The curriculum at Black Rock Pre-School is guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). The VEYLDF guides the curriculum and learning outcomes agreed by all Australian governments as important for a child’s development from birth to eight years of age. The VEYLDF identifies five key learning outcomes for all children: 

1. Children have a strong sense of identity. 
2. Children are connected with and contribute to their world. 
3. Children have a strong sense of wellbeing. 
4. Children are confident and involved learners. 
5. Children are effective communicators. 

Over the first eight years of a child’s life, a gradual shift in emphasis occurs along a continuum from play to more structured learning in formal settings. Early childhood teachers develop their learning programs to support sustained and shared interactions with children through play gradually moving towards more focused experiential learning. The majority of what your child will learn and experience at kindergarten will occur as a result of: 

1. Guided play and learning 
2. Child-directed play and learning 
3. Adult-led learning 

For more information visit the Department of Education and Training (DET) website: www.education.vic.gov.au 

Victorian Government funding helps makes kindergarten affordable for all children in the two years before they start school.

Children enrolling for a three-year-old program must turn three by the 30 April of the year they attend. Due to staff / child ratio regulations based on age, a child cannot commence at the service until they have turned three years old. 

Children enrolling for a four-year-old program must turn four by the 30 April of the year they attend. A child may start four-year-old kindergarten at the commencement of the kindergarten year even if they have not yet turned four. 

Our licence capacity is 30 children. Although class sizes can vary depending on the numbers of children enrolled at any one time, generally speaking class sizes are capped as follows: 

3 year old only days: 26 children
4 year old only days: 22 children
Combined multi-age days: 28 children, split into 2 groups each with their own teacher

Yes, there is an enrolment fee of $100 which is payable on acceptance of your kindergarten place offer. In 2022, other fees include the Family Volunteer Levy (refundable at end of year for those who contribute or volunteer at the kindergarten) and the Annual Maintenance Levy. Some exceptions apply. 

In 2023, the majority of parent fees will be voluntary due to Free Kindergarten Funding for up to 15 hours for both 3 and 4 year olds (some exceptions do apply). Under the Free Kindergarten funding model, in 2023, parents can request a refund of this enrolment fee.

Children from Black Rock Pre-School attend a large variety of local schools, however the majority of children do go on to attend Black Rock Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School.

There are particular circumstances which result in a reduction or removal of fees. If you feel you are eligible for a reduction in fees you should discuss your personal circumstances with the Enrolments Officer during the enrolment process. 

Waiting lists are managed by the Bayside City Council through the Central Registration Service.

BRPS can facilitate the attendance of children with special needs.

There are four teaching terms per year and these terms follow those of the normal school year. The kindergarten does not open or operate during the Victorian school holidays.

No. We welcome families from across Bayside. As we are part of the Central Registrations of the Bayside Council, the initial placement of offers will be managed by the Council. 

Although every child’s development is unique, observation and research suggest that children who turn three between January and April can benefit significantly from waiting a year and starting three-year-old kindergarten the year they turn four.

To help you make an informed decision about your child’s readiness, talk to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse, do some research on-line, or attend the ‘Kinder Readiness’ session through Council usually held in February or March each year.

See also development milestones

The Department of Education and Training provides some great guidance for parents and carers, please find the useful tips here: Tips for starting kindergarten (education.vic.gov.au)

Please refer to the Bayside Council Website for more details: Is your child ready for kindergarten? Setting children up for success | Bayside City Council

Every child attending a funded kindergarten program that is going to school will have a Transition Learning and Development Statement (Transition Statement) written for them, usually in Term 4. At BRPS, this is undertaken via the Insight Assessment Platform.  A child’s Transition Statement is written by early childhood educators and includes a section for families and the child to complete.  Further reading:- Transition Information Sheet.

Children enrolled in a 3-year-old program in 2022 will not be able to repeat the year in 2023. From 2022, both 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs will be funded by the State Government and therefore subject to funding conditions.  A repeat year will only be possible in the 4-year-old funded program and is subject to eligibility criteria based on identified delays in the child’s development in two or more of the developmental domains.