A strong beginning to school
Starting Prep is an exciting milestone for children and their families. At St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School, we want every child to begin their school journey feeling known, welcomed and confident that they belong.
Our Prep program provides a supportive transition into formal schooling while recognising the experiences, strengths and interests children bring with them. Strong relationships between children, families and teachers are central to this transition and provide the foundation from which learning can flourish.
Learning in Prep
Prep is an important year of learning.
Our Prep program follows the Australian Curriculum and the Religious Education Curriculum, establishing the knowledge and skills students will continue to build throughout primary school.
Children experience a balance of explicit teaching, purposeful practice, discussion, investigation, movement and play. Teachers carefully consider the most effective approach for what children are learning and provide opportunities for them to practise, explore and apply new knowledge in meaningful contexts.
Through predictable routines, clear expectations and supportive classroom environments, children gradually develop confidence, independence and positive habits for learning.
Prep is an important year of learning.
Our Prep program follows the Australian Curriculum and the Religious Education Curriculum, establishing the knowledge and skills students will continue to build throughout primary school.
Children experience a balance of explicit teaching, purposeful practice, discussion, investigation, movement and play. Teachers carefully consider the most effective approach for what children are learning and provide opportunities for them to practise, explore and apply new knowledge in meaningful contexts.
Through predictable routines, clear expectations and supportive classroom environments, children gradually develop confidence, independence and positive habits for learning.
Developing strong foundations in literacy and numeracy is a particular priority in Prep.
In English, children develop their oral language, vocabulary, phonological awareness, knowledge of letters and sounds, reading and early writing. Skills are explicitly taught and systematically developed, giving children the foundations they need to become successful readers, writers and communicators.
In Mathematics, children build their understanding of number, patterns, measurement, space, statistics and probability through explicit teaching, hands-on experiences and opportunities to apply mathematical thinking.
Learning across Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Technologies and Religious Education broadens children’s knowledge of themselves, their community and the world around them.
Play continues to have an important place in the Prep year.
Purposeful opportunities for play, investigation and exploration allow children to use language, solve problems, create, collaborate and apply what they are learning. Indoor and outdoor experiences also provide opportunities to develop physical skills, imagination, curiosity and positive relationships with others.
At St Joachim’s, play and explicit teaching are not competing approaches. Teachers use their professional judgement to select learning experiences that best support the knowledge, skill or understanding being developed.
In Prep, we believe young children learn best through direct interaction with their teachers, their peers and the world around them. For this reason, students do not use individual digital devices as part of their regular classroom learning.
Instead, Prep learning prioritises explicit teaching, rich conversation, books, handwriting and drawing, hands-on materials, movement, play and practical experiences. These experiences support the development of language, attention, fine motor skills, social interaction and the foundational knowledge and skills children need as they begin school.
When teachers use technology in specialist 'Technologies' lessons, they do so carefully and purposefully, supporting learning without replacing the experiences and interactions that are most important for young learners.
Every child begins Prep with different experiences, strengths and areas for development.
Our teachers take time to know each learner and regularly observe and assess children’s progress. This allows teaching to respond to student need—providing additional support where required and further challenge when children are ready.
We value close communication with families and recognise parents and carers as important partners in their child’s education. By working together, we can support each child’s learning, wellbeing and successful transition to school.
Prep children are an important part of our whole school community from their very first day.
They participate in the prayer, liturgical and community life of St Joachim’s and develop relationships beyond their classroom through school events and shared experiences.
Throughout their first year, we want our Prep students to develop not only the foundations for academic success, but also the confidence, curiosity, independence and sense of belonging that will support them throughout their years at St Joachim’s.