Pre-Kindergarten

Through songs, rhymes, quality literature and purposeful play, children grow in confidence as communicators and begin to see themselves as readers and writers.

Supported by MultiLit’s PreLit evidence-based program, Pre-K students are introduced to essential pre-literacy skills in a fun and engaging way, helping them connect language learning with their real-world experiences.

Through conversation, storytelling and shared reading, children build strong foundations in early reading. The PreLit program supports the development of phonological awareness, vocabulary and listening skills, preparing students for successful entry into Kindergarten.

Children engage in:

• Developing speaking and listening skills through group time, learning to listen to others, respond thoughtfully, and share their own ideas
• Building early phonological awareness by clapping syllables, identifying rhyming words, and recognising initial sounds in spoken words
• Expanding vocabulary through the use of new descriptive language, particularly during nature play
• Exploring emergent writing and mark-making by drawing and using letter-like symbols to communicate the meaning of their creations
• Strengthening story comprehension and retelling by listening to picture books and recounting them in their own words, using a simple sequence of beginning, middle, and end

At Frensham Junior School, early mathematical thinking grows out of real experiences. In Pre-Kindergarten, children explore numbers and patterns through hands-on play. Children count eggs collected from our chicken coop, measure ingredients for shared cooking, and sort natural materials from our bushland campus.

Children engage in:

• Developing counting and number recognition by counting scoops of sand while filling buckets in the sandpit
• Exploring patterns and sorting by grouping natural materials by size or colour during bushland play
• Building shape and spatial awareness through constructing towers, fitting shapes together, and experimenting during block play
• Understanding measurement and comparison by using language such as more, less, heavier, and lighter while ‘cooking’ in the mud kitchen
• Strengthening logical thinking through games and construction, planning and adjusting structures so they remain stable

Visual Arts provides children with opportunities to express ideas, explore materials and develop creative confidence. We value the process of creating and encourage experimentation and imagination. Through art, children develop fine motor skills, persistence and the ability to communicate their thinking in diverse and imaginative ways.

Children engage in:

• Drawing, painting, and printmaking
• Collage, construction and sculpture work 
• Exploration of colour, texture and form
• Creative responses to stories and inquiries 

Through music, Frensham Junior School students are encouraged to express themselves, develop discipline and find joy in creativity. Participation builds confidence and a lasting appreciation for creative endeavour.

Students sing, play and perform regularly helping them to build confidence and musical understanding while discovering the fun of making music together!

Frensham Junior School students engage in a specialist music lesson each week, with opportunities to learn a range of instruments and musical concepts. The year culminates in our much-loved musical production, where every student takes part and the community gathers to celebrate the creativity, commitment and progress of the year.

Children engage in:

• Singing and vocal exploration 
• Rhythm and beat through movement 
• Instrumental play and sound discovery 
• Listening and responding to music 

At the heart of the campus, overlooking the games field, the Frensham Junior School Library invites young people to read, wonder and explore ideas in a welcoming, light‑filled space.

Pre-Kindergarten students visit the Library for lessons with our specialist Teacher Librarian.. These visits nurture a love of literature and storytelling. The Library is thoughtfully organised into subject areas, allowing children to explore books and learning based on their interests. 

All Frensham Junior School students are invited to take part in our Birthday Books tradition. On their birthday, students can donate a book to the Library, which includes a personalised plate noting their name and a short message or drawing explaining why they chose that book.

Children engage in:

• Shared story experiences, aimed at developing a love of literature
• Listening and comprehension skills 
• Discovering a wide range of picture books and authors
• Exploration of how libraries work 

Sport and physical education is an important part of the culture of Frensham Schools with students participating in a wide array of sports. Movement is essential to early development. Through structured movement experiences and active play, children build strength and coordination. Physical activity supports wellbeing and encourages children to take healthy risks in a supportive environment.

Sport is woven into daily life at Frensham Junior School. With generous playing fields, courts and access to the Centenary Pool, students are encouraged to participate, practise and enjoy movement. Whether through competition or play, sport builds teamwork, confidence and a lifelong appreciation for physical wellbeing.

Children engage in:

• Balance and spatial awareness, developing control of the body and awareness of space.
• Fundamental movement skills to build strength, coordination and movement confidence.
• Cooperation and teamwork
• Developing new body movements and taking safe risks

At Frensham Junior School, a global outlook is nurtured from the early years. All students study Japanese, supported by a long-standing exchange with Hokuriku Gakuin Elementary School in Japan. Through shared experiences and cultural connection, students develop language skills, empathy and an understanding of the wider world.

Children engage in:

• Simple Japanese greetings such as konnichiwa and sayōnara to interact with teachers and peers
• Japanese songs, chants and games, repeating words and copying actions, and noticing sounds and rhythm that are different from English
• Exploring aspects of Japanese culture, such as bowing, removing shoes and food culture

Established in 2024 as part of the Jamieson Program, the Chicken Coop is located between the new playground and the Preschool. Supervised by the Year 6 students, each year group is assigned a week to care for the chickens. The coop itself includes sustainable considerations, with a water tank installed to supply drinking water for the chickens. The school vegetable gardens, which are looked after by groups of students, provide an additional food source.

We asked some of the 2024 Kindergarten class about the chickens.

• Self‑regulation: Develop strategies to manage emotions, behaviour and attention, supporting participation in learning and play.
• Emotional development: Recognise and express emotions, respond to challenges in age‑appropriate ways and recover from disappointment or frustration.
• Sensory awareness: Respond to sensory experiences in their environment in ways that support engagement, focus and wellbeing.
• Physical coordination and self‑care: Build independence in everyday routines, supporting confidence and readiness for Kindergarten.

• Receptive language (understanding): Understand spoken language, including vocabulary, instructions, questions and ideas, in group and peer interactions.
• Expressive language (using language): Use increasingly complex sentences, an expanding vocabulary, and share ideas, experiences and simple stories.
• Speech clarity: Speak clearly and be understood by familiar adults and peers.
• Social skills: Engage positively with others, communicate verbally and non‑verbally, negotiate with peers and follow agreed social expectations.

• Play‑based learning: Explore ideas, materials and relationships through purposeful play that supports curiosity and meaning‑making.
• Problem‑solving and thinking skills: Plan, organise and solve problems through play and inquiry, such as deciding how to build or create something and overcoming challenges.
• Planning and sequencing: Follow and carry out multi‑step experiences and routines to achieve a clear purpose or outcome.