The novel concept of creating specialist studios to provide dedicated learning environments has been a winning combination for Sonas Early Learning & Care.

The unique set-up, which has now been implemented at all 16 Sonas centres across Perth, focuses on the importance of early childhood education by offering bespoke rooms with customised activities for children to undertake meaningful learning.

The studios are fundamental to what we do in education and care, which is teach children. And while it may not look like a school-based environment, we’re programming in the Arts, we’re programming in STEM and we’re programming in Zen.

Shelley Prendergast, Sonas Owner

Each Sonas centre has six different studios – the STEM, Arts, Zen and Family rooms, as well as the outdoor Garden. The Nest is where infants and toddlers up to age of around 18 months are cared for separately.

Unlike other early learning centres which care for children in chronologically, age-based groups, Sonas’ free-flow pedagogy allows youngsters, aged from 18 months to four years, to further their learning through interactions with children of all ages.

Sonas Owner Shelley Prendergast said Sonas management decided to implement specific learning studios to complement the free flow pedagogy, by ensuring there were engaging activities for a range of children of different ages.

“What was important to us was that the rooms were more than just a place for children to visit,” Shelley said.

“We wanted to ensure that they were engaged and were learning really meaningful things so we started to discuss how to better redesign the spaces so all children had an opportunity to progress their learning in their own time and space.

“The concept was put to us to turn the rooms into learning spaces or learning zones and those learning zones would be specific to a theme.”

Shelley said the move to studio based learning was rolled out between mid-2020 and early 2021 and had been widely embraced by children and their families.

“The studios are fundamental to what we do in education and care, which is teach children. And while it may not look like a school-based environment, we’re programming in the Arts, we’re programming in STEM and we’re programming in Zen,” she said.

“Most families are really interested in the fact that their child or children can receive targeted learning about topics and subjects that they are interested in. Children can then immerse themselves in that learning for that concept.

“It’s also meant that families are now looking at the concept of education and care as more than just where parents drop their children off so they can go to work.

“Families with multiple children also love this because it means their four-year-old can visit their baby any time, which gives them a sense of comfort that families can stay together.”

STEM

Inquisitive little minds can discover and learn in the Sonas STEM studio, which focuses on activities involving science, technology, engineering and maths. Children are primed for STEM in their formative years, especially learning how the world works by exploring, designing and creating.

Art

Encompassing all the arts from drama, to creative arts and music, Sonas’ Arts studio is a place of imagination and discovery where children can let their creativity shine. Essentially, it’s a space for young people to express themselves and explore their inner artist, actor or singer.

Garden

An independent, always-open studio, the Garden has been named to reflect its connection and similarity with outdoor spaces at our family homes. The natural environment has trees, soil, lawn, plants and a nature playground, as well as sandpits and water play on warmer days.

Zen

Every one of us, whether a big kid or a little one, needs time to chill. The Zen studio provides space for sleep, rest and relaxation, including if a child just wants some quiet time to read a book or to listen to soothing music or an audiobook at the listening stations. Daily yoga also happens in the Zen studio.

“Every child needs some down time. Children need rest time to calm themselves and give their bodies a break,” Shelley said.

“Sleep is so important. The more energy children expend, the more stimulated they become and the more their behaviours start to become less than appropriate.

“Having this space gives them the opportunity to learn how to calm themselves, learn how to regulate their emotions and even just the opportunity to rest, even if they don’t sleep, just an opportunity to rest their bodies and rest their minds.”

Family

Much like the family rooms in our homes, the Sonas Family room is a space to gather, keep belongings and foster a sense of belonging and connection. Here, children have their meals and can be part of the Kids in the Kitchen program, developing their independence, self-help skills and grow confidence and self-esteem. As well, the space teaches children of all ages important engagement and social skills as well as every day etiquette.

Nest

Just like its name, the Nest has been set up to nurture infants and toddlers from birth to the age of 18 months. At Sonas, the Nest is the only chronological age group and has been established to ensure children have an opportunity to become familiar and confident in their environment and interactions at Sonas. It is smaller and more intimate in size than the other studios.

“The Nest is really important because new mums and dads don’t want to be dropping their children off into a great big space with a million kids running around. They want to know that their little baby has their own space and will be well protected,” Shelley said.

“It’s also where the attachment theory is really embedded at Sonas so children have the opportunity to make those connections with those key educators in the first 12-18 months of their enrolment at Sonas.

“Once they build that confidence, then we let them explore the rest of the environment.”