Wonder Learners 2026

Program Overview

Age Group: 3–5 years
Duration: 12-week cycle (repeatable, flexible pacing)
Session Length: 3-4 hours, 2–3 times per week
Group Size: 4–6 children with 1:1 or 1:2 adult support
Approach: Sensory-friendly, child-led, embedded in play routines, built on Hanley’s PLS (Practical Functional Assessment → Skills-Based Treatment) principles.

Core Principles from PLS / SBT

Safety & Trust First – No demands are made until rapport is established and problem behaviour is reduced through functional assessment.
Joyful Engagement as Priority – Learning begins with preferred play and shared positive affect.
Child-Led Goals – Follow the child’s interests; embed readiness skills naturally.
Successive Approximations – Build skills step-by-step using reinforcement, not compliance.
Functional Communication – Teach expressive skills in context before academic targets.
Tolerance, Cooperation, and Academic Readiness – Taught in this order, always through meaningful play.

Curriculum Goals (Derived from PLS Priorities)

A. Build Tolerance

Gradually help children accept small changes, waiting, or sharing space.
Embed in play: e.g., briefly pausing a toy train, then returning it while celebrating the child’s flexibility.

B. Teach Functional Communication

Encourage clear, low-effort communication to access preferred items/activities (words, signs, AAC).
Model: “I want more,” “help me,” “my turn,” “all done,” “stop.”
Celebrate all attempts—no pressure for perfect speech.

C. Develop Cooperation Skills

Introduce playful “give and take” games.
Embed joint problem-solving tasks, like building a block tower together.
Adults follow the child’s lead 80% of the time, insert cooperative moments 20% of the time.

D. Introduce Early Academic Readiness Naturally

Numbers, colors, letters, and fine-motor tasks appear inside play, not as drills.
Example: Counting toy animals during pretend zoo play, tracing letters in sensory sand.

Detailed Weekly Plan (12 Weeks)

Each week includes 3 Focus Areas:

Regulation & Rapport – sensory warm-up, shared joy.
Skill Focus – tolerance → communication → cooperation → readiness skills.
Generalisation – brief group activities to prepare for classroom settings.