. MLC offers flexible, adaptable experiences. Children are trusted, capable learners who provide a sense of belonging; a connected community. Visibility is a key concept underpinning connectivity with the child’s voice ever present. It is place that connects with the outdoor environment, a building that promotes calmness and peacefulness. Classrooms are aesthetically pleasing, using natural and intelligent materials.

Nido Early School QV1

Nido Early School QV1 is a 78-place long day care, located in the heart of Perth CBD. The centre has 5 indoor learning environments, an Atelier, and a playground with a decommissioned helicopter.

Nido Early School QV1 opened in 2018 and endeavours to implement the Reggio Emilia principles in an authentic way within an Australian context. Project exhibitions have been a highlight for their families and external study tour participants from local universities. Their provocative environment, project work, and their pedagogical documentation which aims to makes learning not only visible, but also demonstrates what is possible.

Nido Early School – Willetton

Nido Early School Willetton is located in a suburban area south of Perth. The centre opens 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday and caters for 72 children per day (130 families across the week).

Nido Willetton has a strong focus and emphasis on children’s citizenship, service and connection to the community. Children have responsibilities at Nido and are part of the service operation including admin, resources, dishes, washing, caring for the animals and gardening projects. Children are part of decision making and the team encourages children to not be limited to their ‘spaces’, but experience all areas of the school. Nido Willeton is proud of the high level of family engagement.

Palette Children’s Atelier

Palette Children’s Atelier is a creative learning space located in Claremont Park. It is facilitated by two Early Childhood Teachers. Parents join in and accompany their child (18mths – 5 yrs). Classes run Tuesday – Friday 10-11am over a term (8wks).

Palette Children’s Atelier is a creative learning space designed for young children (18mths – 5yrs) to explore, to experiment, and to question. A playful place where creativity is valued. It is a place where natural and everyday objects have extraordinary possibilities where ideas and friendships are nurtured and a child’s journey celebrated. Our space is a ‘living’ space and is designed and curated with purpose for children and their accompanying adult to spend time in and enjoy together.

Perth College Anglican School for Girls Kindergarten

Perth College is an Independent K-12 Anglican school for girls and is over 110 years old. In the Junior School there is one stream from K-4 and then three classes in Year 5 & 6. The Kindergarten and Preparatory classes are both housed in original old houses. Positive Education, nature play and grounds, Reggio inspired, sustainable practices, Waste Wise School and regular bushland visits are some of the experiences provided. The Kindergarten and Preparatory run a full day five-day a week service with 26 students.

Perth College Anglican School for Girls Kindergarten children can be creative, think critically, be imaginative, build, design and experiment through their interactions with loose parts both recycled and natural. A digital atelier is also a feature of the Kindergarten. Children’s voices are integral and are made visible through documentation. Children are encouraged to reflect on sustainable practices. A nearby conservation bushland called “Inglewood Triangle” has been adopted by the Kindergarten and children work alongside volunteers to care for the native flora and fauna, helping to weed, water and plant new seedlings. They are also concerned about and investigate alternatives for single use plastics, especially plastic straws.

REmida

REmida offers a range of workshops and professional development sessions catering for schools, early years centers, educators, artists and the community exploring the roles of recycled materials and learning. All REmida workshops are accredited and have strong ties to the curriculum.

REmida specialises in sustainability and is a reuse center in West Perth. REmida utilises materials that are able to be reused for learning environments.  For the morning session participants will be able to tour and engage in conversation about REmida and the afternoon session is a hands-on workshop inviting participants to explore materials and the tools used with children. Both sessions will engage in the full process from receiving, sorting and presenting materials ready for use.

St Mark’s Anglican Community School

St Mark’s Anglican Community School is a large (1800 students) independent, K-12 coeducational school, in the northern coastal suburb of Hillarys. The St Mark’s Early Learning Centre is a self-contained facility with its own Kindergarten, Pre-Primary and Year One classrooms, reception, learning spaces and amenities on the large K-12 campus.  There are 158 students in the Early Learning Centre.

The passionate St Mark’s Early Learning Team would like to celebrate the environment that we have created to honour the development and interests of the children in our community. We would like to share how we strive to combine this practise with curriculum requirements. Discovery through play and inquiry-based learning in an intentional, nurturing environment, are at the core of the St Mark’s Early Learning Centre.  Space, time and resources are intentionally organised, both inside and outside, to maximise the opportunities for the children to move and discover, using all of their senses. There is a focus on reusing materials, an open grassed area, a nature play playground, dramatic play areas, creative art provocations and materials, technology, edible gardens, a pond, a flexible open space called an ‘Imaginarium’, a wellbeing space called ‘The Book Nook’ and multipurpose rooms for learning enrichment.

The Akidamy School of Early Learning

The Akidamy School of Early Learning is a brand new, one-off beautifully designed, state of the art school of early learning located in the Perth CBD. The centre will cater for 66 children when at full capacity and opens from 7:00am- 6:00pm.

The centre is architecturally a very unique space with wonderful bespoke environments both inside and out. At Akidamy all aspects has been well considered to ensure that natural environments provide children with a space that ensures children can thrive and that their holistic development is supported. The service offers yoga, mindfulness and Italian language as well as using the Reggio Emilia philosophy to guide their curriculum.

The Nature of Learning (Kings Park)

Rio Tinto Naturescape King’s Park is a place for children to connect with nature and learn to appreciate the unique Western Australian environment. Discover (or re-discover) the importance of supporting children in spending time outside, exploring natural environments (and reflect on how this benefits a child’s development).
Explore the benefits of supporting children to take risks and how ‘risking on purpose’ in natural environments can help children develop.

This session in Rio Tinto’s Naturescape Kings Park provides lots of provocations to take learning outside, integrating nature and curriculum outcomes and including natural elements in play and learning. Delegates are encouraged to dress appropriately to support their engagement with the natural elements of this play space. Umbrellas will be provided should the weather be inclement.

West Leederville School of Early Learning

West Leederville School of Early Learning (WLSOEL) is a 184 place centre in the Western Suburbs of Perth. WLSOEL offers education and care for children aged 6 months to 6 years. Their programmes are inspired by Reggio Emilia and the International Baccalaureate.

WLSOEL is blessed with beautiful environments, inspiring educators and organisational support that enables educators to focus on building relationships with children and families, planning long-term sustained investigations and creating intriguing provocations that lead to rich learning experiences and amazing learning outcomes. Groups of educators have been involved in the research projects coordinated by the Perth Reggio Network and their work will be visible in the centre and at the Conference.