Longford Uniting Kindergarten

Our large, outdoor space boasts a wealth of natural resources and shade that encourages your child to connect with the surrounding environment through play and experiential learning. We are well-equipped to promote sustainability and physical development and have recently invested in a quiet room stocked with learning resources and new, inclusive play equipment.

Our kindergarten features:

• Planned and intentional indoor spaces
• Large outdoor space
• Sandpit
• Mud pit
• Trees and natural shade
• Gardening beds for herbs and vegetables
• Shade sail
• Play area with climbing equipment
• Swings
• Bicycle track
• Recycling area encouraging sustainability and caring for the environment
• Cubby house
• Gross motor play equipment for activities such as climbing, skipping, throwing and catching
• Worm farm
• Water tank
• Fish, stick insects and visiting quails at certain times of the year

Our excursions and sustainable practices make children excited to learn about the world around them. We nurture an appreciation for nature and a sense of adventure by showing them the beauty of their environment, often in partnership with special guests from the community.

Activities include:

• Recycling of materials and water
• Promoting sustainable living and encouraging children to develop everyday sustainable practices
• Managing the worm farm
• Composting
• Donating pre-loved books, toys, and clothing to remote communities
• We participate in the Vic Govt language program-Japanese
• We offer an aquatic safety program in conjunction with the Seaspray SLSC.
• We focus on the voices of the child; child initiated and lead interests with adults to support and provide appropriate resources ad well as planned and intentional learning spaces.
• We hatch chickens as part of learning and caring about the world, tying in with the rural setting.

We love to go on excursions and receive visitors and special guests such as:

• Bush kinder sessions adjacent to the kindergarten once a week
• Dune restoration planting at the Seaspray SLSC
• A visit from the Wellington Shire sustainability officer

Children learn how to make healthy choices through play-based activities like cooking classes, gardening, and food safety lessons. We show children the value of sustainable living and educate them on basic nutrition, as well as making sure they participate in physical exercise.

At Longford Kindergarten, we:

• Grow our own produce in our garden (e.g. herbs, vegetables, fruit)
• Practise and emphasise food safety
• Work sensitively with parents and families from a range of cultural backgrounds to ensure cultural foods meet food standard requirements
• Educate children and their families about healthy eating and nutrition

We welcome all family involvement in your child’s early learning experience and encourage participation in cultural celebrations, assisting with fundraising and volunteering, the parent advisory committee, and talking to the children about exciting topics. We believe in fostering a strong sense of community to broaden your child’s understanding of the outside world and invite you to join our various educational excursions and local activities.

People, groups or services within our community that we engage with regularly include:

• Longford Primary School, including school visits and transition programs. We also support and advertise school fundraising events
• The local library
• The local art gallery
• Museums
• Indigenous community members or groups, including donating pre-loved items to the Numbulwar School Fete
• Local emergency services and community services
• Promoting local events for families within the region, such as the Mini Stars sports programs
• Local farmers, through project Longford to Longreach and Kids Helping Kids
• The local chiropractor for wellbeing sessions
• Smiles 4 Miles program
• Kids Matter initiative

We go on exciting excursions to a variety of different places such as:

• Gymnastics
• The art gallery and library
• The park
• Seaspray SLSC
• Bush Kinder
• Longford Primary School

We love to receive visits and guest speakers who educate and entertain us on a variety of topics:

• Wild Action animals
• The art gallery and library
• Water Safety
• Police
• The fire department
• Museum of Victoria
• Responsible Pet Ownership and Dog Awareness programs
• Sustainability Program

We can have all forms of communication translated for families who speak languages other than English.

Our educators are experienced in working with children who live with a range of physical and intellectual disability or have experienced challenges and trauma.

4 year old kindergarten

$395.00 per term

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am - 2.00pm

3 year old kindergarten

$395.00 per term for 5 hour session

Monday, Tuesday or Thursday 9.00am - 2.00pm