Strathcona opens new state-of-the-art early years campus

The new centre comprises three heritage houses connected by two contemporary links. The thoughtfully constructed campus caters to 70 students across three buildings surrounded by an extensive natural play area encompassing an expanded external deck and three playgrounds.

With the launch of Strathcona’s Early Years, Strathcona Girls Grammar becomes one of a select few schools in Australia to offer a clear pathway from Kindergarten through to Junior school via its integrated model; making the transition into primary school seamless for young learners.

‘Nothing great is built without a strong foundation and Strathcona’s Early Years is meticulously crafted to give young minds the best possible start, said Lorna Beegan, Principal at  Strathcona.

‘The thoughtfully designed environment and bespoke learning framework will support the development of foundational skills and foster a love of learning and exploration. This will benefit our students throughout their educational journey. This is where a love of learning and life-long curiosity starts.’

Strathcona’s Early Years is underpinned by a unique early years education framework called Floresco, meaning ‘to flourish’. Inspired by Harvard’s Pedagogy of Play, Finland’s Early Childhood Education Model and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, Floresco is a method of teaching exclusive to Strathcona that allows a student focused approach for those first, all important, formative years.

Floresco encourages children to explore their identity, culture and values as active learners and citizens in a natural, student-centred environment that fosters innovation, creativity and playfulness. In tandem, students will also receive explicit teaching across literacy and mathematics alongside other specialist subjects.

Designed by Sally Draper Architects, with interior design by Aldona Pajdak, the open and free-flowing environment enables uninterrupted exploration, play and learning – with an established gum tree at the heart of the urban parkland. The campus explores the adaptation of domestic spaces into an interconnected network of learning areas.

The heritage nature of the buildings means children have access to a variety of spaces to suit their optimum learning styles—whether it is for collaborative work, independent or directed learning. Learning areas for both the Kindergarten and early Primary years open off a central internal piazza and shared Atelier to encourage connection between all year levels.

Outdoor areas designed by XYLEM Landscape Architects feature rich and varied adventure spaces full of challenges, creative play experiences and outdoor learning areas to encourage children to connect with the natural world around them.