Early Years

The Early Years at East Kalgoorlie Primary School

The Early Years consists of students from Kindergarten – Year 2 in keeping with the Early Years Learning Framework. The Early Years Plus initiative involves students from Kindergarten to Pre-Primary.

East Kalgoorlie Primary School has developed an integrated, whole child approach to early childhood education called Early Years Plus.  The identification of and building on from what students can do is the focus of the Early Years Plus initiative.  Educators are responsive to all children’s strengths, abilities and interests.  They value and build on children’s skills and knowledge to ensure motivation and engagement in learning.

A balanced approach to learning is the philosophy of Early Years Plus and is inclusive of structured play that incorporates intentional teaching. Instruction follows the EKPS Whole Child Learning Sequence (WCLS), which incorporates the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum and is focussed on providing a supportive environment. Children are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems, engage in critical thinking, challenge each other’s thinking and build new understandings.

Students come to school with diverse experiences, perspectives, knowledge and skills of varying levels.  The aim is to build on what children know through the elements of the Early Years Learning Framework developing a positive attitude to learning.  Students work in phases, which have been developed to cater for the context of the school. 

Learning environments are welcoming and reflect and enrich the lives and identities of children and their families, in a setting that responds to their needs and interests.

Children in the early years are grouped according to phases within their broad area of Early Years Plus or Early Years as per the WCLS.  Students in Early Years Plus who are working at a phase below children in the same year level, will be involved in an extension and support transition plan.

 KindiLink is a supported Playgroup that is available for younger children and their parents/ caregivers.

Department of Education – Early Childhood Education – National Quality Standard.

Department of Education – Early Childhood Education

Department of Education – The Early Years of Schooling