Happy Hearts Academy Curriculum
Why We Have a Formal Curriculum:
Planning a curriculum for children is important because it:
- Helps to promote children’s learning and development
- Is a means of documenting what we do in our service.
- Encourages our educators to think about what they offer to children and why
- It is a way of sharing children’s experiences with families and highlights the role of educators.
- It offers opportunities for our educators to reflect on and develop their own practice.
- It is also a legal requirement (under the NQF)
How We Believe that Children Learn In the Early Years:
| The Happy Hearts Curriculum is based on these learning principles and ensures that the children are engrossed in a rich environment, actively participating in their own learning journey, have the opportunity to repeat learning themes and areas and are always supported in their growth and development. Each of our age groups (0-2 years, 2-3 years, and 3-6 years) have a specifically developed week by week, and month by month learning plan, within our curriculum. These plans are developed to cover all developmental areas, and is guided by age appropriate milestones, that our educators are constantly supporting and encouraging the children to work towards, and achieve. This component of our program is known as out intentional teaching and is present in every day your child is at Happy Hearts Academy. The goals and areas within this curriculum are tailored to your child's specific development, while the entire group is being supported through each stage of development. Our curriculum has been developed by Our Early Childhood teachers as well as our Primary school qualified teacher ensuring the best start for your child. |
Happy Hearts Inclusion Support
Happy Hearts Academy ELC is passionate about ensuring that all children are able to learn from and interact with programs that acknowledge their individual voices, strengths and interests. We are a service that is dedicated to advocating for children, and families, with a specialised Inclusion Support Program that aims to ensure that all children may participate meaningfully with equal opportunity to receive quality education and care.
Happy Hearts Academy ELC is proactive in addressing access and participation barriers to support the inclusion of children with additional needs. We have developed dynamic, individualised Inclusion Support Management Plans that are tailored to each child. These plans are goals-based and emphasise early intervention, training and strategic management and ongoing collaboration with families, support agencies and allied health professionals.
Our Inclusion Support Program is currently managed by our Inclusion Support Liaison Justine Tucker. Justine has successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology at the University of Wollongong. She went on to complete her Vision Therapy Accreditation through the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists and went on to work as the Senior Vision Therapist and Marketing Director for a three branch Behavioural Optometric practice in North Sydney for the past decade. She has gone on to complete her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care as well as her certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy.
Justine has had the privilege of working closely with children to provide therapeutic assessment and interventions with the goal of assisting them to achieve their full potential. She enjoys designing and implementing educational programs and games that allow children to succeed and prosper in achieving their developmental goals and milestones. Justine is holistic in her approach to assisting all children’s needs and learning, bringing additional skills including Music Therapy to the role.
Here at Happy Hearts Academy ELC we firmly believe that the bonds children form in early childhood care settings are capable of paving the groundwork for years to come in shaping confident, secure and dynamic children ready to take on the world! Our philosophy is deeply grounded in helping all children now so that their futures may be bright and brilliant.
Happy Hearts Music Program
| Happy Hearts Academy ELC provides quality childcare that nurtures learning and development through our unique music program. We offer fun and educational music classes throughout the week with our professionally trained vocalist and guitarist Justine Tucker. Music in early education settings has a vast array of benefits including: improved mood and emotional regulation, enriched early language development and literacy skills and fine motor skill development. Our music program at Happy Hearts Academy ELC provides an opportunity for multi-sensory learning experience and contributes to cognitive growth, problem solving, self expression and socialization. Having completed qualifications in childcare, psychology and music, Justine is no stranger to the performing arts. She has sung the backing vocals for the Catholic school religious music curriculum and toured the United States with John Burland. She has sung in front of thousands at venues such as Sydney Opera House, Enmore Theatre and St Mary’s Cathedral. Justine is a proficient vocalist with guitar and piano skills to match and enjoys designing and implementing music programs for all ages. When Justine began at Happy Hearts Academy ELC it did not take long for her to bring along her guitar and introduce music sessions across all rooms and age groups. She has since created a dynamic and tailored program for the Bubs and Tiny Tots rooms executed throughout the week: Musical Mondays, Tuesday Tunes, Whimsical Wednesdays, Throw-Bach Thursdays and Feel-Good Fridays. Exposing children to music from a young age ignites brain development and allows for endless amounts of fun. We are so proud of our music program at Happy Hearts Academy ELC and look forward to sharing the joy of music with you and your little ones. |  |