Our Kindergarten Program
Kindergarten is a significant year. It's the year children start to see themselves as learners, the year they build the skills and confidence they'll carry into school, and the year they form ideas about what learning feels like. We take this seriously. Our Kindergarten program is designed not just to prepare children for school, but to help them arrive ready to thrive.
What school readiness actually means
School readiness is about more than knowing letters and numbers. It's about a child who can separate from their parents with confidence. A child who can follow instructions, wait their turn, and work alongside others. A child who can hold a pencil, sit and focus, and ask for help when they need it. A child who believes they are capable of learning new things.
Our program addresses all of this. We build the academic foundations, yes, but we also nurture the social, emotional, and physical skills that make the difference between a child who copes at school and a child who flourishes.
A team that knows what they're doing
Our Kindergarten is led by a Bachelor qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, supported by educators holding Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas in early childhood. The same three educators work with your child across the week, providing consistency and the kind of deep knowledge of each child that only comes from stable relationships.
We operate well above the required ratios. With three educators for 22 children, we maintain a ratio of 1:7, far exceeding the mandated 1:11. This isn't a marketing point; it's a deliberate choice. It means more individual attention, more time to notice when a child is struggling or ready for a new challenge, and more opportunity to tailor our approach to each learner.
How children learn here
We believe in play based learning, but that doesn't mean children simply play while educators watch. It means we understand that young children learn best through hands on, meaningful experiences, and we design our program to make the most of this.
Our curriculum follows the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines and the Early Years Learning Framework. We balance intentional teaching with child led exploration, and we pay close attention to where each child is in their development so we can meet them there.
Literacy and language
Children build strong communication skills through shared reading, storytelling, phonics, and early writing experiences. Our literacy rich environment includes a cosy reading nook with a child sized sofa, quality picture books, and space for children to curl up with a story. But literacy learning happens everywhere: in conversations, in group discussions, in the labels and signs around the room, and in the way we model that reading and writing have purpose.
Before children can write, they need to understand that symbols represent meaning. They need vocabulary, narrative skills, and the ability to listen and respond. We build all of this through stories, songs, show and share, and the kind of back and forth conversation that extends children's thinking.
Numeracy and mathematical thinking
Mathematical understanding develops through real experiences: cooking, measuring, sorting, building, and problem solving. Children explore concepts like number, pattern, shape, size, and spatial awareness through play with blocks, loose parts, and everyday materials. We don't rush towards worksheets. We build number sense through meaningful, hands on learning that helps children understand what numbers actually mean.
Fine and gross motor development
Children need strong bodies to be ready for school. The large muscles in their arms and legs must develop before they can control the small muscles needed for writing. Our outdoor space, with its climbing equipment, fort, sandpit, cubby house, and balance stations, gives children daily opportunities to run, climb, balance, and build strength and coordination.
Fine motor skills are developed through threading, cutting, drawing, painting, and working with clay and craft materials. These aren't just art activities; they're building the hand strength and control children need to hold a pencil and form letters.
Social and emotional learning
Perhaps the most important work we do is helping children develop the social and emotional skills they need for school. This means learning to manage big feelings, resolve conflicts, work as part of a group, and build friendships. It means developing resilience when things don't go as planned, and empathy for others.
We help children build these skills through the way we structure our day, the language we use, and the relationships we model. Group experiences like shared mealtimes, group discussions, and collaborative projects give children practice in listening, taking turns, and contributing their ideas.
Inquiry and curiosity
We want children to see themselves as curious, capable thinkers. Our program includes STEAM experiences, science and nature investigations, and project based learning that follows children's interests. We ask open ended questions, encourage experimentation, and celebrate the process of wondering, investigating, and discovering.
Regular excursions and incursions, including Queensland Museum loan kits, connect children to the wider world and bring new experiences into our program.
Spaces that support learning
Our Kindergarten environment is thoughtfully designed and regularly refreshed to offer new challenges and provocations.
A creative arts atelier with an open access art trolley where children can independently choose from clay, paints, collage materials, and craft supplies. We value the creative process over the finished product, and children have the freedom to experiment and express themselves.
A construction zone with wooden blocks, loose parts, and rotating small world play. Block play develops spatial reasoning, mathematical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. When children build together, they're learning to share ideas, negotiate, and work towards a common goal.
Sensory play with water, sand, light tables, and natural materials. These experiences support scientific thinking as children explore properties, make predictions, and test their ideas.
A dramatic play space that transforms regularly to reflect children's interests and project focuses. When the space becomes a post office, a vet clinic, or a bakery, children are practising language, exploring social roles, and making sense of the world around them.
A covered outdoor deck for meals, group work, and learning in the fresh air, because we don't believe children should be confined to a classroom.
An outdoor space with sandpit, water play, chalkboard walls, bikes, and areas shaded by mature trees. This is where children develop gross motor skills, learn to take appropriate risks, and experience the freedom of outdoor play.
A long day that works for families
Our Kindergarten operates from 7:30am to 5:30pm, giving families flexibility without compromising on educational quality. Your child receives a full Kindergarten program within extended hours, with the same educators, the same curriculum, and the same attention to their individual learning journey.
Individualised attention
Each child's learning is guided by personalised goals, regular observations, and ongoing assessment. We know where your child is in their development, what they're working towards, and how we can best support them. We offer optional school readiness reports and work closely with families to ensure children are well prepared for their transition to school.
What you'll see when you visit
Children who are engaged, confident, and happy. Educators who know each child deeply and respond to their individual needs. A program that balances structure with joy, and learning with play. And an environment where children are respected, challenged, and supported to grow.
