Laying the foundation

Your son’s soft landing into big school

We understand that the decision to enroll your son is about securing his future, and the thought of moving a younger boy from the familiarity of nursery school into a “big school” environment can be a significant source of anxiety for parents.

St Benedict’s Gr 00 and Gr 0 programs are the essential first step in your son’s educational journey, strategically designed to provide a nurturing, soft landing and a gentle, seamless transition into the Junior Preparatory. By starting early, your son gains social confidence, establishes friendships, and becomes fully acclimatised to our campus and ethos, ensuring he steps into Grade 1 feeling secure and ready to thrive.

Why start your St Benedict’s journey early? A boy-centred approach

Our commitment to a boy-centred education aligns with the global research of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC), which confirms that boys develop and learn in different ways than girls. Our environment is intentionally crafted to unlock the potential of every young man from his earliest years.

1. Educational Excellence & Expert Educators

We go beyond qualified teachers to offer an environment where pedagogy is tailored to your son’s specific needs.

  • Highly qualified teachers: Your son is guided by a team of qualified and experienced early childhood educators who are experts in boy-centred learning.
  • Boy-centred learning: We know boys are often more spatial, visual, and hard-wired to learn through action and movement (kinesthetic). Our curriculum in Gr 00/0 is rich with hands-on, experiential activities—the teaching methods that boys learn best from.
  • Early detection & intervention: Crucially, our teachers are experts, trained to identify and act upon signs of advanced behaviour or potential developmental gaps. This early detection and intervention is key to securing your son’s academic future.
  • Preparedness for Grade 1: As our Grade 00/0 teachers are integrated with the Junior Preparatory staff, they possess an intimate understanding of the Grade 1 expectations. They prepare the boys to graduate seamlessly, ensuring they demonstrate the necessary reading, mathematics, and social skills for big school.

2. The True Soft Landing into “Big School”

The biggest advantage of starting at Gr 00/0 is the elimination of transition anxiety before Grade 1.

  • Familiar faces & friendships: Your son will enter Grade 1 with established friends and familiar, trusted teachers, securing his social competence. As our Head Boy 2024 said, “Most of my close friends have been with me since Grade 0.”
  • Familiar spaces: He will already be comfortable with the campus layout, facilities, routines, and school rituals—from the playground to the library—removing the intimidation factor of a large school.
  • Fostering brotherhood: In this all-boys setting, he is free from the social and gender pressures of co-education, allowing him to explore his full potential and forge a deep sense of brotherhood and belonging that lasts a lifetime.
Forge life-long friendships

3. Building Good Men: Character and Holistic Development

Beyond academic excellence, our focus is on building good men—a core value of boys’ schools globally.

  • Emotional resilience: Our teachers and coaches acknowledge the full range of boys’ emotions and vulnerabilities, providing the structure and guidance necessary to develop resilience and empathy from a young age.
  • Nurturing environment: Our facilities are exceptional and purpose-built for growing boys, creating a fun, stimulating, and safe space where learning is celebrated, not stereotyped. Boys are encouraged to explore subjects like music, art, and drama without self-consciousness.
The Holistic Bennies Program: Specialists for Success

The holistic Bennies program: Specialists for success

The St Benedict’s Gr 00/0 program is rich with specialist lessons that cater to the active and inquisitive nature of young boys:

  • Technology & innovation: Our Grade 0 boys attend weekly Technology lessons in a cutting-edge classroom, providing an early introduction to the world of coding and robotics (appealing to their spatial strengths).
  • Physical literacy: Weekly sports lessons are taught by dedicated sports coaches to establish basic physical skills. In the summer months, our specialist Learn to Swim programme ensures competence and water safety.
  • Cultural engagement: Boys enjoy weekly music lessons and visits to the library to foster a lifelong love for reading and creativity.

Partnering with our families: Flexible care options

We recognise that choosing a school must also work for your family’s dynamic lifestyle. We are committed to partnering with our working parents by providing flexible solutions:

  • Holiday Care: We offer Holiday Care for all Gr 00/0 parents.
  • Flexible aftercare: We provide flexible aftercare options to cater to varying family needs, including options for care until 3 PM and until 5:30 PM, as well as an ad-hoc offering for unexpected schedule changes.

Secure your son’s future: The ultimate soft landing

Choosing St Benedict’s Gr 00/0 is not just choosing an early childhood centre; it’s choosing a foundation where the environment, curriculum, and community are specifically designed for boys. We are uniquely equipped to turn what can be an anxious move into a joyful and confident step forward.

St Benedict’s Gr 00/0 is the best place to provide your son with a soft landing into big school.

Join us for Open Day on 14 March 2025 for an hour between 9-12pm.