Watsonia Pre-School provides a sessional kindergarten experience for four and five year olds which is stimulating, nurturing, educational and fun. Set in a leafy green oasis in Watsonia, Victoria, Watsonia Pre-School was established in the early 1950's and offers a progressive educational program that inspires and excites young minds, and lays the foundation for future learning. The kindergarten provides two 4/5 year old groups and has 56 families utilising the centre.

Program highlights:

• Physical Motor Program - Each term the program build on learned skills with stimulating activities designed to enhance childerns spatial awareness, motor control, participation and enjoyment. Our program addresses many of the alarming childhood health issues of obesity, poor fitness and decreasing levels of activity.
• Learning through play - We believe that play is children's natural way of expressing, sharing, extending and modifying their accumulated knowledge, skills and attitudes.
• Inclusive play - Our program has an emphasis on social collaboration between children. Teachers guide children to extend and develop lateral thinking.
• Language/Literacy - Our room is filled with conversation, child/child and adult/child. Reading and writing materials are in many parts of the room. Stories are read every day - individually, in small groups, to the whole group - and the ideas and illustrations talked about.

The groups are made up of children who are approximately the same age, but of course there are many differences between them - family culture, place in the family, temperament, previous group experience and so on. We consider that encouraging friendships, co-operation and social skill development one of our major aims. At group time we come together:

• ... to talk, sing, to act and to listen
• ... we come together to learn, relax, laugh and make music
• ... we learn to take turns with talking and listening
• ... we learn to speak in front of the group and accept different ideas from others
• ... we can prepare for a coming event at kinder
• ... or deal with a problem or issue that is facing the group, e.g. sharing bikes or balls.

We provide developmental excursions each term; e.g.

• Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
• Botanical Gardens
• Local community

We recognise that families and parenting styles are as unique as their children and work with the family to ensure trust, open communication and consistency in approach to the developing child. Flexible programs are designed to accommodate the needs of the whole family - Evening Sessions for Fathers/Grandfathers, Mothers/Grandmothers and older siblings. Educative workshop evenings are held each term

Watsonia Pre-School is situated with no roads abutting it. The building is light filled to nurture the spirit of enquiry. Our outdoor area is very spacious with:

• Shade sails
• Mature trees
• A child maintained vegetable garden
• Climbing area
• Digging/Mud pit
• Large sand pit and Historical dig

Our open spaces allow running, ball games and creative and imaginative play.

Watsonia Pre-School provides a happy, warm, stimulating and secure environment to allow opportunities for children to develop friendships, physical confidence and competence, language, cognitive skills, creativity, independence and self esteem, laying the foundation for future learning.

The daily kindergarten program is based on a routine that can be spontaneously adapted to incorporate children's current individual ideas and interests, development and activity levels. Children are given long periods of uninterrupted time to explore both the indoor and outdoor environment, initiate their own ideas, engage in settled productive play for a period suitable for their development level, and gain satisfaction from doing so.

A sense of belonging is fostered so children feel that they are part of a group in which they can feel relaxed and confident to contribute and be connected to the wider community.

The programs are developed in response to the kindergartens philosophy, current needs and interests of the children, and in consultation with children, staff and parents. The centre uses the Practice Principles for Learning and Development as outlined in the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia to provide the support necessary for every child to learn and develop. The program is regularly discussed, evaluated and refined to suit the changing interests and development levels of the children.

Staff share passion and commitment to the field of Early Childhood Education and bring together many years of knowledge and experience.

Outdoor play is highly valued and staff are passionate about the importance of children experiencing and connecting with the natural world first hand.

Watsonia Pre-School is also a Sun Smart Centre. All Children are provided with a named hat to be worn as prescribed by Sun Smart Victoria.