With a broad network of Centres, we’re able to offer dynamic, high quality programs that help your child build the essential skills for success now, and into the next stage of their education. All our programs are underpinned by our commitment to the integration of trauma informed practice into our program delivery as focus on providing support for communities in need.
What is the difference between Kindergarten and Childcare?
What is Sessional Kindergarten?
What is Integrated Kindergarten?
What is Childcare?
A play-based, government-approved program led by qualified early childhood teachers, focusing on building social skills, confidence, and school readiness for children in the year before they start primary school.
- Ages 3 and 4 only
- Runs on set days with specific times each day
- 40 weeks per year
- Up to 7.5 hours per day
- Free: fully funded by the State Government up to 15 hours a week
- Enrolments are managed by the Local Government Area and their local priority of Access Criteria
Combines the structure of a kindergarten program with the flexibility of long day care hours, offering families the best of both worlds—education and care in one setting, tailored to your child’s developmental needs.
- Ages 3 and 4 attend Kindergarten, in a setting where ages 0 to 6 attend the Childcare Centre
- Runs each day the Centre is open
- Up to 11 hours per day
- 50 weeks per year of education and care (kinder program delivered for 40 weeks)
- The daily fee is subsidised by the Commonwealth Government CCS (depending on family circumstances) and a free kinder credit is processed each fortnight to an annual total of $2,101 in 2025
- Enrolments are managed directly by Sparkways Centre Directors with the Commonwealth Priority of Access criteria
A nurturing, full-day care environment for children from birth to school age, providing consistent routines, engaging learning experiences, and plenty of opportunities for play and discovery every day.
- Ages 0 to 6 attend the Childcare Centre
- Centre operates 5 days a week
- The daily fee is subsidised by the Commonwealth Government CCS (depending on family circumstances)
- Meals, nappies and sunscreen are included in the daily fee
- Daily occurrences and events published in Storypark, our online information portal
- Regular excursions and incursions within the local community to support your child’s learning journey
Our approach to teaching and learning
Our Approach - Our Practice
A strong sense of connection and wellbeing fosters a positive experience and engagement in the journey of early childhood education.
Each of our Kindergartens are designed to reflect the needs of the local community and families they serve. This ensures children’s early education is fundamentally informed and influenced by the families and the communities they live in.
While each of our Centres are unique, at every one of our Kindergarten’s you will find:
- High-quality play-based educational programs designed around children’s interests and developmental needs.
- Highly qualified and dedicated Educators who work in close partnership with families to maximise children’s learning outcomes in the lead up to starting school.
- Safe and stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments filled with resources to support children’s learning
- A program that encompasses the community and cultural context of the children and families attending and takes a family-centred approach.
Play based learning
Play and inquiry-based experiences are the best vehicle for young children’s learning, providing the best stimulus for healthy brain development. The National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) also recognise the importance of communication and language, including early literacy and numeracy, along with social and emotional development. The Framework outlines the highest learning expectations from birth to eight years. They identify five learning outcomes:
- 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.
Play provides the means for children to explore and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations.
It is during play that children learn and expand on life skills such as confidence, relationship building, emotional regulation, problem solving, empathy and resilience.
Relationships
We believe that fostering strong relationships and maintaining open communication is crucial for a child's growth and development. Our kindergartens take a family-centred approach, with many of our children and families from diverse cultures and backgrounds. We encourage the use of first languages, as well as family histories and rituals within our programming. We strive to create learning communities that are rich in diversity and opportunity where all children can access high-quality learning and care and are given opportunities to reach their full potential.
Trauma Informed Practice
A Trauma Informed Practice Model that Benefits all Children and Families
Sparkways is committed to providing inclusive, high quality early education and care services. We understand that our children, families and communities have a range of diverse needs and that a trauma informed practice model benefits all, but is essential for many.
Sparkways therefore uses a consistent, trauma-informed approach to underpin the delivery of our education and care services.
A trauma informed approach emphasises physical, emotional and psychological safety for children, families and communities, ultimately supporting children's cognitive and social development
Our Work with Berry Street
We have engaged Berry Street to train our workforce in Trauma Informed Practice, through the Berry Street Education Model – Early Years. This highly-regarded, evidence-based program is specifically designed for early childhood educators to equip them with the perspectives, strategies and skills to support all children to thrive.
Holistic Practice and Family Support
Sparkways has dedicated Practice Partners, who provide on-site coaching and support to our Early Years teams in embedding the trauma informed approach and continuously developing their educational program and practice.
We also have Family Support Partners, who work closely with our service leaders to assist families facing barriers to participation, including supporting families to access the assistance they need from the wider community services sector.
How do I enrol?
Step 1: Find a Kindergarten
Find a kindergarten via our listing and explore the information about each centre such as sessions times on their web page
Step 2: Complete an enrolment registration
Complete an enrolment registration for your preferred kindergarten through your local council. Click the enrol online button on the centre web page, this will take you directly to the local council enrolment registration page
Step 3: Accept Offer
Your local council will send you an enrolment offer for acceptance. Council will provide us with your details and the Sparkways Enrolment Team will contact you to finalise your enrolment.
Step 4: Complete your funding and enrolment documentation
The Sparkways Enrolment Team will email your funding and enrolment forms for completion
Step 5: Prepare for your first day
A meet and greet session will occur in November/December. Our team will send you an invite. Your child’s teacher will also contact you to confirm an interview and orientation for your child’s first day.
