A new early learning centre at Trinity College Gawler River will enrol around 80 children in 2021. PHOTO: Supplied
CONSTRUCTION has commenced on a second early learning centre at Trinity College, which is expected to open in time for the new school year.
The centre will feature three classrooms, separate general learning and wet areas, as well as an outdoor native play space, and will be located at Trinity’s Gawler River school, at Angle Vale.
Head of College Nick Hately said the new centre is in response to a growing demand for the existing Montessori preschool, at Gawler, as well as a desire to assist families with older children already enrolled at the Gawler River primary and middle school.
“We were getting a number of Trinity kids who would come to the Gawler site for their early learning but then go over to Gawler River to start their schooling from there – so it just makes it much easier, particularly for our Gawler River families, if they’ve got kids of multiple ages,” he said.
“We’ve been able to have 60 kids at a time on the Gawler site and when the Gawler River site opens we will be able to have another 40 kids there.
“But because kids generally don’t go to ELCs from a full time perspective, the enrolment is generally double that.”
As at the Gawler site, the new ELC will also use the Montessori philosophy to teaching and will cater for children aged between three and five years old.
“We will have some of our staff that have worked at the Gawler site move across to the new site as well,” Mr Hately said.
“We always pride ourselves on whatever site a Trinity student is on, they get the same resources as everyone else.
“So to be able to do it in that Montessori style, we just think that sets the kids up beautifully when they transition into school.”
The new ELC will be redeveloped from the existing French classrooms, activity room and the adjacent outdoor space, with the front of school playground recently relocated.
Construction is simultaneously underway at Gawler River on building additional classrooms and a new STEM centre.
Enrolments at the Gawler River ELC are still being taken via the administration staff at the Gawler Montessori Preschool.
