Wednesday 28 October 2026 • A couple of weeks into our Term 4 pilot, the Learning Club is finding its rhythm; children who came back through our doors in week two are now fully absorbed, new friendships are forming, and there are already small victories worth celebrating. Every session is play-based and hands-on, and parents are actively involved.
First attempts in our first few weeks, and we’re already seeing improvement and growth in confidence.
The program starts with what our young people do best: talking. Through conversation and play, children build a rich vocabulary that strengthens their reading and writing, learning to use interesting words to tell creative stories.
The first session was all about the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Children hunted for interesting words to describe each one, then played a game building a really long sentence, adding word after word. They loved seeing how long it grew, and had great fun trying to trip Elaine up as she remembered every word.
For our first round of homework, each child found an interesting word of the week and asked their parents for one too, ready to share at the next session. Soon all the parents were talking about it. One child asked, “Can I come up with more than one word?”
There have also been moments that have brought us unexpected joy. Two Year 6 students have started helping out with the younger group, and one was overheard afterwards saying “I want to be a teacher, because I loved that.” Another child has reportedly been counting down the days until Learning Club is back on. For children who haven’t always been excited about learning, that enthusiasm is a wonderful thing to see.
In our second session, one student was adamant that they would be unable to create a sentence using 2 or more adjectives. However, with some encouragement and guidance, they surprised themselves by then creating a complex sentence that included 4 adjectives. Changing a student's idea of their own capabilities is a profound way to make a lasting change in their academic achievement.
Weekly wins just like this are clear evidence that we are on the right track.
We want to extend a special thank you to the staff who have brought this program to life - Elaine, Alicia, Victoria and Kelly. Retired teachers and trained staff and volunteers are the heart of this program, giving local primary students in Years 1–4 a warm, welcoming space to build their core literacy and communication skills after school.
The Club is meeting on Wednesday afternoons throughout Term 4, and we’re already excited to see how our attendees grow.
Nearly There!
We're thrilled to share that our Learning Club fundraiser has raised $4,169.70 in dedicated donations, meaning we're now less than $1,000 away from our $5,000 goal.
Our heartfelt thanks go to District 44 Masonic Charities for their generous support, and to every individual who has donated so far. Your contributions are already at work, covering materials, coordination and the little extras that make the Club feel special.
Every dollar raised helps give this pilot, and the children in it, the best possible chance of success, and brings us closer to making the Learning Club a permanent fixture at the Hub.
If you'd like to help us cross the finish line, you can donate here:
Education is one of the most powerful ways to break the cycle of disadvantage.
We’re looking to partner with businesses and individuals who believe in helping our children build strong foundations for their education.
Media Enquiries:
Clare Brennan, CEO
clare.brennan@firststepscount.org
Links:
Meet Clare Brennan
