We offer two, 4 year old kinder groups which each run across two sessions every week during school terms.

OCK provides a stimulating and educational learning program for your four-year-old, which helps them prepare for school. Your child will enjoy a range of open-ended, play-based, learning environments tailored to their interests. They will learn skills for life including respect, problem-solving, self-confidence and resilience, all in an inclusive, warm and nurturing environment.

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards (NQS) underpin our play-based curriculum. Through our weekly program your child will develop:

•  A strong sense of identity

•  A feeling of belonging within their community and their environment

•  A sense of social, emotional and physical wellbeing

•  Skills and dispositions for confident and involved learning

•  Effective communication skills

We welcome each child’s uniqueness and assist them to create their own experiences at OCK. We encourage them to explore, take risks, use their imagination, laugh and we listen to them and encourage them to listen to others. Communication about your child’s OCK experiences are sent via our parent app, using a mixture of reflections, photos, and artwork.

Our rich outdoor play space incorporates large, open, multipurpose spaces and cosy corners with beautiful native plants and mature trees, natural shade and textured surfaces as well as veggies and herbs to create a lovely sensory experience for your child.  Outside, play-based learning extends to the large sandpits, and water play. 

Unique Experiences for your Child:

These unique experiences are all included in your fees.  Many kindergartens charge extra for special events and excursions.  

Playball

Victor from PlayBall Glen Eira runs a weekly sports program during terms 2 and 3.  This exciting and dynamic program introduces each child to the FUN of sports participation.  Playball covers the skills needed to play many sports some of which include tennis, hockey, basketball, soccer, football, netball, baseball and cricket.

OCK Pet program

Providing children with access to animals in an education and care service can help them learn about the life cycle and relationships, and improve communication. Through our ducks, guinea pigs and stick insects we encourage direct contact and special bonds between the animals and children, to help build empathy and respect.

Language Program

OCK participate in the Victoria Governments Early Childhood Language Program.  Through play children learn a second language and expand their knowledge of other cultures.  Experts have found there are many benefits to starting to learn additional languages at a young age, including helping your child to think, explore, problem solve and support their pre-reading and pre-writing learning.

If your child already speaks the language being delivered, it can strengthen their self-esteem and cultural identity.

By encouraging diverse language skills at OCK, we believe can build a stronger community and prepare children for a more globalised and connected world. (see the video below)

Music Program

Our music program is fun and uses song, music and movement to enhance children's communication and social skills. It is run by an early education specialist and is child-centred and relaxed which means all children feel comfortable to observe until they are ready to participate.

Lending Library

During the middle terms, in order to encourage our 4-year old’s developing literacy skills we have a book lending library.  Children and educators talk about books, explore themes and each child chooses a book to take home.  This program helps prepare your child for school and foster the love of reading.

Strong Family Relationships

Research shows relationships are central to children developing acceptance, self-esteem and higher functioning thinking skills that contribute to positive learning and life outcomes (KidsMatter Early Childhood). The relationship between families and educators is cherished and nurtured at OCK . We foster these connections through the use of parent helpers at kinder and by asking the children to care for animals during the holidays as well as community events and through our Committee of Management.

We also have our special friend ‘Curios George’, who likes to visit our families and asks his friends to share his experiences at kinder.

Special Events

Your child will also experience a range of special events and experiences including things like:

• Drumming incursion

• Visiting puppet shows

• Farm excursion

• Drama Toolbox workshop

• Dinosaur incursions

• Seaweed Sally

• Australian Animals incursion

• Visiting dance workshops

• Grandparents and special friend’s morning tea

• Walk in the Dark

• Woodworking evening

Sustainability and Reconciliation

Respect for the environment, first nations peoples, and sustainability are integrated into each child's kinder experience. We use our large, natural backyard to educate the children about the environment. Children give their food scraps to the animals or worms, and the compost produced is used on the vegie garden. 

Through our reconciliation program, children are introduced to first nations people, their stories and culture.