Our Kinder Program
Kinder Program at Belford Oaks
At Belford Oaks, we provide a funded 3-year-old and 4-year old Kinder program. The program is run by two qualified Kindergarten teachers, five days a week with 15 children a day.
Our program begins at 9am and concludes at 3pm daily.
Funded kindergarten is part of the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder initiative, supporting children’s learning, development, and transition to school through a play-based program led by a qualified early childhood teacher.
Belford Oaks Kindergarten Program
At Belford Oaks Community Childcare Centre, the Kinder Program approach to education is a structured individualised and flexible program in a Long Day Care setting.
A variety of open-ended activities and intentional teaching experiences are offered to the children which aim to help them develop essential skills.
Within the Kindergarten program some of our main focuses are on:
- Social skills
- Self-help skills
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Early literacy and numeracy
- Regulating emotions and increasing self-esteem
- Inquiry-based learning
- School readiness
- Specialist programs such as, Music and Physical Education
At Belford Oaks, we believe children learn best through hands-on play in an inquiry- based model of learning. Therefore, as part of our Kinder program, the children undertake several inquiry projects throughout the year, where they are involved in carrying out investigations, proposing explanations and solutions, and communicating their understanding of concepts in a variety of ways.
Indoor and Outdoor Program
In our program we run an indoor/outdoor program allowing children to make choices as to where they would like to play.
Some of our outdoor activities include sand pit play, mud patch, swings, climbing fort, cubby house, bikes, as well as art and craft experiences, puzzles and construction.
All activities offered indoors can also be offered outdoors- weather permitting.
Staff: Two Qualified Kindergarten Teachers and One Diploma Qualified Educator.
Children: 15, 3-5 years of age
Long Day Care
Long day kindergarten gives children the opportunity to attend kinder for a longer period of time, and includes a morning tea, a two-course lunch, as well as afternoon tea. Providing a Funded Kindergarten Program within a Long Day Care setting caters to families that need their children to attend care for full days.