4 Year Old Integrated Kindergarten

At MELCC we offer an integrated 4 Year Old Kinder program with a qualified Kindergarten Teacher as part of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life program. As a long day care centre, our kinder program includes childcare before and after kindergarten hours to support busy and working parents.

Our early childhood learning program follows a play-based, emergent curriculum and gives children the confidence and preparation for school readiness. Project work is undertaken throughout the year and is based on the children’s interests. Ideas and planned activities are extended intentionally and collaboratively with the children.

The children have specific tasks and responsibilities, and there is plenty of one on one teacher focused activities to support the individual learning and development of each child. Communication is key and we are always in contact with our families about their child’s interests, development and readiness for school.

Our room philosophy and routines revolve around:

  • Independence and self-help skills

  • A sense of agency and initiative

  • Ownership for items and creations in the room (everything has a place and children know where they should live, the children have cones with their pictures on them so that they can follow through with respect for their creations)

  • Respectful relationships (we emphasize and encourage a sense of belonging and security between the children and educators in our setting; corners have been set up to create opportunities for small/large group interactions; independent problem solving and mediation strategies are encouraged so children can negotiate through friendship issues)

  • Teacher-focused time in small group activities

  • Meaningful literacy and numeracy awareness within the room environment and in everyday routines

  • Building kind, empathetic, confident and resilient individuals

  • A love and curiosity for learning

  • Diverse experiences and cultures that are meaningful to the children, families and community.

Our activities include:

  • Bush kinder where we take the classroom outdoors and have the opportunity to for greater freedom to play creatively with natural materials and explore nature while staying active and learning through play. We travel on foot and by tram to a local scout hall and wonderful parkland where we climb trees, observe nature, run freely and feel inspired by the natural world around us. It has built self confidence and strengthened the bonds of our wonderful 4 year old kinder group.

  • ELLA (Early Learning Languages Australia) language program in which the children are learning Italian

  • Maternal Child Health visits in which the children learn about self care and wellness

  • Cooking and gardening as well as ecological experiences help develop our understanding of the environmental ecosystem and the role we play

  • STEM activities often develop from a question or curiosity of the children and we delight in researching and undertaking experiments to discover the answer!

  • Embedded Indigenous perspectives in which we learn acknowledgment of country, the rich stories of the land and creation, bush tucker cooking and creative projects inspired by nature

  • Creative Arts incorporating nature, mixed media, beading, yarn, drawing, painting, colouring, mixing, sticking, cutting and everything in between

  • Frequent excursions around our vibrant neighbourhood include the library to borrow and return books, the toy library, the park and the post office

  • Charity days in which we dress up or plan a themed activities to help raise money

  • Wellness days with Mindful Mushkins in which the children learn tools to help them be mindful, calm and confident. The sessions help them understand the importance of caring for themselves as well as the world around them.

Our fantastic cook, Sam, prepares wonderful meals and snacks all day from fresh, organic produce, relieving families of the need to pack lunch. And hats and sunscreen are provided to keep the children safe from the sun while playing outdoors.

Summary assessments are provided three times a year and parent teacher interviews are available twice per year.

A program of school transition activities are planned to ease the move from MELCC to prep. We partner with local primary schools and have representatives visit and host information nights for families. Children are welcome to ask questions and gain an understanding of the different environment.

At the end of the year our kinder graduation turns on the water works for the educators at MELCC, many of who have been cared for for 4 years. It’s a wonderful ceremony as we proudly send our prep ready children off to ‘big school’.

Government Funded Kinder at MELCC 

Children enrolled in our funded 3 and 4 year old Kinder program will receive a reduced daily fee. As an integrated kinder with long day care, this government funding is in addition to any CCS that you may be eligible for.

Four-year olds must be enrolled at MELCC for at least two days per week and not enrolled in a sessional kinder elsewhere to be eligible for Kinder funding at MELCC. The subsidy will cover 15 hours of Kinder per week, with a yearly subsidy of $2,000 made directly by the Victorian Government to MELCC that will be deducted from your daily fees across the year.  

We invite you to tour our wonderful centre and kindergarten offering today - 9509 0739


Ailis Brophy is the 4-Year-Old Kinder Lead Educator and Tamara Walters is the Co-Educator.


Our daily 4yo Kinder activities at Malvern Early Learning


Ailis Brophy

4 Year Old Kinder Lead Educator
Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education
Kindergarten teacher of 13 years

I enjoy working with children as it allows me to play a role in shaping their growth and development for the future.

Bush Kinder - we take the classroom outdoors!


The kinder program is engaging, challenging, thoughtful and creative. We find it’s a great way to balance our family needs and getting our ‘big girl’ ready for school
— MELCC Parent

We love to get creative!

We’re often out and about Malvern and Armadale exploring