About Us

At kindergarten we aim to help children:

• Experience a supported and successful transition from home or child care to kindergarten and from kindergarten to school.
• Feel safe and secure in a caring, exciting and challenging environment.
• Develop confidence in new situations, to take risks and try new experiences.
• Develop a positive image of themselves as powerful learners.
• Be resilient with a growth mindset which sees mistakes as learning opportunities.
• Develop skills in getting along with others and making new friends.
• Learn co-operatively with others.
• Learn sustainable practices and a sense of responsibility for the environment.
• Build awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander histories and culture and contribute to Netherby Kindergartens implementation of reconciliation initiatives.
• Learn from literacy, numeracy, science, musical and technological experiences.
• Participate in learning experiences with time to explore, be curious, ask questions, hypothesise, experiment, problem solve, reflect and have fun while learning.

Educators work together to observe and reflect on children’s well-being, their relationships with children and adults, and their involvement in curriculum, and the active learning environment. Staff are continuously seeking to improve our pedagogy for deeper learning experiences and improved outcomes for each child.

Kindergarten offers a play-based curriculum which focuses on each individual child’s learning. The program is planned using Belonging, Being, Becoming, The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Building strong relationships with and between the children and their families builds children’s confidence and sense of belonging.

Children are seen as competent and capable, and the curriculum is developed with the children to ensure that their questions and wonderings are explored, and their interests followed. The children are challenged to think deeply, to reflect on their learning and to strive for higher levels of skill and achievement.

The Learning Outcomes planned for are:

• Children have a strong sense of identity
• Children are connected with and contribute to their world
• Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
• Children are confident and involved learners
• Children are effective communicators.

There is a strong focus on literacy, numeracy, music, sustainability, as well as developing resilience and collaborative learning.

What is the role of the Governing Council?

• Work with parents and staff to plan for improvements
• Identify and direct centre goals
• Maintain the facilities.

The Governing Council is elected each year in February and parents are encouraged to join the Council so they can participate in decisions which impact on their child’s education. Meetings are held twice each term.

The Governing Council has a role in decisions about the services provided at the centre, centre policies, financial management and fundraising, planning for facilities and resources, and the maintenance and improvement of building, grounds and equipment.

Governing Council members network with other parents and organize family activities and initiate parent meeting speakers.

Parents are encouraged to be involved in the program and the centre. Children’s learning involves a partnership between educators and parents. Parents are provided with copies of the program so that they are informed about their child’s learning, and parents are encouraged to make suggestions and to be involved in the kindergarten planning. The program is documented in displays in the centre and in children’s portfolios. Learning goals are established for each child at the beginning of the year and sent home with a feedback sheet for the parents and child to comment. This provides an opportunity for the parents to share their child’s learning. The feedback often provides insights into other experiences that children have with their families, and this links the learning at home and kindergarten.

Parents are encouraged to discuss with educators how they can be actively involved in their child’s learning at kindergarten. Parents can participate by contributing to the program in various ways for example by reading stories, leading a craft activity, playing musical instruments, singing with the children, joining in activities, cooking, demonstrating art techniques, sharing hobbies, assisting with set up and pack-up, listening and talking with children, assisting with gardening, helping with excursions, visiting to tell the children about their employment, involvement in fundraising, or by becoming a member of the Governing Council.

Staff welcome the opportunity to share each child’s learning with their parents. Your child’s individual learning folder provides a lovely opportunity to discuss and observe their learning and development. Parents are welcome to look at their child’s learning folder at any time.

At completion of your child’s year at kindergarten a Statement of Learning is prepared. A copy of the Statement of Learning is sent to the child’s school with the parent’s consent.

Program updates and notices are an important means of communication between the kindergarten and parents / caregivers. Each child has a pigeon hole, so please check this regularly for communications. As a part of our aim to implement sustainable practises, program updates are emailed to parents weekly.

Newsletters, notices and email are an important means of communication between the kindergarten and parents / caregivers. Each child has a pigeon hole, so please check this regularly for communications. Newsletters and notices are emailed to parents when addresses are supplied.