FREE ’TINY TOTS’ LEARNING PROGRAMS

EXCITING AND FREE ’TINY TOTS’ LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ISLAND PARENTS!

Macleay Island families of young children have an exciting opportunity to be engaged in free, play-based, high quality early learning experiences where families can grow and learn together.

On Macleay Island the new pilot program KindyLinQ is run two mornings a week, on a Tuesday and Friday from 9am-12pm.

The Buzzing Bees Playgroup program, which has been in operation for three years, is held on a Thursday morning from 9am-11am. Both programs are held at Macleay Island State School.

Helen Coleman, a qualified, experienced early childhood teacher facilitates the KindyLinQ program supported by a well-known local Jarrod Calcott.

Jarrod also runs the Buzzing Bees playgroup.

Both programs provide a free, safe, supported space for families in our local community to come together with their children to play and learn.

At their recent Open Day , Helen Coleman explained: “We want to give all children a great start by helping develop their skills to be confident learners”.

“These play-based fun programs are perfect for young children”.

“It enables them to explore, create, socialise and participate in many different experiences and have lots of fun.”

“Also, these programs offer flexibility to suit the needs of our families.

“Families can attend all the sessions, one session a week or maybe one session a fortnight or whatever suits them.

“Times of attendance are flexible too so if they can only stay for part of the session that is not a problem.”

Jarrod Calcott said by incorporating parents into the programs, the education process between parent and child is enhanced considerably.

“It can be a learning experience for both parent and child, particularly for first-time parents,” he told The Friendly Bay Islander.

And the good news is, both Helen and Jarrod said they wanted to ‘reach out’ to all island parents of pre-school children to invite them along and experience these programs first-hand.

They are keen to welcome new families to these programs.

The KindyLinQ program also runs at the Russell Island State School.

It was recently visited by Member for Redlands Kim Richards, who participated in some time with the Russell Island children.

For more information about the Macleay Island programs, please phone 3400 8333