Our Learning Lab

School Readiness Solutions offers tailored, phonics-based workshops for children aged 4–6 years, designed to build critical skills for a confident transition to school. Our program supports both School Readiness (4–5 years) and Prep Power class (5–6 years) learners with a holistic approach that nurtures social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Regarding NDIS funding, many of our families have successfully used their child’s NDIS plans for our program under categories such as ‘Improved Daily Living’ or ‘Capacity Building for Children’. Our program not only aligns with your child’s current speech and OT goals but also builds on these skills while offering broader benefits.

Program Goals:

Literacy and Phonics Development: Using the Little Learners Love Literacy® program, we help children master foundational alphabet sounds and progress to more advanced concepts, nurturing language and communication skills.

  1. Speech Support: Incorporating techniques like insertion tricks to enhance articulation and clarity, complementing existing speech therapy.

  2. Fine Motor Skills: Activities such as improving pencil grip and scissors handling are designed to support classroom readiness and fine motor development, which are often part of occupational therapy goals.

  3. Attention and Concentration: Strategies are woven into sessions to extend focus and help children stay engaged in learning activities.

  4. Social and Emotional Growth: Sessions promote turn-taking, following directions, learning in a less pressured environment, and forming friendships, ensuring well-rounded readiness for school settings.

    Outcomes:

  • Children leave with improved confidence and preparedness for structured learning environments.

  • Enhanced communication and social skills make children feel more secure and capable in group settings.

  • Strengthened literacy foundations and fine motor skills give children a head start in their education.

  • Parents gain peace of mind, knowing their child is developing holistically in a supportive environment.

Led by an experienced kindergarten teacher with an early intervention therapy background, our workshops combine evidence-based techniques, occupational therapy and speech support resources (including Busy Books Australia) to address each child’s unique needs.

The small group sizes (up to 5–6 children per session) ensure personalized attention and quality learning experiences, fostering both skill development and confidence as children transition into school settings.

Weekly Format:

  • Duration: 55-minute sessions

  • Location: Albion

  • Schedule: Weekly during the Victorian school term.

Enrol: Click on our “booking” page and select the time slot best suits your family. This will prompt you to create an enrolment before checking out.

Class session overview

1.Warm-Up Activity

  • Families sign in and drop off their child/children,

    (medication & valid action plan in a bag to the teacher).

  • Children engage in play-based activities incorporating mathematical concepts, fine motor skills and strategies to enhance attention and concentration.

  1. Group Time Skills

    • Roll call and name recognition with allocated seating.

    • Practice group interaction skills:

      • Sitting with the group and facing the front.

      • Hands on lap and raising hands to speak.

      • Turn-taking during discussions.

  2. Commencement of Little Learners Love Literacy Program LLLL & speech support insertion trick.

    • Milo Monkey Book: Focus on the "Letter of the Week" or Speech Support Insertion Trick.

    • Pass the Parcel sound box: Themed around the weekly letter, practicing sounds individually and as a group.

    • Milo Monkey Alphabet Card Chant: Reinforce sound and letter recognition.

    • Pencil Grip and Letter Writing Demonstration: Demonstrate proper pencil grip and letter writing techniques before transitioning to practicing these skills on the whiteboard and later moving on to tabletop learning.

  3. Tabletop Learning

    • Use the Little Learners Love Literacy Workbook for "Letter of the Week" activities and or busy books Australia curated by occupational therapists and speech therapists during ‘speech insertion trick’ weeks.

    • Incorporate OT resources to strengthen fine motor skills and improve concentration.

  4. Closing Group Time

    • Movement break

    • Sing the goodbye song as a group.

    • Maintain seating until families have signed out, ensuring a smooth transition.

    • (families can take medication & valid action plan home).