Children thriving as early learning service expands

By Veronika Cox

An early learning service embedded in selected Catholic schools around the state has expanded into three new locations in its second year of operation.

Ludo Early Learning service opened in 2021 with services at St Finn Barr’s, Holy Rosary and John Paul II Catholic schools. This year, Ludo has grown to include services at St Paul’s, St Brigid’s and St Cuthbert’s Catholic schools.

State Operations Manager Theresa Blizzard said Ludo was established in partnership with CatholicCare Tasmania and Catholic Education as a means of providing quality care for children two years prior to them commencing full-time care. 

“Ludo has been placed predominately in low to medium socio-economic communities where the service will not negatively impact the operation of other early learning services already established,” she explained.

“When recruiting new teams for Ludo services, I let my educators know that if they decided to be an educator to make a difference, then Ludo is the space for them. As a result, the educators we have in our Ludo services are committed to create opportunities for children to grow not only cognitively but socially and emotionally as well.”

Ludo provides options for before and after Kinder care, as well as full and short days which can be utilised by pre-kinder aged children in readiness for Kinder, and Kinder children on the days they are not at school.

Ms Blizzard said the facilities were purpose-built with 3-5-year-olds in mind, and direct connection to the Kinder room.

“The Ludo programs are invited to join the Kinder program for intention teaching, which includes early phonetics, pre-numeracy, of Catholicity particularly around Catholic holiday periods,” she said.

“As these are by invitation, children can move in and out from these group teachings, and educators can differentiate the learning to meet the needs of all of the children.”

Ms Blizzard said with the new indoor spaces came beautifully engaging outdoors spaces, creating places of wonder, creativity, exploration and challenge.

“There are so many children in the community that have benefitted from being a part of Ludo and I feel very proud to have played a part in that,” she said.

“I have also relished the educator’s growth and development as they have navigated not only forming as a team, but also seeing their unwavering commitment to Ludo and all that it encompasses.”

Ms Blizzard said the voices of children, families, schools and educators were all important in shaping and evolving Ludo Early Learning and Care.

“Hearing the comments from families on areas that they have been delighted with, telling me about how their children have gained confidence, or are now eating more healthily, are socially more aware, emotionally thriving, are more physically active or ‘doing really well in Kinder’ are fabulous and a testament to the effort from our educators.”