Limited places available for 2024 intakes!

We are now accepting enrolments for 2024 for our ELC Kindergarten program with limited capacity available. Do not miss the opportunity to secure your place in 2024.

Please contact Childcare and ELC on 08 8524 5395 to discuss your needs

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Welcome to St Jakobi Campus Childcare and Early Learning Centre

Our Early Learning Centre (ELC) is an extension of the Childcare Centre and runs our Universal Access program for children in their year before school. We accept enrolments for children for the 6 terms before they begin school. We offer a mid-year intake to align with children who are beginning school mid-year.

The Early Learning Centre is open from 8.30am until 4pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and school holidays.

Before and after session care is available through the Childcare Centre as part of our service from 6.30am until 6:30pm Monday to Friday and is included in the fee structure.

For our current fee structure, please click below.

Fee structure
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Announcing a 3 Year Old ELC program in 2024

We recognise the research that has occurred as part of the recent Royal Commission in to Early Childhood in South Australia and implementing 3 year old Kindergarten programs at our Centre. Our aim is to run a 3 year old program alongside a 4 year old ELC program as 2 separate programs. There will be times in the day when the 2 programs separate to allow for developmentally appropriate learning to take place.

We will be running a play based program that encourages independence, peer scaffolded learning opportunities, and brings us in to line with other ELC programs in the local area.

From Term 1 in 2024, 3 year olds who are enrolled in the ELC program will be able to begin their ELC journey 2 days per week. Children booked in more than 2 days will still be able to attend the childcare Kookaburra room outside of these days. children enrolled in the 4 year old program will still be accessing all their booked days in the ELC to build their school readiness skills.

 

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Learning

We encourage children to be responsible for their own learning through choices in experiences, interests and routine. We use conversations, actions and play as the basis for teaching which involves the children being partners in teaching by seeking out ideas, opinions, thoughts and questions. We encourage children in promoting their independence and self-help skills by assisting within the routine and involving the children in interest based projects to further enhance their learning and knowledge. We value children and family input and encourage family involvement in order to gather a comprehensive and holistic view of the child.

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Reggio Emilia Philosophy

The Reggio Emilia Philosophy focusses on children as capable and confident learners who are influenced by the environment around them. There is a strong belief that the environment is the third teacher and we use the environment set up in a way that it becomes a teaching tool for children's education. Children are given opportunities to explore the environment, question, research, hypothesize, and build relationships while being guided by educators.

Reggio Emilia Philosophy has a strong focus on community, which is an integral part of our Centre Philosophy. We view families as their child's first teacher and view parents as partners and co-collaborators for their child's learning.

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School Readiness Program

Our Early Childhood Teachers focus on setting your child up for a successful start to school. We work closely with the Foundation teacher at St Jakobi School to develop a list of core skills children require when they start school. 

We focus on:

  • Children recognising and writing their own name
  • 5 L's of listening for successful group times
  • pencil grip and control
  • Phonemic awareness
  • Letter and number recognition
  • Counting skills
  • Colours/sorting/patterns
  • Self help skills
  • Fine and gross motor skills
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Meals and Nutrition

At our Service we understand the critical importance of nutrition for your child. For this reason we are committed to the provision of fresh, high quality, nutritious meals for all children.

Children in the ELC are provided with all snacks and lunches. Children have the opportunity to develop the self help skills they will need for school including being able to unwrap their food and dispose of rubbish and being responsible for their own belongings. Meals are prepared by the service's in-house fully qualified Chef and are delivered to the Early Learning Centre. Children with Allergies or intolerances are catered for.

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Transition to school

One of the benefits of transitioning from Childcare to ELC to School at St Jakobi Lutheran Campus is that the process is smooth and familiar for children. We encourage interaction across sites so as children move from Childcare to ELC or from ELC to School they know what to expect. 

Children in the ELC participate in many activities at the school such as Library visits, IT and TED opportunities, P.E Lessons, Spanish lessons, buddies, electives and chapel. We help facilitate transition by assisting parents with school pick-up and drop-off.

We may also be able to offer care in the ELC for children once they have started school for their non attendance day in the first few weeks. Please see our office staff to help arrange transitions visits.

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ELC Intakes

If your child is turning 5 before the 1st May they are eligible to start school in Term 1 of the year they turn 5.


Children who turn 5 after the 1st May and before October 31st are eligible to start school in Term 3 of the year they turn 5. Your child will receive 6 terms of Foundation year level.

We can support families and children with school readiness assessments to determine which intake your child is showing readiness for. We can also support children by negotiating additional ELC time if you feel your child is not ready to start school.

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