Welcome to Somers Parade Kindergarten

Enrolments3 year old enrolments are managed by ECMS.Contact ECMS on 8481 1100 or visit www.ecms.org.au

4 year old enrolments are managed by Hobsons Bay City Council. Contact Hobsons Bay City Council on5366 7100, email earlyyears@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

FeesOur current fees are listed on our website www.ecms.org.au/somers-parade-kindergarten

Information on fee subsidies is available online www.ecms.org.au/kindergarten-programs-melbourne

Contact our educators for further information.

A leading not-for-profit provider of early childhood

education and care services.

Support Services Office 192 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 T 8481 1100 E community@ecms.org.au

www.ecms.org.au

4 Somers Parade Altona West VIC 3018 T (03) 9398 1526 E somersparade@ecms.org.au

Centre Director/Kindergarten Teacher Liz Ryan

www.ecms.org.au/somers-parade-kindergarten

Somers Parade Kindergarten is supported by the Victorian Government

Somers Parade Kindergarten

Our staffAll staff are fully qualified and experienced in early childhood education, and teachers all hold a degree qualification. Our staff are dedicated and committed to nurturing each child’s unique qualities, they develop programs based on children’s individual interests.

If your child has additional needs, our staff can connect your family with specialists.

Quality learning programsThe program at Somers Parade Kindergarten promotes language, intellectual, physical, and emotional development. It builds confidence and provides an opportunity for your child to develop a strong sense of self in a nurturing environment.

It provides an emergent play based curriculum designed to develop life skills and competencies including creative, social, music and movement, gross and fine motor skills.

Somers Parade Kindergarten offers a play-based and flexible curriculum designed to enable your child to make choices and share in decision making.

Your child will:• use language to communicate ideas,

feelings and needs• make friends and learn how to cooperate

with other children• become more independent and confident in

their abilities• develop self-discipline• use their creativity to express ideas and

feelings through art, dance and dramatic play

• identify, explore and solve problems.

Most importantly a kindergarten program will help your child develop a love of learning and be better prepared to start school.

We are a sustainable preschool and embed the principles of sustainability in our program through water recycling and tending to out veggie patch.

Our programs are based on the National Early Years Learning Framework “Belonging, Being and Becoming” and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.

What to expect at Somers Parade Kindergarten

About Somers Parade KindergartenSomers Parade Kindergarten has been an integral part of the Altona community for over five decades. We offer an excellent educational program for three and four-year-old children.

We have a natural, inviting and inspiring playground for children to explore and investigate, including a sun-smart sandpit, digging patch, fairy garden, water pump with a river bed, vegetable and fruit trees and indigenous garden.

Our bush kindergarten provides a valuable natural kindergarten experience for enrolled four-year-old children. A bush kindergarten is a type of preschool education for children held almost exclusively outdoors. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to take the lead in playing, exploring and learning in the bush or natural environment.

We have two chooks, Beryl and Peggy, and two guinea pigs, Speedy and Butter. Staff have integrated a holistic approach to teaching and learning, which focus on connection to the natural world. Having pets at kindergarten invites and teaches children to show a growing appreciation and care for natural and constructed environments, to become responsible and show respect for animals.

Our program encourages children to understand their impact on the environment and teaches the importance of sustainability through water conservation, recycling and composting.

A partnership approachParents and family members are encouraged to participate in the program - we believe family involvement is important in encouraging children to develop a strong sense of community.

We also promote parent participation through our PAG (Parent Activity Group), special family celebrations, parent duty, parent interviews, social events and sharing your talents.