Preschool Services

• Atherton Gardens Kindergarten
• North Carlton Preschool
• Princes Hill Preschool
• Richmond Preschool

Yarra City Council manages 4 preschool services

Preschool - A Year of Learning for Children

Preschools, sometimes called kindergartens, provide children with educational programs that benefit them greatly before they go to school. Many children go to child care, occasional care, playgroups or three year old groups before attending preschool, but for some children preschool is the first time that they play with other children and join in learning activities away from their home and family.

Unlike school, children do not have to go to preschool but many parents find their child learns a lot and has fun. At preschool children learn through playing with materials and equipment that is specially suited to their age and which helps them to grow and develop. Children learn through exploring, touching and experimenting with the materials the teacher has prepared. They learn new ideas through stories and discussion groups and through talking with the teacher and other children. They feel good about themselves when they learn to do something new.

Preschool helps children make friends with other children who may go to the same school later on. It also gives children the opportunity to form friendships with adults outside the family.

Qualified preschool teachers understand child development, and build up their knowledge about each individual child by watching them play and talking to the parents about their child. The teachers provide activities to encourage children to talk, think, solve problems, build their self- confidence and practice skills that involve physical activity. These activities provide children with the basis for learning to read and write at school.

Preschool programs provide indoor and outdoor activities which include: painting, pasting, clay, dough, puzzles and other manipulative equipment, blocks, books, opportunities to dress up and use imagination, digging in the sand pit or digging patch, climbing on a variety of equipment, swinging, and playing with water.

Our Philosophy

The program will provide developmentally appropriate, play based experiences in an environment sensitive to the diverse needs of all children with an emphasis on open-ended activities, the use of natural materials, fostering respect for the natural world and a love of learning.

Parents

Parents are encouraged to contribute to the enhancement and daily running of the program, to the fundraising program and for the continuing quality assessment of the preschool program.

Funded preschool eligibility

In the year prior to attending school, children can access a year of funded preschool. To be eligible children must be 4 years of age by April 30 in their preschool year. Children are eligible for only one year of preschool funding. However, where a child is assessed as having a developmental delay in two or more areas a second year of preschool may be approved by DHS.

There are many factors effecting children's readiness for the formal school system, and therefore attendance in funded preschool. Please discuss the issues and your child with the preschool teacher.

Children with additional needs - Preschool Field Officer PSFO

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Further information

For further Information and all Enrolments
Early Years Unit Administrator
Bronwyn Graham
Collingwood Town Hall

Telephone 9205 5438
Email waitinglist@yarrcity.vic,gov.au

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Councl

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Alpha Children's Centre

Lady Gowrie Child Centre

University of Melbourne Early Learning Centre

Richmond Creche & Kindergarten Inc.

John Street Children's Centre

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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