Playgroups in Public Education
Many South Australian government schools, preschools, children’s centres and early childhood services offer playgroups for families with children aged birth to 5 years.
Playgroups provide safe active learning environments for families to engage in play together, supporting social connection and learning for both adults and children. Playgroups help families identify opportunities for learning at home by encouraging playing, reading, talking and singing with children. They may be facilitated by trained educators and/or community volunteers.
Government playgroups acknowledge that children are strengthened by their culture, identity, language, country and belonging within a family and community. Children’s learning and development is supported by the strength of families and the provision of culturally appropriate experiences.
Learning Together Communities
Learning Together Communities (LTC) is a Department for Education program that helps families to understand and engage in their children’s learning. This makes a positive difference for both adults and children. It is facilitated in selected department schools, preschools and children centres.
The program focuses on respectful relationships, wellbeing and learning. Positive interaction between parents or carers and their children is crucial. LTC supports these interactions by:
- working individually with families
- role modelling
- providing playgroup environments and resources for interactions
- providing a framework for parents and carers to support their children’s learning.
The LTC program offers supported playgroups facilitated by trained educators. The playgroups support children’s development through sharing songs, rhymes, oral language, painting, drawing, writing and sharing books. Parents also have the opportunity to build knowledge through parent education courses and by connecting with other families and family friendly service providers.
Successful engagement with families and children occurs when educators recognise that families:
- want the best for their children
- are different and are respectful of the differences
- all have strengths.
Playgroup facilitator training and mentoring services complement and support playgroups delivered in government schools, preschools, children centres and early childhood services. More information about the mentoring program is available on the Learning Together Communities mentor program page.
Government playgroups can be found on Playgroup SA Find a Playgroup webpage.
