The Steiner Story
The Steiner Waldorf Education Philosophy, developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919, is based on a holistic approach to education, meeting each child’s learning needs at the developmentally appropriate time. Steiner educators carry a deep respect for each individual student and are dedicated to fostering each child’s unique gifts while inspiring a life-long love of learning.
A Steiner child’s educational pathway is based on a deep understanding of human development. Each stage of learning has been designed to reflect and enhance their natural developmental progress. Until the age of seven, we consider self-directed play to be an essential foundation for the later development of intellectual thinking. From seven until fourteen, stronger intellectual capacities begin to manifest, but not fully. It is important at this stage to engage and develop the child’s learning, maintaining a strong emphasis on imaginative, artistic and physical activity.
Children are taught reading, writing, science and maths alongside music, art, movement, foreign languages and regular outdoor play. This 'head-heart-hands' methodology educates the whole child – fostering the cognitive, the creative, and the social aspects of human nature. We seek to nurture and guide your child’s potential to become a successful life-long learner; a confident and creative individual, and an active, informed and responsible participant in their community.
Most importantly, Steiner’s unique style of multidisciplinary teaching gives children the opportunity to learn through a wide variety of experiences, increasing depth of understanding as well as intersecting with individual learning styles. Our students leave with remarkable critical thinking skills, so that they can adapt to a wide variety of situations and contribute to the world in a meaningful way.
At Golden Hill we are guided and supported by the Steiner Education of Australia (SEA) network, to create a child orientated and developmentally appropriate approach to curriculum, resources and teaching practice. The foundations are laid in kindergarten; through spacious provisions of imaginative play and problem solving opportunities. The focus is on a teaching of natural rhythm and oral language; and the developing of manual dexterity through handcraft. Young children learn through imitation of their teacher. This changes at age seven when they are equipped to learn from authority and are ready for formal learning.
Our aim is to instil your child with a heart-felt desire to participate, to strive and to learn. A varied program of educational activity is consciously planned, and reflexively implemented to keep your child engaged, nourished and inspired during these golden years of childhood.