Mernda Villages Kindergarten

At Mernda Villages Kindergarten we are committed to providing a welcoming, positive and inclusive environment for all children and families. We value each child as individual and support them to feel safe and secure with a strong sense of belonging. We understand the vital contribution of play to early childhood development and the importance of interest-based learning.

Children’s interests and strengths are recognised and their thinking extended through our play based ‘hands on’ learning program, where educators teach intentionally to develop children’s skills, understandings and positive dispositions for learning. We respect the uniqueness of our families, acknowledge them as their child’s first teacher and foster supportive, collaborative relationships. We strive for positive learning outcomes for all children and promote a sense of connection to the Kinder and community.

Mernda Villages Kindergarten team is strong in mind and in spirit. The team have a close relationship and support each other both professionally and personally. Our Early Childhood Teaching team have an incredible 120 years of teaching years between them. Plus our amazing educators which is in excess of 150 years of experience.

The team bring a uniqueness to the centre, our differing interests and abilities ensure that the children are learning about many different things, including gardening, sustainability, cooking, numeracy, science, literacy and IT.

• We provide an environment that is fun, engaging, interesting and challenging
• We offer a play-based curriculum that reflects the children’s interests, strengths, needs and understandings
• We view children as capable and competent active participants in their own learning; therefore being responsive to children’s ideas and co-constructing knowledge, providing children with choices, input into decisions, time and strategies
• We respect and acknowledge the Wurundjeri Clan as the traditional custodians of the land where the kindergarten is located
• We learn about Aboriginal Cultures and share these with children and families
• We ensure that our practices are supported by the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics
• We acknowledge parents/guardians as the child’s first teacher
• We recognise and respect individual parenting styles

The Victorian Government provides funding to support children to access a high quality kindergarten program in the two years before they start school. This helps to ensure all Victorian children get the best start in life.

From 2023, the Victorian Government is making kindergarten programs free for three and four-year-old children – saving you and your family up to $2,500 per year for their program. Free Kinder is a critical component of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reform