4 year old Kindergarten

Going to kindergarten is an important step for your child. It will help them learn skills that they will build on throughout their life.

Grimshaw St Early Learning Centre offers our families a government funded 4-year-old kindergarten program. Our qualified and experienced Early Childhood Teachers will be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). We prioritise emotional intelligence and relationships with children and families; providing children the opportunity to grow and learn in a safe and caring, play based environment. We value and foster respect, empathy, creativity and a passion for learning in order to ensure children feel emotionally prepared to transition to primary school.

There is an emphasis on a play-orientated approach to learning, to suit the developmental level of individual children.

Across the year we will focus on the below overarching goals term by term, broken down from the five Learning and Development Outcomes in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. This provides a focus point to guide our year and ensure children feel prepared for school.

Term One

Establish safe and secure relationships. Core Values include respect, kindness, honesty.

Term Two

Strengthen community connections and family involvement. Core Values include perseverance, patience, courage.

Term Three

Focus on positive dispositions for learning (preparing children for school). Core values include curiosity, resilience, agency.

Term Four

School readiness program and reflection and celebration of learning. Core values include gratitude, inclusion, responsibility.

Within this structure children will be immersed in emergent, Inquiry-based projects designed around their current interests and developmental needs.

Classroom Program

  • An immersive numeracy and literacy program that combines intentional teaching during one-on-one small group interactions.
  • Playground to Plate® Food Garden Program
  • Interactive Cooking Classes
  • Specialist art sessions with our art teacher in our Atelier
  • ELLA program (Early Learning Languages Australia)
    • The children will learn French via a digital, play based, interactive interface and will be provided opportunities to practice the language within their play spaces.
  • Regular outings into the Watsonia North community that will include
    • local library;
    • parks for picnics;
    • local community gardens;
    • small businesses; and
    • others arising from children’s emerging interests

To be eligible for 4-year-old kindergarten, your child must turn 4 by 30 April in the year of kindergarten attendance.

Visit the Victorian Government website that relates to 4 year old Kinder