At the Y Early Learning, our kindergarten programs are designed and delivered by Bachelor-qualified teachers and educators. Our programs are aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) to prepare your child for school and life.
Our kindergarten programs for 3-4 year olds
Integrated kindergarten
Delivered by qualified teachers, integrated kindergarten takes place within long day care and is available at all of our centres. The program prepares children for success at school and beyond through a play-based curriculum. Children attend for the full day, with the daily child care fee covering everything they need including the kinder program, nutritious meals and snacks.
Sessional kindergarten
This program runs on set days and times during the school term. It offers the same educational benefits as our integrated kindergarten program, just without the long day care element. Children must supply their own lunch and meet the minimum number of contact hours per week with their kindergarten teacher. It is currently available at our Derrimut and Mernda early learning centres.
Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)
ESK provides eligible three year old children in Victoria with access to 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten each week.
To be eligible for ESK, children must be three years old by 30 April of the year they are enrolling and meet one of the following criteria:
- Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Be from a refugee or asylum seeker background
- Have had contact with Child Protection Services
Important note: Even if a child is eligible for Free Kinder or Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, if they are also eligible for ESK, they should be enrolled in the ESK program to ensure they receive the additional support and funding.
Children who are eligible or have access to ESK will be able to access Pre-Prep the following year.
Our preschool and kindergarten rooms
These rooms are led by a bachelor-qualified early childhood teacher and feature an extensive range of educational resources like puzzles, books, art supplies and more.
We focus on helping children to develop positive social and emotional skills, to become confident and curious learners and develop a sense of self awareness and independence as they prepare for the next step in their learning journey.
Our rooms open out to beautiful outdoor spaces that children can enjoy all year round. Some centres offer dedicated outdoor areas for kindergarten or other age groups, along with family rooms where children of all ages can gather at the start and end of each day.
A typical day at preschool and kindergarten
When you arrive, an educator will welcome your child. We start the day with a yarning circle, which is a traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practice used to teach and learn in a respectful, collaborative and inclusive environment. Children sit together to speak and listen from the heart and give an Acknowledgement to Country.
We provide all food, including morning tea at 9:30am, lunch at 12:00pm and an afternoon snack around 3:00pm.
Throughout the day, children take part in a mix of small group sessions and sometimes a large group activity like music time or storytelling.
With guidance from our educators, they can explore indoor and outdoor learning areas, expanding their maths skills, creativity or language development. We encourage children to be independent and SunSmart by collecting their own hat or sunscreen for outdoor play.
At pick-up, an educator will share feedback on your child’s day, including key learnings and achievements.
Our kindergarten curriculum
We follow the national Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) developmental concepts of ‘belonging’, ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ and adapt these to the learning and developmental needs of your child.
We tailor our monthly kindergarten activities plan to suit your child’s interests and learning styles, set learning goals with parents, and provide regular feedback to parents on these areas.
Our kinder curriculum focuses include:
- Reading
- Writing
- Maths
- Problem solving
- Creativity
- Environment and sustainability
- Effective communication skills
- Togetherness and teamwork
- Self-confidence and autonomy
- Active learning skills
- Project work
Our passionate educators inspire and help instil positive and healthy attitudes to learning.
Orientation
Our orientation period ensures a stress-free transition to kindergarten. Through short visits, your child can meet our educators and other children, explore our rooms, and try our programs.
Parents and guardians are required to stay on-site during these visits. Our educators will chat with you about your child's interests, learning styles and goals, and any additional support they need, so that we can tailor our program to suit them.
When your child first starts kindergarten, they'll likely feel tired at the end of the day or week. However, we find that with a consistent routine and the right support, children quickly adapt and thrive in their new environment.
Beyond orientation, we'll provide you with regular feedback on your child's progress. That way, you can be sure that they're growing, learning and thriving with us.
Watch our kindergarten webinar
Discover the benefits of choosing a kindergarten program at the Y, plus more information around our programs.
Why is kindergarten important?Kindergarten is an important part of your child’s educational development. The Victorian Government recognises the importance of kindergarten and introduced the Free Kinder program to help give every child a great start in life. Learn more about giving your child the best start with kinder. |
For more information about kindergarten, including FAQs, policies and procedures, and enrolment, visit our resources page.