In 2005 Pittwater House opened the doors of its new purpose built Early Childhood Centre (ECC). This facility provides a wonderful setting for the staff to work with children from three to five years of age. The Centre acts as a melting pot for children to express ideas, thoughts and feelings and it is the first stage of their exciting journey into learning at Pittwater House.
The program in the Early Childhood Centre takes the best of the Pittwater House Transition program developed over many years, and combines it with wonderful and exciting new opportunities for developmental play and in-depth learning using emergent curriculum philosophies and the new National Curriculum; Belonging, Being, Becoming A typical day consists of a balance between formal work and guided play.
The formal work focuses on a developmentally appropriate phonetic approach to literacy, that will equip the children with the necessary word attack skills for their transition to Kindergarten. The numeracy program follows a ‘hands-on’, play based approach, forming a solid foundation for the children’s journey into more formal learning in the Junior School.
The developmental play program allows children to rotate through specialist lessons which occur in the School's many on campus facilities. It also encourages them to explore the imaginative play areas and exciting learning centres that are created each day. All experiences are derived from the children, based on their needs and interests and are open, flexible and enriching.
The Early Childhood specialist teachers gather information and ideas through regular observations. They then facilitate activities that challenge, excite and enrich the children. It is this cycle of observation, documentation and planning that enables the teachers at Pittwater House Early Childhood Centre to truly engage with the children’s learning. Pittwater House is a place where children are valued and seen as competent and curious learners.
Interested parents and grandparents are invited to contact Nicole Verden in the Admissions Office on 9972 5789 to arrange a tour of the Centre and see the children in action.
The Early Childhood Centre operates as a Preschool where children are divided into groups according to age and developmental readiness. It is a requirement of entry that children are toilet trained. The Centre operates each day of the Pittwater House School year from 9.00am to 3.00pm. All enrolments in the Centre have the option of attending 3 to 5 days a week with parents having the flexibility to choose which days of the week they would like their child to attend. Enquiries are taken for new enrolments to commence throughout the year if a vacancy exists.
With many parents in the work force and committed to family businesses, the School provides an After School Care service known as Late School for those Junior School boys and girls from Preschool to Year 6 who are unable to be collected at the normal 3.30pm dismissal time and are not involved in after school supervised extra-curricular activities.
After School Care operates from 3pm to 6pm each school day. If parents are caught up in the afternoon and cannot make the normal collection time, children can be booked into Late School by phoning Reception or the ECC directly before 2.00pm. Pupils are then taken to Late School by the teacher on duty.
Every school holiday Pittwater House offers a school holiday care program. Holiday Funshop utilizes the many excellent facilities of Pittwater House between 8.30am and 5pm on specified days, providing children with a happy and safe environment. The weekly events include a visit out, indoor and outdoor games, cookery, craft and treats.
