Our Kindergarten Program
A State-of-the-Art Kindergarten Experience
Led by fully qualified early childhood teachers, our kindergarten programs deliver rich, play-based and intentionally taught learning experiences that prepare children to transition confidently into school and beyond.
Learning That Builds Confident, Capable Children
Across our Discovery Childcare & Education centres, kindergarten learning is designed to be both purposeful and engaging. Educators introduce broad concepts through shared group experiences, then support children to explore and extend their understanding through hands-on, inquiry-led learning.
Programs balance play, structure and challenge, supporting each child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Children are encouraged to think critically, solve problems, communicate confidently and develop a genuine love of learning.
Consistency of educators is a cornerstone of our approach. Familiar teachers build strong, trusting relationships with children, creating a sense of security and belonging that allows children to explore, take learning risks and thrive.
School Readiness, Beyond the Basics
Our kindergarten programs focus on more than academic foundations. We intentionally support children to develop:
- Emotional maturity and resilience
- Social confidence and communication skills
- Independence, self-regulation and persistence
- Physical coordination and wellbeing
This holistic approach ensures children transition to school feeling capable, confident and ready for new environments.
Enriched Learning Experiences
Our kindergarten programs are enriched through a variety of meaningful experiences that deepen learning and engagement. Depending on the centre, these may include:
- Language and cultural programs such as Mandarin
- Bush Kinder and nature-based learning
- Community connections and local excursions
- Partnerships with nearby primary schools to support smooth transitions
These experiences broaden children’s perspectives while supporting continuity between kindergarten and school.
Consistent, Year-Round Kindergarten
Our kindergarten programs operate up to 52 weeks a year during extended hours, providing families with continuity of learning and care without long breaks.
Children benefit from a stable routine, consistent educators and uninterrupted learning progress across the year.
Victorian Funded Kindergarten
Selected Discovery Childcare & Education centres deliver a Victorian Government-funded Kindergarten Program led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, in accordance with the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework, and Victorian kindergarten funding requirements.
Funded kindergarten programs provide a minimum of 15 hours per week of planned and intentional learning, supporting children’s development across all learning domains and preparing them for a successful transition to school.
Availability of funded kindergarten varies by centre. Families are encouraged to contact their local service for specific program details.
Child Safety and Well-being
Discovery Childcare & Education is committed to being a child-safe organisation, where the safety, well-being and rights of every child are paramount.
We uphold a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and neglect and actively work to create environments where children feel safe, respected and empowered. Children’s voices are listened to, their concerns are taken seriously, and their dignity is protected at all times.
Our educators and staff are trained in their legal and ethical responsibilities under Victorian Child Safe Standards. Robust policies, procedures and ongoing professional learning ensure safeguarding practices are embedded into daily operations.
We work in partnership with families and the community to uphold shared responsibility for child safety and well-being.
Enquire About Kindergarten
To learn more about kindergarten availability, funded program options or to book a tour at your local Discovery Childcare & Education centre, please contact us today.
Common questions about our kindergarten program
Is the kindergarten program funded?
Selected Discovery centres deliver a Victorian Government funded kindergarten program, so ask the centre you are considering whether its program is funded. In long day care, Free Kinder funding is paid as a fee offset that reduces your fees, rather than making the day free. The offset covers up to 15 hours of kindergarten a week, and it is lower for shorter three year old programs. For most families, hours above 15 a week are not covered by the offset. The Victorian Government sets the offset amount each year, so ask the centre to confirm the current figure for the year you are enrolling.
Do I have to choose between kindergarten and childcare?
No. Where a centre runs a funded kinder program, it runs inside the long day care day, so a family who needs full days for work does not have to give up kinder to get them.
Who actually leads the program?
A qualified early childhood teacher. That means an approved early childhood teaching qualification, usually a university degree, rather than only a Certificate III or Diploma. The teacher plans the program against the curriculum framework, assesses where each child is, and plans the next steps in their learning.
What is Pre-Prep?
Pre-Prep is the name sometimes used for the extra funded hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder being phased in across Victoria under the Best Start, Best Life reforms. The roll-out happens area by area. Under the current Victorian Government schedule, the extra hours reach metropolitan Melbourne, including Maroondah and Knox, from 2034. Until then most children in our area can receive up to 15 funded hours a week, although some priority groups can access more now. Ask the centre what applies to your child.
How do you prepare children for school?
Not just letters and numbers. We work deliberately on the things that actually make the first year of school manageable: following a routine, managing belongings, persisting when something is hard, asking for help, and getting along with children they did not choose.
Will my child have the same teacher all year?
That is our aim. Consistency of educators is a cornerstone of how we run the rooms, because children who trust the adult in front of them take more learning risks. Ask on your tour about the current team in the room your child would join.
Book a tour
Ringwood 30 Bond Street, (03) 9879 8055
Croydon 50 Maroondah Highway, (03) 9722 8933
Boronia 172 Boronia Road, (03) 9762 4888