Program to prepare kids

South Bunbury Primary School has partnered with several day care and early learning centres to help prepare children for school.

East Bunbury Goodstart Early Learning Centre, Little Angels Early Learning Centre and Munchkin Manor have all come on board with the program under the Department of Education’s Education in Care Network grant.

School level 3 teacher Tamara Bromley said the program was designed to ease the transition of children from early learning to kindergarten.

“We’re sharing a lot of knowledge and information about ways of teaching three and four-year-olds, looking at the importance of play as well,” she said.

“We’re learning from each other.”

Mrs Bromley learnt of the funding through her prior involvement with the Department of Education and decided the program would be a worthwhile addition to the school community, especially given the school’s established play cafe program.

The partnership consists of school and early learning staff venturing to each other’s place of work.

They watch each other work as well as the children and their interaction.

East Bunbury Goodstart Early Learning Centre director Emma Wittek said the program helped to identify children who may struggle when transitioning to kindy.