EARLY CHILDHOOD

Kindergarten

At Cannington Community College, our Kindergarten program provides a warm, caring, and engaging environment where children begin their exciting journey as lifelong learners.

Our teaching and learning are guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which recognises childhood as a time of Belonging, Being and Becoming.

• Belonging – Building strong, trusting relationships that help children feel safe, connected and part of our school community.
• Being – Valuing children’s lives in the here and now, recognising that learning is as much about the present moment as it is preparation for the future.
• Becoming – Supporting each child’s ongoing development, helping them to build their identity, knowledge, skills, and confidence.

The EYLF places a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising play as the natural way young children make sense of their world. Through purposeful play, children explore, imagine, question and create. They learn to collaborate, problem-solve and communicate while developing essential early literacy, numeracy, and social skills.

Our educators provide a balance of intentional teaching and guided play, ensuring that each child has opportunities to grow emotionally, socially, cognitively and physically. The kindergarten environment is rich with activities designed to foster curiosity, confidence, and creativity — helping every child build the foundation for future learning.

At Cannington Community College, our goal is to make your child’s first experience at school a happy and positive one. We encourage the development of:

• Confidence and independence
• Imagination and creativity
• Early literacy and numeracy skills
• Fine and gross motor coordination
• Positive relationships with peers and adults

Each child learns at their own pace and is celebrated for their individual strengths and progress. Parent involvement is encouraged and valued, as we believe strong partnerships between home and school help children thrive.

Pre-primary

Pre-primary marks the beginning of formal schooling, and at Cannington Community College, we ensure this transition is smooth, nurturing, and engaging.

Our Pre-primary program combines explicit instruction with play-based and hands-on learning, giving children the best of both worlds. Literacy and numeracy are taught systematically through high-quality programs such as InitiaLit, which supports early reading, phonics, oral language, and comprehension skills.

Children also participate in daily fine motor and gross motor development activities both inside and outside the classroom. Our Early Childhood outdoor area is purposefully designed to promote movement, balance, coordination, and cooperative play.

Teachers use a balanced approach to learning, introducing new concepts through explicit teaching and reinforcing them through small group rotations that include intentional play, creative arts, oral and written tasks.

Aligned with the EYLF, the National Quality Standards (NQS), and the Western Australian Curriculum, our Pre-primary program caters to the whole child — supporting academic, emotional, social, and physical development.

Our teaching practices are built around:

• Respect for each child’s individuality and capabilities
• Meaningful, inquiry-based learning
• Open-ended questioning and reflective discussion
• Encouragement of curiosity and independence
• Recognition and celebration of each child’s achievements

By providing a stimulating, inclusive and supportive environment, Cannington Community College ensures that all children experience success and develop a love for learning that lasts well beyond their early years.