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4 Year Old Bush Kinder

Koalas group

Koalas Group, our Bush Kinder program, is held at Braeside Park during Terms 2 & 3. This program will provide your children with the ideal learning environment: time and space to play in a natural setting, materials provided by nature and their own interests and enjoyment spurring them on in their learning.

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2026 Timetable
 
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Fees

Elonera supports the Victorian Government’s Free Kindergarten initiative. For more information, please see our Fee Policy.

Enrolments

The enrolments for Kindergarten at Elonera are processed by the City of Kingston’s Central Enrolment Scheme. For further information please contact the City of Kingston on 1300 653 356.

For information regarding our Kindergarten programs please contact our enrolment officer by email.

Bush Kinder program

At Elonera Preschool we believe in the importance of nature and outside play in a child’s learning and development. Numerous studies also support the need for children to spend time outside in nature. They will have the opportunity to play in the rain and the mud, roll on the wet grass, manipulate sticks, find insects, birds, animals and plants that engage their interest, use natural materials in creative ways, explore their understanding of the natural world, climb trees, expand their knowledge and hone their skills, and share these experiences with their friends, parents and teachers. Bush Kinder will be a special part of your child’s total kinder experience.

A young girl with red hair wearing a pink shirt, striped pants, black shoes, and a blue sun hat is playing at a blue water pump outdoors surrounded by green bushes.

Our educators

Our educators are all nurturing professionals who provide a secure environment for your child to enjoy and grow in, with qualified Early Childhood teachers co-ordinating both the 3yo and 4yo groups. Please find our Statement of Philosophy here.

Meet the team

Our principles

At Elonera we practice the principles of The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. For more details, please read here. The Victorian Framework uses five outcomes to describe the key elements of children’s learning and development. These are:

  • Identity — Children have a strong sense of identity.

  • Community — Children are connected with and contribute to their world.

  • Wellbeing — Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.

  • Learning — Children are confident and involved learners.

  • Communication — Children are effective communicators.

Our philosophy

More information about Bush Kinder

Each child’s developmental progression, advancing skill levels and particular interests will be noted by their teachers. The teachers will use this knowledge to support the children’s learning (just as they do at kinder). Teachers will support children as they take considered risks and face challenges essential to well- rounded learning. Stories will be told, knowledge will be shared, songs will be sung, and fun will be had.
Through play the children will connect with and grow to respect and love this natural environment. They will connect with their land in a way that cannot be done under a roof or within walls.

  • “The Bush Kinder program offers such a unique and fun learning experience for the children at Elonera. My son loved being a Koala, being outside with plants, rocks, mud, water, wildlife, whatever the weather at Braeside Park – the learning possibilities are endless when you’re outside and connecting with nature.”
    – Rei

  • “The positive impacts bush kinder had on my 4 year old are immeasurable. He loved spending the day in nature playing with his friends without a toy in sight. Puddle jumping, bug collecting and stick cubby building were the delight of his week. The time spent outside in the fresh air brought him a sense of calm and mindfulness that he would not have had the opportunity for otherwise.”

    – Gerri

  • “My daughter gained so much self-confidence & enhanced teamwork skills from engaging in non-gendered creative outdoor play as part of Elonera’s wonderful Bush Kinder program. We also really noticed an improvement in her observation skills when outdoors. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love to jump in muddy puddles?!”

    – Claire

  • “Bush kinder was a wonderful experience for our daughter. She was able to learn all about the environment whilst also having the opportunity to use her imagination to create endless nature-play with fairy gardens, stick cubby houses, jumping in puddles and playing with her friends.
    The experience nurtured her love of learning and helped her confidence grow.” 

    – Sarah

  • “I wanted to encourage my daughters to be wild, free and adventurous. The Bush Kinder Program at Elonera certainly delivered my hopes and dreams. Out in nature, surrounded by animals at Braeside Park, is an idyllic setting. The teachers live by “no such thing as bad weather, just bad preparation”, and I loved the kids out in the rain jumping in puddles. The teachers’ passion and dedication to the program made the two terms such an incredible experience.”

    – Kate