Your almost preppie

4 year old kindergartener

(4 - 5 years old)

A courtyard with a large tree at the center, surrounded by a wooden deck and a playground area with colorful metal climbing structures. Single-story buildings with gray walls and metal roofs are in the background, with a partly cloudy sky overhead.

A Place Where Learning Comes to Life!

At SHBELC, we offer families a government-funded 4YO Kindergarten program, operating Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:15 PM. Our exceptional educators, fully registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), create a warm and nurturing environment where emotional intelligence blossoms alongside academic growth.

We believe in crafting a co-constructed learning experience with children and families. This approach ensures engaging, meaningful experiences both indoors and outdoors. Our focus on respect, empathy, creativity, and a love for learning helps prepare children for their next big adventure: school!

Exciting changes are happening in Kindergarten, now known as Pre-Prep throughout Victoria. We celebrate the boost in support for early childhood education and the vital role it plays in fostering children's growth and future success.

Our children thrive through collaborative inquiry-based projects that enhance their understanding of the world around them. They tackle problem-solving, take on leadership roles, and bravely step outside their comfort zones. Plus, our Term 4 initiative encourages kids to bring their own lunchboxes daily, teaching them valuable lessons in responsibility and healthy eating as they gear up for school.

Join us in giving your child the best start on their learning journey!

4 Year Old Kindergarten Gallery

A sandbox with colorful toys in an outdoor play area, surrounded by rocks with a grassy lawn in the foreground.
Modern outdoor playground with a water feature, stairs, potted plants, and a covered area, attached to a building with large windows
Sign reading 'Nursery Room Curriculum' above a bulletin board with leaf decorations, scheduled events, and informational notices, including a poster about safe sleeping for babies.
Children's toy shopping cart and building blocks on a play mat labeled 'Shopping Centre' with a wooden garage and a basket of toy parts in the background.
Toy train set with wooden tracks, colorful toy trains, and cars on a play table, with traffic signs on the wall in the background.
Toy construction scene with small yellow construction vehicles and wooden blocks in front of a wooden shelving unit containing various wooden pieces and baskets.
A pinball machine with colored plastic flippers and scattered multicolored plastic game pieces inside and outside the glass enclosure.

Mabel's Joyful Journey of Sharing Art with the Little Ones…

A young woman painting on a canvas while holding a palette, standing in a bright room with natural light and curtains.
Abstract rainbow with yellow, orange, and purple arches
scattered yellow oval shapes on white background

Mabel, our passionate art specialist teacher, brings a burst of creativity to the early learning environment at Surrey Hills Baptist Early Learning Centre. With a heart full of joy, she nurtures the artistic spirits of our little ones, guiding them through vibrant explorations of colour, shape, and texture. Mabel believes that art is not just about making things pretty; it's a vital form of expression that fosters imagination, self-confidence, and emotional growth in young children. Her playful approach encourages every child to engage freely, experiment boldly, and discover the wonders of their own creativity, creating a masterpiece of learning that resonates long beyond the classroom.

Cartoon blue arch with a smiling face and blush marks.

What does transition to school look like?

At SHBELC we believe preparing children for their transition to school and their future doesn’t just happen in the year before school, it happens from the day they are born. Through our contemporary and holistic early learning curriculum, children’s learning is scaffolded through a wide range of experiences that prepare them for lifelong learning.  

Our programs incorporate aspects of school readiness by developing the foundational skills for formal learning prior to starting school. This is essential in developing capable and confident, lifelong learners. We also focus on emotional intelligence and core values which align with our Christian ethos that include: respect, kindness, empathy, perseverance, patience and courage, curiosity, resilience, integrity and a sense of agency as well as gratitude and inclusion. 

A smooth transition to school for you and your child is important to us. We believe that when children are confident, school will be a positive and rewarding experience for them. 

As your child moves through their early years, the transition to primary school is an extremely significant milestone in their educational journey. To support this transition we: 

  1. Collaborate with local feeder Primary Schools 

  2. SHBELC advertise and endorse Primary School transition and orientation programs 

  3. Kindergarten Teachers complete Transition Learning and Development Statements with input from children and families. These learning summaries are forwarded to each child’s chosen Primary School to further facilitate a smooth transition to school.  

  4. Kindergarten Teachers consult directly with local Primary Schools 

  5. Primary School Teachers are welcomed into the Kindergarten Program to observe children and get to know their future student. 

  6. In Term 4 the 4YO Kindergarten children are encouraged to bring a lunchbox to Kindergarten. This promotes healthy eating habits and encourages children to practice eating designated portions at scheduled times such as morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.  

Still a little confused… Rest assured we can help. please speak to the exquisite Alicia, and she’ll walk you through the transition process. Give us a wave Alicia

Alicia, Education Manager

A 4 Year Old Kindergarteners typical day…

Our routine is flexible, we adjust according to children's daily needs.*

Learning at different ages

Enrol Your Child

We would love to hear from you!

If you are wanting to enrol your child at Surrey Hills Baptist Early Learning Centre we invite you to book a tour to see our facilities and meet the Educators.