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Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

35 Bristol Street, Essendon, VIC, 3041 view map
Verified
4.8
1800 413 856

Care Type:

Long Day Care, Pre-school

Hours:

6.30am to 6.30pm

Vacancies

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Your enquiry will be sent directly to the Essendon Fields Kinder Haven.

Address:

35 Bristol Street, Essendon, VIC, 3041

4.8

Rating Score

Read our 42 Reviews

"My child is always happy to attend and doesn’t want to leave at the end of the day. I like the learning programs, and I trust the Educators completely."

- Enrolled Family

About Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

We are conveniently located for families in or commuting through Essendon, Airport West, Essendon, Gladstone Park, Strathmore, Niddrie and Tullamarine. Many of our Children go on to attend local schools such as St Christopher's Primary School, supporting a smooth transition to school.

We offer nurturing care and quality early education for children from 6 weeks to 6 years, with flexible hours (9, 10, 11, and 12-hour sessions) to suit busy families.

Our Learning Environments

Our children benefit from familiar faces as they grow, creating a sense of continuity:

  • Nursery (0-2 years): A safe, nurturing environment for babies to explore with tailored sensory and social experiences.
  • Toddler (2-3 years): Play-based learning encourages curiosity, confidence, and social skills.
  • Kindergarten (3-6 years): A stimulating learning environment that prepares our children for school through our Enhanced Learning Program.

We’re proud to have qualified teachers and educators, supported by a team of national education experts, ensuring the highest quality childcare and early education.

Innovative Early Learning Programs

Our teachers deliver the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF or the national curriculum) through play-based learning that covers language, literacy, numeracy, STEM, social, and emotional development. Our program also includes:

  • Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR), an evidence-based program developed by Queensland University of Technology to support children’s executive function and self-regulation.
  • Environmental and social sustainability learning experiences.
  • Personalised learning plans for each child.
  • Local school connections.

We focus on strong family partnerships through regular learning and development conversations with your child’s lead educator, learning showcases, and in-centre family events. Our Xplor app provides real-time updates and learning summaries daily to keep you informed on your child’s journey.

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Services Provided by Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

State Government Approved Programs

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VIC Government Approved Kindergarten Program icon

VIC Government Approved Kindergarten Program

Our Kindergarten program supports children’s learning, development, and well-being, ensuring a confident transition to school.

Rhythm & Resilience (RAMSR) Program icon

Rhythm & Resilience (RAMSR) Program

Our evidence-based music program, developed by Queensland University of Technology, supports children’s self-regulation, memory, concentration, and overall development through engaging experiences.

Experienced & Nurturing Educators icon

Experienced & Nurturing Educators

Our long-standing team provides a calm and supportive environment where children feel safe, secure, and supported.

Get To Know Us

Kindergarten/Preschool Programs

Kindergarten/Preschool Programs

Our centre offers the Victorian Government-approved ‘Kinder: Best Start, Best Life’ program for 3–4-year-olds, providing up to 15 hours per week of funded Kindergarten. This program supports children’s learning, development, and well-being, setting them up for future success.

Our Enhanced Learning Program for Kindergarten children focuses on:

  • Numeracy & Literacy: Developing key skills for lifelong learning.
  • Self-Regulation: Fostering emotional control and resilience.
  • Social & Emotional Development: Supporting independence and building healthy relationships.
  • Creativity & Problem-Solving: Encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

With extended hours and a year-round program (excluding public holidays), our Kindergarten program is delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers committed to supporting your child’s individual development.

Additional Benefits Include:

  • Government subsidy: Further reduces out-of-pocket Kinder fees in addition to your eligible Childcare Subsidy (CCS).
  • Personalised Learning Plans: Tailored to your child’s unique needs.
  • Rhythm and Resilience Program: Music and movement to improve emotional regulation.
  • School Readiness: Preparing your child for a smooth transition to school.

We also engage with local schools and provide transition statements, ensuring your child feels confident and prepared for the next steps in their education journey. Stay connected with your child’s progress via our Xplor platform, which offers regular updates on their learning and development.

About the Curriculum

About the Curriculum

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space: 6 weeks – 2 years

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication and cues (body language, facial expression and sounds) and through experimentation. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play including sensory play, music time, story time and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

Toddler Space: 2 - 3 years

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, role playing and reading experiences.

On any given day the Toddlers can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns and participating in counting songs and games.

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as, turn-taking, developing self-confidence and emotional self-regulation. Our skilled team helps children through talking, planning and role modelling.

Kindergarten Space: 3 – 6 years

Kindergarten is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program has school readiness at its core, encouraging active engagement in learning and supporting a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.

The oral language supports literacy learning and a child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our Kindergarten children's literacy development by engaging in rich discussions, reading, storytelling, dramatic play and experimentation all of which introduce new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations.

Throughout the Kindergarten year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning experiences. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Our goal in the kindergarten year is to prepare children and families for a smooth transition to primary school.

Health and Nutrition

Health and Nutrition

Our centre chef prepares and cooks nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating across a wide variety of food.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters.

Meet the team

Meet the team

I started my career in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2004 and I hold an Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services.

I believe working in early learning makes me feel proud to work in a sector that gives back so much to its community.  As an educator and centre manager you are able to work in an environment where play is a part of the learning and the observing of one’s development is so prevalent in the day to day routine of the centre.

Our centre has a beautiful family feel as you enter the building, with the pleasant cooking smells and the laughter from educators and the sounds of children engaging and mixing with the peers brings a journey of life and excitement. We are situated in a corporate business zone where parents are welcomed to come for lunch and visit their children.

I love dancing to Tik Tok with my children and always treating people the way they would like to be treated.

In Person Tour

Want to see the centre first hand? Book a tour with Essendon Fields Kinder Haven below.

Fees & Vacancies

Infant

0-1 years

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Friday

$193.60 /day

Toddler

1-2 years

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Friday

$193.60 /day

Pre-Kindy

2-3 years

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$193.60 /day

Kindy

3-5 years

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Friday

$193.60 /day

Your enquiry will be sent directly to the Essendon Fields Kinder Haven.

Essendon Fields Kinder Haven Reviews (42)

4.8 /5

Based on 42 Reviews

Lauren Camilleri image

Lauren Camilleri

5.0 • 2 weeks ago

We’ve had such a positive experience at Kinder Haven Essendon Fields. Daniella is a fantastic Centre Manager — she’s approachable, caring and always makes the time to chat and check in. The team she has around her are equally wonderful, they have long tenure with the centre which creates such a consistent, safe and welcoming environment for the children.<br><br>We feel completely comfortable leaving our son there knowing he’s with educators who know him well and genuinely care about him. An advantage of attending a smaller centre means that the whole team knows the name of every child and it’s a more personalised experience. We’re really happy with the care he receives and would definitely recommend the centre to other families.

Natalie L image

Natalie L

5.0 • 1 month ago

We have had such a wonderful experience at the centre! A special thank you to Theresa and Tima in the nursery room. Seeing my little boy put his arms straight out for them says everything about the beautiful bond and trust they have built with him ❤️<br><br>Thank you also to the girls in the toddler room for welcoming him and beginning to build such lovely relationships with him as he transitions into the room.<br><br>A big thank you to Daniella and Sarah in management for being so welcoming and supportive. We are so grateful for such a caring team!

Enrico Capa image

Enrico Capa

5.0 • 1 month ago

My daughter has been going since a baby and is soon ready for school..I cannot recommend and thank all the staff for my child's growth and development..the whole centre literally looks after the kids as if they are there own .in terms of feeling safe..learning huge amounts about the world ..developing great manners and getting them ready for school.highly recommended. Dani the director is absolutely wonderful and easy to talk too<br>5 stars

Olivia Sutton image

Olivia Sutton

5.0 • 1 month ago

My daughter has been attending the centre for 2.5 years and loves it. She like all children struggled to transition in the begining, and I was anxious if she would cry forever.However, the care and support all educators showed turned a crying child into one that didn't want to leave! They recognise the child and their needs and make accomodations for these so that your child is always learning. They have created a caring and nuturing environment not only for the children but for the families aswell.

Danielle Louise image

Danielle Louise

5.0 • 1 month ago

Our children both love Essendon Fields Kinder Haven, and we have loved watching how much of a positive impact the centre, and all the wonderful educators, have had on our eldest son's growth and development over the past four years. In particular the Kindergarten Program delivered by Teacher Punam has been excellent, and you can tell she really cares about each child and their interests, and identifying what they need to thrive. She has really focused on helping to ensure our son will be ready to transition to school next year, including helping to improve his communication skills, and this has given him so much more confidence. We will definitely be sad when it comes time to leave!

How Essendon Fields Kinder Haven Compares

with Essendon, 3041

Reviews

Above average

Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

Gold starGold starGold starGold starGold star

4.8/5

Suburb Average

Gold starGold starGold starGold starGold star

4.6/5

View Reviews

Price

Above average

Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

$193.60

Suburb Average

$187.56

NQS

The National Quality Standard is an industry benchmark defined by the government.

Essendon Fields Kinder Haven

Meeting

Suburb Average

Meeting

NQS Rating Breakdown

Overall

Meeting

nqs logo
Educational Program and Practice Meeting
Children's Health and Safety Meeting
Physical environment Meeting
Staffing Arrangements Meeting
Relationships with children Meeting
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities Meeting
Governance and leadership Meeting
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Essendon Fields Kinder Haven