St James re-thinks early learning

A NEW early learning and arts centre is open for play at St James Parish School in Sebastopol.

The space was officially opened by Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, last Friday, and is designed to cater to children from birth to eight years old.

Co-principal Peter Fahey said the concept behind the facility has been 10 years in the making and is all about connections and partnerships.

“This is a reconceptualisation of education,” he said. “There’s a wonderful flow here.

“Ages zero to five is in the realm of caring, six onwards is the realm of education, and there’s a huge cross-over, so this facility is a wonderful opportunity to make that visible.

“We’ll have babies here, toddlers here, playgroups, and the next step is to establish an on-site kinder where there is a flow.

“If children are ready for academia, they can come through. When children enter school, they may not be ready, so they’ll spend time here.”

Prep teacher Jacqui Jarvis is a big user of the space, also leading a playgroup on site.

“One morning a week we have people from around the Ballarat community come in for playgroups, and it’s a great way to bring people into the school, and offer them the types of cognitive play that we do with children here,” she said.

“Our students are benefiting because it gives us another space to bring them for extra play. We have a lot of play setting classrooms in here.

“We use it a lot more for small groups, and guided or directed play. It’s a beautiful brand-new space.”

St James has four learning levels: discovery for prep or foundation pupils, exploration for grades 1 to 2, connecting for grades 3 and 4, and leadership for grades 5 and 6.

“Because there’s a common system in each, children actually move through,” Mr Fahey said.

“If they’re flourishing in science and need connecting, they can move up for science and keep learning. Growth and learning is actualised, not just spoken about.”

Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said the project was funded with $750,000 from the Federal Government and $350,000 raised by the parish.

“We know young people learn better when they’re in great environments, and to invest the money here in the early learning centre and arts space is a testament to all the teachers, parents, and students here at St James,” she said.