Activities are planned to provide a holistic education that caters for every aspect of a child’s development: physical, social, emotional, creative, intellectual and spiritual. An interactive emergent curriculum allows the teachers to plan projects and topics of enquiry based on the children’s interests and observations. The curriculum at Little Saints also ensures that all the children are equipped with the necessary skills for Grade 0.

The children arrive in the morning, greeted by Kenny, waiting at the gate at the entrance of Little Saints. They enter through the piazza, where different activities are set up for the children to explore. The children then hang up their bags and make their way to their classroom. Each class has a teacher and teacher assistant.

In the early morning, children spend time in the classroom working with the teacher on various skills and activities. They are also free to explore the piazza, Atelier and visit the other classrooms. A quick runaround in the big garden is encouraged before ring time. During ring time each class engages in discussions relating to the current enquiry, as well as completing activities, learning songs and rhymes. A fruit snack is then served, and open plan and free play begins.

Open plan is a time when the Fairy Garden, Piazza, Big Garden and Atelier are open to explore. The teachers have set up various provocations in these areas and invite children to experiment, investigate and even have fun with messy play. At this time, children are free to choose where they would like to spend time and with whom.

Snack time is a wonderful opportunity for the children to socialise and build relationships with their peers. They have the opportunity to set the table, and have the responsibility of using porcelain cups and plates. The children take turns serving each other a delicious wholewheat or brown bread sandwich with a glass of juice.

After snack the children enjoy free play in the big garden. In the playground, the cycle track winds between sandy mounds, indigenous shrubs and open grass patches. The “stage” offers opportunity for the children to perform shows and dances, or simply to gather for a quiet chat. Art easels are dotted around the perimeter for those children who would prefer to paint, and often children pause to swing across the monkey bars as they run from one activity to another. The centrepiece of our natural playscape is the tree fort and rope net. Its design ensures the children’s motor planning and gross motor skills are challenged as they clamber over and crawl through it.

The day ends with all the children back in their respective classrooms, relaxing while the teachers read them a captivating story. The children are then collected from the classroom or move onto extramurals or aftercare.

Flow of the day and snack

• 07h20: Arrival
• 08h00: School begins and gate closes
• 08h30: Ring time
• 09h30: Fruit snack and open plan time
• 10h30: Snack time
• 12h00: Story time
• 12h20: School ends, children are collected from their classrooms
• 12h20: Aftercare begins. Extramurals begin

Fruit:

The children get cut-up seasonal fruit:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Pineapple
• Watermelon
• Naartjies
• Grapes
• Pawpaw
• Melon, etc.

Snack:

Wholewheat or brown bread sandwiches or rolls with the following fillings:

• Cheese
• Bovril
• Chicken mayo
• Jam
• Butter
• Plain bread
  
• Carrot sticks and cucumber slices
• Juice in summer and tea/hot chocolate in winter

We encourage children to develop healthy eating habits and to drink water regularly throughout the day.