Pakenham Kindergarten Services
It supports language, motor skills, memory, emotions and social relationships. Educators plan play-based learning experiences based on children’s interests and goals. We aim to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment, from the moment you book a tour with us, through to enrolment and when your child starts care. We have an open-door policy and welcome your input and feedback, as this is important to us and helps form collaborative relationships, between you and the community. This also helps us to provide an environment that is supportive to all children, families, and educators. I believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and we are part of that village.
It’s designed to make your search for child care, kindergarten and preschool as easy as possible. The 4/5 year old Discovery Program is a government-recognised kindergarten program. As part of the program, children join the Early Explorers (bush kinder) spend three hours of uninterrupted play on College grounds, using what nature has childcare centres near pakenh provided as learning materials.
As part of the daily fee, children can enjoy extracurricular activities, including a sports program and a cultural program. I began working in early childhood education in 1999 and joined Great Beginnings Pakenham in 2014. I bring many years of experience across a range of leadership roles within early learning. Since joining Great Beginnings Pakenham, I have worked as a Lead Educator, Educational Leader, Assistant Centre Manager, and now Centre Manager. Each role has given me the opportunity to develop new skills, explore different areas of the sector, and deepen my passion for ensuring children receive the best possible start to their education journey.
Your child will be able to freely explore our outdoor play areas and build on their own interests in both self-directed play and in groups. Your child will participate in learning musical skills and awareness, and be encouraged actively explore their own interests through singing and dance. Your child will learn about nature, sustainability and actions we can take to support the environment and healthy living.
We are proud to offer the highest quality early education and care, where the safety and wellbeing of our children are paramount. At Cardinia Lakes ELC we appreciate and value families as the primary and most influential educators for their children. As a result, we prioritise working closely with families to ensure that our learning environments seamlessly align with and build upon the learning that takes place at home. We offer nurturing care and quality early education for children from 6 weeks to 6 years, with flexible hours (9, 10, 11, and 12-hour sessions) to suit busy families. We provide open-ended experiences coupled with age-appropriate, intentional teaching, guided by the ACECQA developmental checklists. Our focus is to nurture children’s confidence, resilience, and self-esteem, empowering them to make choices and explore the world in ways that are meaningful to them.
Watching the children grow and learn is a privilege – and something I am fortunate to share with an excellent team of carers and educators, all of whom are experienced and qualified. My passion for early learning is based on a solid understanding that the first five years shape who a child will become. We have a responsibility to offer the highest quality in early education and support families along the way. They are unique, capable, resilient and have a natural sense of wonder and curiosity, which they love to share with their caregivers and teachers.
If your child requires formula or expressed milk, please include that as well. All items should be packed in a clearly labelled bag so our educators can easily identify them. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a government-funded support that helps families reduce the out-of-pocket cost of childcare. At Little Stars, we encourage families to apply through myGov before starting care.
We invite you to visit our centre and experience the joy, energy, and care that make our learning environment so special. We value our connection to the Pakenham community and encourage children to explore the world around them. With local excursions, cultural celebrations, and sustainability-focused activities, we help children build empathy, awareness, and meaningful relationships with their environment and each other. Every kindergarten program at Cire is led by a university-trained, Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher. This ensures that every child in a Cire Melbourne kindergarten program receives an education that aligns with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).
Parents are also encouraged to share their insights and feedback with educators to add depth to the relationship. Nutrition plays a vital role in a child’s development, and our on-site chefs prepare fresh, balanced meals every day. With garden-grown produce and wholesome ingredients, we promote positive food habits and provide the energy children need to learn, play, and grow with confidence.