Glen Iris Childcare and Kindergarten - Kinder 4

4-6 Years

Our 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Room accommodates up to 27 children per day, with a 1:11 educator-to-child ratio, ensuring that each child receives individual attention and support. The program is led by a qualified early childhood teacher, assisted by a team of qualified early childhood educators, all dedicated to providing a high-quality learning experience.

The 4-Year-Old Kindergarten curriculum includes a comprehensive school readiness program designed to equip children with the foundational skills needed for school. This program focuses on developing literacy, numeracy, social skills, self-regulation, and independence, preparing them for a smooth transition into school life.

Our Kindergarten Program

Our 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Program runs all day, Monday to Friday, and provides the foundational education children need before starting school. To qualify for funded kindergarten, children must attend at least 15 hours per week, meaning they need to be enrolled for a minimum of two full days. Children must be turning four by April 30th of their 4-year-old kindergarten year. Families are welcome to choose which day(s) they would like their child to attend, pending availability. Children accessing their Funded Kindergarten at Glen Iris will also receive their very own “Kinder Kit” to support their learning at home.

Our Kindergarten program is designed to prepare children for the transition to school in a way that is both non-threatening and educational. We believe that learning and play are inherently connected. Play is a vital process of development—intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. Through play, children’s curiosity is nurtured using fantasy, imagination, independence, and sensory exploration.

Our play-based curriculum is interactive and exploratory, offering a rich variety of sensory materials (such as mud, sand, and paint) and equipment (like puzzles, Lego, and music). We also incorporate real-life, meaningful play experiences such as threading and using the home corner. By engaging in these experiences, we aim to instill a love for meaningful learning, setting the stage for children to reach their full potential in future educational settings.

The curriculum is designed to support a wide range of skills including social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development. Small-group activities, such as those in the home corner or block corner, give children opportunities to build social skills like turn-taking, sharing, and problem-solving, particularly when conflicts arise among peers.

We focus on developing each child's self-confidence, problem-solving abilities, self-esteem, and independence. The Kindergarten teacher uses the children’s interests, along with identified strengths and needs, to shape the program. Children are encouraged to express which activities they are most interested in exploring. Each child’s progress is closely observed, and their learning needs are addressed to ensure they are well-prepared for school. We offer family/educator interviews mid-year to discuss developmental progress and share any insights about the child’s transition to school.

As the year progresses, we begin preparing children for the transition to school through the completion of Transition Learning and Development Statements. These statements, which are written for children moving on to school, help ease the transition by sharing key information with primary schools. Families are invited to contribute to these statements, offering a holistic view of the child, which is shared directly with their future Prep teacher.

Our spacious outdoor environment offers children ample opportunities to explore nature, engage with sustainability, and develop essential physical skills. They have areas to run, explore, and engage in quieter, solitary play. Educators offer both small-group and whole-group activities, both indoors and outdoors, to foster cooperation and build on key social skills like turn-taking and sharing.

Even though the children are in Kindergarten, they continue to benefit from the all-encompassing environment of the childcare centre, which includes catered meals and the opportunity to mix with children of all ages.

Throughout the year, we provide numerous learning experiences to assist with the transition to school, including:

View our Kindergarten Programs at Glen Iris Information Booklet.