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.

“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.

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.

Hi, my name is Ebony, and I am the Centre Manager here at Northland Kinder Haven. By being mindful of children’s sensory preferences and adjusting environments, routines, and expectations where needed, I aim to help every child feel secure, regulated, and ready to learn.

I have been working in early childhood education since 2021 and joined Northland Kinder Haven in 2023 as Assistant Centre Manager. I stepped into the Centre Manager role in 2026. Although I have been in the sector for a relatively short time, my passion for early education began much earlier, growing up in a multi-generational home where I was always surrounded by children. What I love most is watching children learn, thrive, and grow in their own unique ways, and supporting them as they build confidence, skills, and a lifelong love of learning.

Throughout my experience, I have learned that children’s behaviour is often a form of communication. Many children may carry experiences of stress or trauma that influence how they regulate emotions, interact with others, and respond to their environment. This understanding guides my trauma-informed approach, where I focus on building safe, trusting relationships and responding calmly and thoughtfully to each child’s needs. By being mindful of children’s sensory preferences and adjusting environments, routines, and expectations where needed, I aim to help every child feel secure, regulated, and ready to learn.

When speaking with families, I often explain that early learning centres complement the learning that happens at home by providing opportunities for children to learn alongside peers, develop communication and social skills, and build confidence through consistent routines. Purpose-designed environments and qualified educators also provide access to a wide range of experiences and resources that support children’s wellbeing, development, and independence.

I am proud to work alongside a close-knit team of nine dedicated educators who bring experience, passion, and professionalism to our centre every day. Many of our team members have been with the centre for several years, including two educators who have been part of our community for nearly 20 years, creating strong continuity and meaningful relationships with families.

Supporting families is central to my role. I focus on maintaining open, respectful communication through daily conversations, emails, phone calls, and our family communication platform. From enrolment through orientation and beyond, I work closely with families to ensure they feel informed, supported, and confident in their child’s learning journey. By building genuine partnerships with families and creating a welcoming environment, we work together to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.

We look forward to welcoming your family to our Preston early education centre.