Learning

At Eastbourne Primary School, we provide engaging learning experiences that support creativity, curiosity, wellbeing, collaboration and growth across all curriculum areas.

Core Classes

  • At Eastbourne Primary School, our teaching and learning practices are grounded in the science of learning, with a strong focus on the science of reading. We use evidence-based, explicit instruction to ensure every student develops strong foundational literacy skills.

    All students from Foundation to Year 2 participate in InitiaLit, a comprehensive, systematic synthetic phonics program designed to teach reading and spelling in a structured and cumulative way. Teachers across these year levels are fully trained in the InitiaLit approach to ensure consistent and high-quality instruction.

    To support ongoing growth and identify students who may require additional help, we use DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) for regular benchmarking and progress monitoring. This data allows us to make informed decisions about teaching, intervention, and student goal setting.

    Students who require additional support receive targeted intervention through the MiniLit program, a small-group evidence-based intervention designed to reinforce essential reading skills.

    In Years 3 to 6, students continue to develop their reading, spelling, and language knowledge through Spelling Mastery, a structured, explicit, and cumulative program that builds on earlier phonics and word study skills to strengthen spelling accuracy and vocabulary development.

    Students at Eastbourne also develop their writing through explicit instruction, teacher modelling, and engagement with quality literature. They are supported to write with purpose – to persuade, inform, and entertain – and engage in regular one-to-one conferences with teachers to set goals and receive feedback.

    We are proud of our strong literacy outcomes, including outstanding NAPLAN results. In 2023, our Year 3 students performed above both similar schools and the state average in reading, writing, grammar, and punctuation.

    Speaking and Listening is also a key focus area. All Foundation students are screened for speech and language needs, and those requiring support access our Speech Pathology Assistance Program. This program has led to significant improvements in both student learning and self-esteem.

    Each classroom has a well-stocked class library for independent reading, including decodable books, picture storybooks, novels, magazines, graphic novels, and nonfiction texts. Our take-home reading program is supported by a wide range of decodable texts to promote daily reading practice and foster a lifelong love of reading.

  • At Eastbourne Primary School our students are supported to become a critical mathematical thinker who understands the importance of maths in their daily lives.   

    Our students explore Numeracy through meaningful experiences and “hands on” challenging tasks rather than rote learning methods. We teach students to solve problems using a range of strategies and to explain their thinking using appropriate mathematical language.  

    Our staff use a variety of assessment tools to establish and target our students individual needs in mathematics.  We explicitly teach and develop skills and concepts through whole class and small group games and activities. In this way we can support our students to make connections between ideas, facts and processes while encouraging flexible thinking and problem solving when working mathematically.  


    We strive to deliver mathematical opportunities which allow our students to succeed whilst developing a real love of mathematics.  

  • Being a Be You (formally Kids Matter) school, means that we have built a positive school community that nurtures the development of our students through:

    • Social and emotional learning

    • Programs to assist our students with mental health difficulties

    • School wide positive behaviour programs

    • Hosting a Breakfast Club each morning

    • Celebration assemblies with awards, acknowledgements and performances

    • Additional assistance for students with disabilities and special learning needs in Literacy and Numeracy

    At Eastbourne Primary School, we believe that students feel connected when staff, families and the local community are involved in daily school life. We encourage our families to work in partnership with the school to achieve the best outcomes for each child. “The Zones of Regulation” is a resource designed to help students identify their feelings and emotional reactions, learning sensory and perspective strategies that encourage better their self regulation. A simple colour coded, four zones format encourages emotional learning. This is a classroom and family friendly tool with wide application across students of all ages, right into adulthood. We have our very own Zone Centre for students to access throughout the day when they feel they need help regulating. We have Speech Therapists, Paediatricians and our School Chaplain who all support our strong Student Wellbeing programs.

    At Eastbourne Primary School we value: Learning, Respect, Collaboration and Community and we are a RRR school - Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships.  The RRR Program covers Social and Emotional Learning across all levels of primary and secondary education: Emotional Literacy; Personal Strengths; Positive Coping; Problem Solving; Stress Management; Help Seeking; Gender and Identity; and Positive Gender Relationships.

Specialist Subjects

  • Students at Eastbourne Primary School participate in a weekly 60 minute Science lesson. Science specialist lessons are based on the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 which links Science with Literacy. All four areas of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and the Earth are taught and explored.

    Students are given the opportunity to make predictions, perform experiments and analyse results. Our activities within Science are hands on fun. Students learn to collaborate, work in teams and encouraged to be passionately curious scientists.

    For most, primary school is the place where early interest in science begins or ends. A student that doesn't engage with science learning early on is unlikely to continue the subject in secondary school and into university. At Eastbourne Primary our students are gaining a good grounding in science and related enquiry through our Science program, where the focus is on curiosity and immersion in what science is.

  • Health and Physical Education at Eastbourne Primary School is a highly valued and diverse program that provides many experiences and opportunities for our students to enjoy the physical, social, and emotional benefits of being active and involved in school sport. 

    We are very fortunate to possess the most spacious primary school oval and grounds on the Southern Peninsula and have a modern and versatile stadium that is not only well utilised by our students, but various community groups and sporting clubs. 

    The Pre Foundation and Foundation students participate in the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP), which is a movement based program that helps younger students improve their eye/hand and eye/foot coordination, fitness, balance, locomotion and eye tracking skills. This is in addition to their weekly 50 minute P.E. session.

    The Foundation to Year 2 student program focuses on developing Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS), through highly engaging skill based activities and games.

    The Middle Sub School (Years 3/4), build on these FMS through specific skill based activities and modified major games, preparing them for refining their skills and knowledge for Year 5/6 Sport and inter school competitions. 

    The Senior Sub School (Years 5/6) students, refine and master the FMS and use these acquired skills to play major games and sports, which are often associated with inter school competitions. Eastbourne Primary School is a member of the Sport Schools Victoria, Port Phillip District, which enables our students to compete in individual and team inter school competitions.

    The sporting calendar is always jam packed full of events all year round. 

    Here are examples of our more prominent annual events:

    • Eastbourne Swimming Trials (Years 3-6)

    • Port Phillip District Swimming Carnival (Years 3-6)

    • Port Phillip District Tennis Tournament (Years 4-6)

    • Eastbourne Cross Country (Years F-6)

    • Port Phillip District Cross Country (Years 3-6)

    • Summer Lightning Premiership (Years 5-6)

    • Winter Lightning Premiership (Years 5-6)

    • Eastbourne Whole School Athletics Day (Years 3-6)

    • Port Phillip District Athletics Championships (Years 3-6)

    Participation and good sportsmanship are always promoted in every Eastbourne Primary School P.E session.

  • The Visual Arts Program at Eastbourne Primary School is designed to inspire, challenge, and support students in achieving their full artistic potential within a positive and inclusive learning environment.

    Through the study of visual arts, students develop creativity, imagination, and aesthetic awareness while refining their practical and fine motor skills. The program enables students to express their ideas, emotions, and perspectives through a variety of artistic forms and media.

    Students are provided with opportunities to explore a wide range of techniques, processes, and materials, fostering an appreciation and understanding of diverse artistic practices. Students study and are inspired by artists from within the community and globally.

    Artworks created by students are regularly exhibited throughout the school and within classrooms, celebrating the creativity and achievements of all learners. 

  • At Eastbourne Primary School, all students enjoy a 60-minute weekly Performing Arts lesson with a specialist teacher.

    Through music, drama and dance, students learn to express themselves, collaborate with others and build confidence in a supportive and creative environment. Throughout the year, they explore singing, dancing, acting and a variety of musical instruments, including ukuleles, djembe drums, recorders, percussion and piano/keyboard.

    Our instrumental music program further enriches students’ learning. Children have the opportunity to hire school-provided instruments and take part in specialised tuition. We also partner with Tootgarook Primary School to offer a joint Concert Band, where students rehearse together regularly and perform for the wider community. In addition, Eastbourne Primary School proudly participates in the Southern Peninsula Music Camp, a three-day intensive experience that brings together selected schools from across the peninsula for rehearsals and concludes with a combined concert performance.

    Performance opportunities are an important part of our program. Each year, our Year 6 students create a Music Video that is presented at their Graduation Ceremony, showcasing their creativity, storytelling and performance skills in Drama. All students from Foundation to Year 6 also participate in our much-loved End of Year Concert, a highlight of the school year that unites our whole community and celebrates the dance choreography skills developed throughout the program.

    Our Performing Arts program aims to nurture confidence, creativity and a lifelong love of the arts by providing meaningful, engaging and enjoyable learning experiences for every child.

  • Halo!

    At Eastbourne Primary School, Indonesian is our language other than English (L.O.T.E). It is taught once a week for a 50 minute session. The junior grades learn songs, basic greetings and learn about Indonesia's place in our world.

    In the middle and senior years, the Indonesian vocabulary is extended to include family and social situations. Our sessions place a strong emphasis on sharing personal cultural experiences, real world learning and inquiry. 

    Our Indonesian program offers students the opportunity to step into someone else’s world, developing their intercultural understanding as well as having fun.