Uniting Kindergarten.
Start your child’s education journey in an environment filled with play and learning. With kindergarten programs tailored to meet the needs of each and every child, kindergarten at Uniting will support your child to develop the sense of self and learning skills they’ll need to achieve the best outcomes in life.
Kinder with heart
Kindergarten in Victoria.
Kindergarten is an important time for children to engage in critical thinking, build relationships with peers and explore the world around them. Through play, children practice making decisions and following their own ideas to discover a love of learning. Children at kindergarten experience the benefits of belonging to a community, contributing to group learning and establishing meaningful relationships with peers and educators. Our kindergarten programs support children with the foundational skills they need for school and life.
The role of kindergarten in early childhood
Social engagement at kindergarten plays an important part in your child’s development of identity, community and sense of self. Children learn to navigate their emotions and respond to others in prosocial ways. At kindergarten, children experience the benefits and challenges that come with working with others, with the support of educators who help children navigate the complexities of peer-peer relationships.
Children explore letters, sounds and vocabulary through play-based experiences like book reading, drawing, dramatic play, singing and conversations with peers and educators. These are essential precursors to literacy learning in later years.
Support from educators at kindergarten creates an environment for children to increasingly practice acts of self-care like looking after their belongings, solving problems independently and making decisions that support their own wellbeing.
Children practice thinking, making decisions and testing ideas. They explore possibilities and take on feedback from others to inform their decision making. When children have opportunities to practice making choices and taking risks safely in supportive environments, they are better equipped to respond to challenges.
Through music, movement, arts and dramatic play, children explore the world and find new ways to express themselves. Many skills learned through the arts, including spatial awareness, are vital precursors to other areas of learning such as early numeracy development.
Our kindergarten programs
Our kindergarten teachers blend our approved learning frameworks with a sound knowledge of each child to develop a learning curriculum that is contextually responsive to their community of learners.
Our programs use both the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to build on children’s skills while ensuring your child has access to a balance curriculum that take a holistic view of early childhood learning and development.
As well as meeting the approved learning frameworks, some of our services are also guided by a specific theoretical teaching and learning approach, such as Steiner, Montessori or Reggio Emilia.
Each program is different, but all programs share a commitment to play-based teaching and learning for children. Our teachers are intentional in the way they design the learning program and environments to ensure your child makes progress in their learning at kindergarten. Our programs challenge children to engage in experiences that contribute to their school-readiness.
Our kindergarten locations
We have a range of kindergartens across Victoria. Find your closest kindergarten here:
Enrolment
If you are interested in enrolling in a Uniting kindergarten service, you can fill out our expression of interest form. Alternatively, if you require more information or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact the kindergarten location directly.
Frequently asked questions
Kindergarten is not compulsory in Victoria or Tasmania, however the majority of children do attend at least one year of kindergarten (four year old kindergarten) to develop social skills and the early learning skills that will help ease their transition to school.
Our programs are tailored to the unique needs, abilities and interests of children. Both 3- and 4-year-old kindergarten programs are led by a qualified teacher and have learning programs tailored to the individual needs of the group.
Some programs and locations may be subsidised by the Victorian and Tasmanian state governments. To find out if you are eligible, please contact our team for more information.
While the times of your kindergarten sessions may vary depending on your specific location, children attend kindergarten for 15 hours a week.
Yes, Uniting is an inclusive environment for children and families from all different backgrounds. We can provide translated materials and interpreters on request.
Kindergarten news
