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B&R BUILDING BLOCKS AUSTRALIA® PTY LTD
ADULT EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES, PARENT AND CHILD EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, ADULT COMMUNICATION SKILLS PROGRAMS, PARENT AND CHILD HOME-TUTORIAL SERVICES |
(also known as TOPTOTS® PARENT AND CHILD WORKSHOPS AUSTRALIA) see website: www.toptots.net.au
Introduction
Support Education and Learning – Adult learning skills
Want to change career, develop new skills, meet new people? There are nearly a million reasons:
If you invest some time in learning, you’ll be equipping yourself for the future. You’ll have a better chance of getting on at work or finding a new job.
There are many ways to learn:
Returning to learning after a break
Learning can be enjoyable, and it’s a great way to catch up on anything you missed out on at school – or prepare for your next career move.
Skills are becoming more important in today’s workplace, and doing a course could open up new job options.
Whatever your reasons for returning to learning, there’s lots of support available to help you.
Understanding your strengths
You’ve probably been picking up learning skills as part of everyday life.
Learning new things is part of everyday life. Even if you haven’t been in a classroom for years, you’ve probably still been picking up the key skills needed to make you a successful learner:
- organising your time
- asking questions
- listening to people
- recognising your strengths
- working out how to solve problems
Adult learning: finding the right course
If you’re not keen on exams, don’t be put off. This course shows what you’ve learned in a less formal way, assessments – can also involve:
- building up a portfolio of work as you go along
- a practical demonstration of your skills
These courses offer you the chance to study in a way that suits you, so you can fit learning around other commitments, and lets you do some or all of your studying at home. This type of course is sometimes called ‘self study’, ‘distance learning’, ‘open learning’ or ‘e-learning’.
Considering higher education?
Most universities have a significant number of ‘mature’ students, and will often consider a range of qualifications when looking at applications. You may also find that you’re given credit for previous work experience.
If your qualifications don’t meet the standard entry requirements for higher education, one option is our Support course. You don’t necessarily need any formal qualifications to do a Support course, and it allows you to develop study skills, knowledge and confidence.
Why are skills so valuable?
Research shows that improving your skills can increase your salary on average by up to $3,000 a year
Having the right skills is more important than ever before: in less than ten years there will be very few jobs that require no skills at all.
As well as boosting your career prospects, new skills could be the first step towards that qualification you’ve always wanted to get.
Skills are also useful in all sorts of situations in life, and can boost your confidence.
Boost your basic skills
If you want to improve your reading, writing or maths, there’s plenty of help available.
There are also lots of ways to improve your computer skills - whether you are a complete beginner, or want to build on what you know already.
- Improving your reading, writing and number skills
- Improving your computer and IT skills
Learn in a way that suits you
Everyone has the ability to learn new things, whatever your age or circumstances
If you decide to improve your skills by doing a support course, you’re bound to find that it interests you and fits around your home and work commitments.
You can choose where and when you learn – you don’t have to sit in a classroom. For example, you are able to get training at our workplace just one day per week for a couple of hours. Then you can learn part-time during the week by putting your new acquired knowledge to the test, returning the next week for more information.
Financial concerns to improve your skills
If you decide that you want to improve your skills but are concerned about how much it will cost, remember the financial outlay is low cost, GST free (education is GST free at our tuition centres).
Thinking about higher education?
Getting a higher education qualification can open up new career options, as well letting you experience new things and meet new people.
And it doesn’t have to be about getting a degree. There are lots of different courses that mix study with workplace learning.
Most universities and tafes offer both academic and work-related courses. Depending on the subject and the type of job you’re interested in, we can help you gain many types of qualifications to support and complement your main higher education goal.
Improving your reading, writing and number skills can give you confidence you never knew you had.
Developing your skills
Improving your skills can help you to:
- plan your money
- get another job
- help your child with homework
- fill in forms
- give you new confidence
You’ll be able to learn in your local area, and in a way that suits your lifestyle: part time, full time, during the day or in the evening. And you’ll be with other like-minded adults. It’s not at all like being at school. It is fun.
What’s involved?
Reading and writing (or literacy) course content covers speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Number (or numeracy) course content covers numbers and data.
Test your word and number skills and brain-games with quick quizzes open new challenges – you will have lots of fun.
Improving your English can help you get more out of your life in Australia. It will also help if you want to study, improve your CV, or apply to become an Australian citizen
Toptots was started at the beginning of 1998, in response to a need for parents to be able to meet other parents and learn how to have quality interaction with their children that encompassed educational structure and maturity in a non-pressurised way.
The director, Bernice Sandler, has a university background in Psychology and Education, Architecture and Civil Engineering, and a great interest in Early Learning and the Amazing Potential of the Human Brain. When her first child was born, however, she found that there was no place she could go with her to learn how to encourage her all-round development and at the same time meet other parents.
The existing services were either dated in their approach, or focused only on one aspect of development, or showed nothing practical that one could follow through at home. She then decided to combine her knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and love for children and started her own workshops after extensive research, and in 1998 the business began in Perth, Western Australia.
Bernice has a Diploma in Psychology and Childcare, a Certificate lV in Australian Workplace and Training and has taught, lectured and facilitated for over 30 years, ensuring a wealth of knowledge and help for first time mums and dads, babies, toddlers and kindy children, primary, high, and uni students and has provided parenting skills programs for trainers and professionals in the field of early childhood, constantly researching and upgrading the programs and thus maintaining the quality of programs forwhich TOPTOTS® has become well known.
Bernice has a “hands-on approach” and thus understands the needs of parents, what children like to do to learn and of course what activities make the classes a success. It is this constant contact with parents and children together that make the programs a success. The programs have been endorsed by paediatricians, psychologists, and occupational therapists, to mention a few of the professionals who have had access to them.
“We believe in continually improving our product to meet the demands of our consumers, in strong support of our team members, and in vigorous marketing, all to promote our underlying philosophy of ‘grow with love’, assessing age appropriate levels and making placement recommendations for children with normal learning and emotional difficulties, as well as developmentally delayed children, with conceptual understanding of children and their cognitive and emotional functioning,” says Bernice.
In Bernice’s own words:
”Dear Parent,
I offer educational assessments for children and I conduct workshops not only for parents and children together, but for adolescents and adults, as well as seniors in the OT field, to enjoy and have fun!
I am the director of TOPTOTS® EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AUSTRALIA, PARENT AND CHILD WORKSHOPS and I am also the sole director of B&R BUILDING BLOCKS® AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. I see hundreds of children of all ages in our workshops in Perth, Western Australia.
I believe that all children are unique with their own strengths and weaknesses and I also believe all children can reach their academic potential with the right program. It is essential to determine the child’s learning needs and learning style and my educational assessment can give you that information.
It can also give you exact levels of literacy and numeracy and indicate areas that need remediation or extension and appropriate methods for improving educational outcomes. Why not try our “Reading for Kids” ( 3 years – 6 years ) program?
I also offer tailor-made Home-Tutor programs for parents who are passionate about supplying the correct academic programs and structured curriculum to their children. The programs are rated to be at least two levels higher than traditional school program structures and curriculum frameworks. This makes home tutoring so much easier for the parent and so much more fun – everything is done for you and on the appropriate levels for each child. The parent is instructed to manage these programs with their children at home, hence the name Home-Tutor.”
As an Australian expert in the field of learning difficulties and giftedness Bernice regularly conducts individual assessments and provides educational advice to parents and schools.
Bernice can identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses and help you draw up a learning plan to maximise educational potential. Bernice regularly conducts assessments and runs programs for children, parents and teachers, and parents and children together, as well as adult skills programs.
Academic School Holiday Workshops, run only in the school holidays for children 6 – 10 years of age, ensure children are in a safe environment and not bored during holiday time.
The initial start up of the first business, TOPTOTS® has now ensured the successful sister operation, B&R BUILDING BLOCKS® AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
In the beginning …
Once upon a time there was a growing community who lived in the inner city areas of Western Australia. There was no way to improve the education system, they could only dream of a learning centre.
Meanwhile, the TOPTOTS® family was busy in Morley, creating Australia’s best education system in the West. There were many interested parents with lots of eager kids ready to explore and investigate the TOPTOTS® system and grow with love.
Imagine what happened when the Morley TOPTOTS® kids grew too big for Morley! TOPTOTS® river of education burst its banks and created the subsidiaries of Hillarys, Wembley, Applecross, Mandurah and Malaga!
And this was only the beginning! …… in the beginning there was darkness, there was light. And then there was education!
Discover how we can help your child shine brightly in an environment providing challenge, adventure, learning and structure in the very beginning of your child’s introduction to education.
Look at us learn. We provide carefully designed programs to stimulate their imagination and develop the necessary literacy, numeracy and social skills for success at school.
The early years of school are critical. The best way to discover why TOPTOTS® is the first school of choice for young children and parents alike is to find out how our programs encourage children to achieve their best every day in a caring and healthy environment accompanied by a parent.
Is your child frustrated by underachievement in a classroom situation? Are there problems with reading and writing skills? Is concentrating following instructions or organizing tasks difficult? Do they suffer a lack of self-confidence or low self esteem? Are there problems with co-ordination skills such as swimming, running, catching a ball?
Happy children and happy parents are the result of the fantastic assortment of activities and programs and entertainment each day at TOPTOTS® with many opportunities to learn and have fun. Children of all ages will enjoy their time spent at a TOPTOTS® Centre Australia wide.
For soul nourishing, vibrant education, the TOPTOTS® program holds a child’s imagination and attention through games and materials. Inspire your child through books, puzzles and excellent reading material. Through voice and movement activities children naturally become more confident and spatially aware while having fun.
They are able to learn and interact with others in a non-pressurised, non-competitive, non-threatening environment. Every child has equal opportunity and chance and can benefit from the skills learned at TOPTOTS®.
Precious memories – perfect keepsakes! Watch your child grow with love. This is your special gift, parents.
At TOPTOTS® children come first. The focus is always on the child. The time you spend with your child at TOPTOTS® is priceless! Enjoy every wonderful moment.
Give your preschooler an advantage at school with our innovative, smart starter programs. Classes focus on phonics, early reading and number skills, colours, shapes and languages, as well as developing concentration and listening skills.
Encourage the love of a second language other than English – L O T E.
Children learn quickly by association rather than translations. It is more difficult for an adult to learn what a child picks up so naturally!
What about POSITIVE PARENTAL STRATEGIES? Parents learn sleeping, settling and feeding strategies. Learn to manage and control your child’s routines – a child without routine is like a ship without a captain – the ship will sink!
Parental support and early development skills combine the latest research with practical ideas to provide a common-sense approach to establishing healthy learning strategies in early childhood development skills.
Teach older children or children with over-average abilities vital skills for reading. Even struggling or normal readers achieve. Tuition is research based, enlightening, exciting and flexible to suit each child’s attention span. We offer unmatched enthusiasm and stimulation in an amazing program.
Well balanced structure on early childhood levels with excellent educational equipment and materials. Super teaching methods support a great atmosphere and ambience in the “classroom situation” sessions, which include healthy fun, education and appropriate social skills, summing up to pure enjoyment for both parent and child.
Great value for your money with lots of ideas to observe, discuss and take home with you every time you attend. Preschool and quality time one on one with children is vital to a child’s development. Parents are bringing back second and third children over and over and are getting friends to join to see what all the fuss is about.
Parents can interact with their child for as long as the child needs them, and when confident enough, they will let you know when to leave , thus preventing separation anxiety from ever starting!
Arts and crafts sessions ensure lots to take home in specially crafted books by your child in both English and LOTE languages to stimulate fine motor skills, creativity and memory.
Toilet rotation and lunch rotation lends a clever hand at getting your child toilet trained without the fuss and bother and frustration most parents perceive this task to be. Lunch gets them sitting down at the table on a chair and eating appropriately so you don’t end up running after them with a dripping spoon, as we journey into the imagination while developing language and listening skills.
Children’s safety is our top priority. There is no outdoor activity. Your child becomes your responsibility as soon as you leave our safe environment.
Give your child the opportunity to a great educational start with TOPTOTS® – the foundation to build on for the rest of their life.
TOPTOTS® is soul nourishing and inspiring. No other service offers learning together in such a fun way. There is something for everyone, from little kids to big kids.
Unlock their potential. Improve gross and fine motor skills. Improve their confidence and self awareness. We provide a safe, structured environment. We offer exciting group activities, including movement to music and cooking and baking skills.
Set the stage for what could be your child’s biggest role in life!
It’s a magical learning environment. The early years at TOPTOTS® are designed to put parents’ minds at ease.
Small groups with small teacher-child ratio ensure that the teaching staff have ample opportunity to provide all children with individual attention to bring out their creativity and energy.