3-Year-Old Kindergarten Program
3-year-old Kindergarten is a crucial time for any child. It's the moment everything starts to click into place and children begin their journey towards gaining a deeper understanding of their social skills, emotional wellbeing and of course, early numeracy and literacy. It's where confidence takes shape, when children begin to recognise themselves as capable, creative learners.
At Explorers Early Learning, our government-funded 3-year-old Kindergarten program is intentionally designed to support children during these formative years. Guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and delivered through our Learning for Life Curriculum and Framework of Joy, our approach goes beyond academic milestones. We focus not only on what children are learning, but on who they are becoming.
After all, early learning kindergarten should build more than skills. It should build character.
The Explorers Kindergarten Journey
The Explorers Kindergarten Program is completed over a two-year period, beginning with the 3-year-old Kindergarten Program. After completing the first year of kindergarten, your child will then move into the second and final year.
Our Kindergarten program is play-based and inquiry-driven, inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. It is driven and guided by children's interests as well as fundamental learnings like numeracy, literacy and ecological sensibility. After all, learning is most powerful when children are engaged and curious.
Throughout the program, children develop:
- Social and emotional intelligence
- Early literacy and language skills woven into daily experiences
- Counting and other mathematical concepts that support problem solving and communication in play and experiences that are meaningful to children
- Confidence and control in increasingly complex physical movements that support health and independence
- The ability to use tools, including a variety of writing and drawing implements
- Creativity, problem solving and self-expression
Learning is active, joyful and purposeful, helping children make sense of the world around them.
Looking for 3-Year-Old Kindergarten?
Explore our government-funded kindergarten program designed to support confidence, belonging, and a love of learning from the very beginning.
Three-Year-Old Kindergarten at Explorers
The first year of our kindergarten program is all about foundations.
Foundations of belonging, confidence and identity.
At three, children are learning how to be part of a group while still understanding themselves as individuals. Our role is to provide consistency, security and intentional teaching that supports this growth. We also begin introducing early literacy and numeracy experiences in natural, engaging ways, embedded in play, projects and everyday routines.
Children start to deeply trust their educators, begin to experiment with their learning and most importantly, discover what they're truly capable of.
Throughout the year, children develop:
- A sense of belonging within a group environment
- The confidence to form friendships
- Skills for cooperative play in pairs and small groups
- The ability to communicate needs and ideas clearly
- Emotional awareness and strategies for expressing feelings
- Independence through routines and self-help skills
- Listening and early conversation skills
- Curiosity and exploration through play-based inquiry
Why Families Choose Explorers for 3-Year-Old Kindergarten
Choosing the right kindergarten for your child is an important decision. At Explorers, our 3-year-old kindergarten learning program is designed to create confident, capable learners who are ready not just academically, but socially and emotionally.
Families searching for the best daycare for toddlers often continue their journey with us into kindergarten because of:
- Bachelor-qualified Teachers
- Government-funded kindergarten programs
- Play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired environments
- Strong literacy and numeracy foundations
- A focus on emotional intelligence and wellbeing
- Continuity of secure relationships with peers and familiar educators
- Seamless transition pathways into primary school
How Our Program Prepares Children for 4-Year-Old Kindergarten
For children, the learning journey they embark on this year leads smoothly into the next. At Explorers, we ensure every jump and transition is as seamless as possible through our intentional learning experiences.
Our 3-year-old Kindergarten Program gently introduces children to routines, group experiences and early learning concepts that support a smooth transition into 4-year-old kindergarten. Children become familiar with:
- Listening and contributing to group discussions
- Following simple instructions
- Building friendships and resolving problems together
- Developing longer attention spans
- Expressing ideas clearly and confidently
Repeating Years: While children's learning and development occurs in predictable patterns, each child is unique. Children learn at their own pace and in a rich variety of styles. Some children face a range of factors that lead to extra complexity in the way they learn and develop.
Our qualified Teachers are skilled in recognising and responding to additional complexities in learning. If your child's learning indicates an additional year in kindergarten would be the best option for their long-term learning, Explorers will support you to work with your child's teacher and other professionals to explore options, including the possibility of an additional year of kindergarten.
Kindergarten Welcome Pack
Starting kindergarten is a milestone. We go the extra distance to both celebrate it and ensure that children are proud to be kindergarteners at Explorers Early Learning.
Each child receives an Explorers Kindergarten Welcome Pack, including:
- Kindergarten polo
- Kindergarten T-shirt
- Kindergarten hat
When children transition into 4-year-old Kindergarten, they are also given a library bag and lunchbox.
Government-Funded Kindergarten Available
Explorers Early Learning offers funded kindergarten across our Victorian centres, giving families access to quality early education in a supportive learning environment.
How We Partner with Families
Strong partnerships between home and kindergarten preschool settings lead to the best outcomes for children. As well as getting to hear how your child is progressing at 3-year-old kindergarten, we ensure you also get to see their progress.
At Explorers, we value open, honest communication, and we want families to feel connected to their child's day-to-day experiences, which we do through Storypark and through regular face-to-face conversations during arrivals and departures.
Family connection includes:
- Individual learning portfolios
- Project documentation
- Development plans (where required)
- Incursion and excursion information
- Opportunities to join events, tours and family activities
Start Your Kindergarten Journey with Explorers
At Explorers Early Learning, our preschool and kindergarten programs are designed to support confident transitions, curious minds and capable learners.
Find a centre near you and experience Explorers firsthand.
Book a tour or enquire today, we'd love to welcome your family into our learning community.
FAQs
Is Explorers Eligible for Government-Funded Kindergarten?
Yes! Explorers Early Learning meets the Victorian Government's eligibility requirements for funded kindergarten programs. Our centres are registered and approved providers, meaning families can access free kindergarten at any of our locations.
We adhere to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), ensuring that all programs meet high educational standards. Our educators undergo rigorous training and qualification requirements, guaranteeing that children receive the best early education experience possible.
Is Financial Support Available?
Families may be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), depending on income, activity levels and care hours. CCS helps reduce out-of-pocket costs and makes quality early learning more accessible.
You can estimate your family's eligibility using our CCS Calculator.