3 Year Old Kindergarten

A GENTLE INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOL

The 3 Year Old Kindergarten at Mary’s Mount Primary School offers a gentle introduction to the school environment for children who are three years old or will turn three before the 30th of June in that year. The program provides a flexible option for one or two days a week, on Thursdays and/or Fridays, from 8:50 am to 2:50 pm in 2025.

To attend 3 Year Old Kindergarten, children must have already turned three years old. The program is designed to prepare children for their 4 Year Old Kindergarten, which they will attend the following year. 

The program is led by a qualified early childhood teacher, and there is support from an education assistant. The focus of the program is on play-based learning, fostering a love for learning, and creating a school-ready environment for the children that facilitates development of the whole child. 

During the program, children engage in various activities, including outdoor play, storytelling, music, singing, creative activities, and exploration. The aim is to help the children become familiar and comfortable within a school setting, establish friendships, and develop essential skills for their educational journey.

The play-based approach allows children to learn through hands-on experiences, interactions, and exploration of their interests. This methodology supports their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development in a fun and engaging way.

By participating in the 3 Year Old Kindergarten program, children and families can start building a positive relationship with the school community, helping to ease the transition into formal schooling in the future.

3YO Kindy 2025 Fees:
1 day a week = $700 per term plus $25 per term for consumables
2 days per week = $1400 per term plus $50 per term for consumables
(Fees are subject to change and are reviewed annually in November).

4 Year Old Kindergarten

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY 

Our 4 Year Old Kindergarten program offers an inviting and nurturing environment for the young learners to grow and develop important skills during their early years of education.

Children who have either turned 4 years old or will turn 4 before the 30th of June in a given year are eligible to start 4 Year Old Kindergarten. 4 Year Old Kindergarten operates for three full days a week on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with sessions running from 8:50 am to 2:50 pm in 2025.

The program is led by a qualified early childhood teacher and supported by two education assistants, which ensures that the children receive the attention and care they need during their time at Kindergarten.

Play

Play is the vehicle through which a child’s learning and development occurs enabling children to problem solve, invent, construct, explore, question, hypothesise and investigate.  It is meaningful and non-threatening and encourages children to make choices. 

Over the course of the year, children are immersed in a wide variety of play based experiences that facilitate their skills and concept development in the following domains:

Spiritual Development
Through informal experiences of prayer, spontaneous prayer, music, discussions, and activities based on religious events like Easter and Christmas, children are exposed to an awareness of Jesus and spirituality.

Language Development
Play-based experiences introduce language concepts in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Children learn letter names and sounds, recognise and write their names, develop proper pencil grip, understand conventions of print, and practice speaking and listening roles.

Cognitive Development
Various play activities such as mat sessions, learning centres, and table activities encourage children to think critically, problem-solve, predict, estimate, observe, experiment, compare, draw, write, count, match, and measure. These experiences foster cognitive skills and concepts.

Physical Development
Both indoor and outdoor play environments provide opportunities for children to engage in activities and games that promote the development of fine motor and gross motor skills, enhancing their physical abilities.

Social-Emotional Development
A warm, secure, and inviting environment allows for the nurturing of social and emotional skills. Children develop self-concept, self-esteem, independence, coping with change, making choices and decisions, taking risks, sharing, cooperating, accepting and following rules, expressing feelings, respecting others, and learning basic concepts for a healthy lifestyle.

Creative Development
Through various play activities like mat sessions, learning centres, and table activities, children explore musical concepts such as beat, listening skills, singing, moving, and playing musical instruments. Additionally, they engage in artistic expressions like drawing, painting, printmaking, paper craft, collage, clay work, role play, mime, and drama, helping to foster creativity.

By incorporating play into the learning process, children not only enjoy the experience but also develop essential skills and concepts in a meaningful and non-threatening way. Play encourages children to make choices, take initiative, and explore their interests, which leads to a well-rounded and holistic approach to education and growth.

>> HOW TO APPLY / ENROLMENT INFORMATION