The Oakleigh Grammar Early Learning Centre (ELC) is a state-of-the-art facility offering a light-filled, stimulating learning environment for children from two to four years of age.
Our Early Learning Centre offers a bilingual program where children across the four kinder groups learn the Greek language through a play-based curriculum based on the Victorian Early Years Learning Development Framework. Watch our video to learn more.
As part of the Junior School Quartet and at the heart of the Reggio Emilia approach, our Early Learning Centre has the belief that children are full of curiosity and creativity, and that they have the powerful potential to gain a life-long passion for learning and exploration.
In these years the academic, physical and socio-emotional learning process begins to evolve and at Oakleigh Grammar, we inspire children to flourish in ELC allowing for a smooth transition to Prep.
Oakleigh Grammar is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Philosophy within our Early Learning Centre and encourages a child’s natural curiosity and creativity, whilst also ‘Empowering Young Minds’. The curriculum is flexible and emerges from children’s ideas, thoughts and observations, with emphasis on the idea that they have the capabilities to learn from their surroundings.
The Reggio approach is not a philosophy with a set model. It is an approach based around certain fundamental values about how children learn. The Reggio goal is to cultivate within children a life-long passion for learning and exploration. During their early years of learning, children are encouraged to explore and question their world. They are viewed as capable and valuable members of their community.
Interpretations are not only possible but encouraged. Reggio Children, the foundation in Italy which supports this philosophy, encourages centres in Australia and around the world, which adopt this approach to interpret it in their own ways, according to their context and the community they are working with.
Children are active participants in the learning process. They have the potential, interest and capability to take some control over the direction of their learning.
Children’s learning environment is significant. Exploration and awareness of material things around them are fundamental as children learn through the experience of touching, seeing and hearing.
Community and culture play an important part in the learning process. Teachers, parents and children are collaborators, ensuring that independent thought is fostered within the context of mutual respect and responsibility.
Children need the opportunity to express themselves in a wide variety of ways, through drawing, painting, construction, dramatic play and more.
The emphasis on the emergent curriculum, community and cultural awareness and respect are just a few elements that makes this approach the ideal basis for the Oakleigh Grammar ELC Curriculum. It leads ideally into the principles of “The Leader in Me” program which is a fundamental aspect of the Junior School curriculum.
Prep starts here!
Oakleigh Grammar ELC teachers work collaboratively to prepare our students to be school ready. We offer a more structured learning program in our K4 group which includes, music, dance, language, science and English, streamlining the students’ progress to Prep.
This innovative and inspiring approach to early childhood education lays the foundation for learning. Students who attend our ELC are immersed in our School’s educational programs, culture and community. We ensure the transition to the early years of Junior School is developed through an enhanced Prep readiness and transition program, which occurs throughout the 4-Year-Old ELC school year. This program aims to ensure that each child is confident and equipped to commence this next step in their learning journey.
Mrs Sarah Boardman
Head of Early Learning
As an educational leader, I feel privileged to be able to work alongside children as they build their knowledge and understanding of the world around them at school. Celebrating the diverse range of “Wow” moments that occur with our students each day, brings great joy to me both personally and professionally. I strongly believe in the importance of building solid foundations for children’s ongoing learning, focussing on developing thinking and inquiry skills in partnership with literacy and numeracy skills, in a meaningful, rigorous and authentic way for all children. Furthermore, I value the opportunity to build beneficial, ongoing partnerships with families, working together with them to encourage all children to consistently challenge themselves, as they holistically develop a solid understanding of how they learn best.
I studied a Bachelor of Education at the University of Tasmania, before working in a range of different school settings, both nationally and overseas. This hands-on experience with a range of educational approaches, supported by my ongoing work at the University of Tasmania as a Unit Coordinator as part of the Bachelor of Education degree, has given me the opportunity to continually reflect upon evolving current best practice in education, based upon relevant, research. I have been part of Oakleigh Grammar since 2014, working as the Early Learning Centre Coordinator before becoming the Acting Head of Junior School in 2018. Within these educational leadership roles, I have developed in many ways whilst working within Oakleigh Grammar’s dynamic and collaborative community of learners.
Mr Peter Cummins
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
Peter Cummins took up his position as Deputy Principal in 2012. Prior to this he was Deputy Principal (Curriculum) at Leibler Yavneh College (2008-12) and Head of Curriculum at Mentone Grammar (2004-08). He began his career at Scotch College Adelaide and later returned as a boarding housemaster after teaching in the UK at Bromsgrove School and Wellington College.
Peter is passionate about developing the learner in every child and giving them a sense of responsibility to play an active part in making the world a better place for all human beings. He believes that the focus must be on our students developing the agility and imagination needed for living productively in a complex world.
Peter is married to Sharon (Kindergarten Director) and has three adult sons: Andrew who is a senior project manager in construction; Tom who works at Michigan State University in communications; and Alex an industrial designer.
Mr Luke Preston
Business Manager
Luke Preston is an experienced business and finance manager with a background in Not for Profit, specifically Education and Sport. Luke has most recently been the Finance manager at Melbourne Grammar School (2016-2019) and prior to that, the Business Operations manager at Tennis Victoria (2012-2016).
Before moving into the education sector in 2016, Luke worked in sport for 7 years – at Tennis Victoria and Cricket Australia – in financial and operational roles.
He worked in the corporate sector for 15 years prior to that, at major organisations across multiple sectors in both Australia and the UK, covering banking, consulting, retail and logistics.
Luke is passionate about the Education sector and the important community role played by schools and not for profit organisations.
Luke is a CPA and a UK ACMA and also holds a BSc (Social Science) from the University of Southampton.
Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is alway kept busy with his two school age children: Alex and Jessica, and his lovely wife Kellie.
