3 Year Old Program
In 2024, Winston Hills has two 3 year old groups:
Blue Group (12hrs)
Monday 9:15am - 3:15pm
Thursday 9:15am - 3:15pm
Green Group (6.5hrs)
Tuesday 9:15am - 3:45pm
In 2025, we will have more hours available for both 3 year old groups:
2025 Blue Group (15hrs)
Monday 8:30am - 4:00pm
Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm
2025 Green Group (15hrs)
Tuesday 9:00am - 4:30pm
Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm
Enrolment for our 3-year-old kinder program is managed centrally through the Banyule City Council and further information can be found on their website.
VISIT THE BANYULE CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE
For further enquiries please contact enrolment@winstonhillspreschool.org.au
Is your child ready for 3 year old kinder?
Beginning 3-year-old kinder is an important time in a child’s life. For many children, it is often the first step being away from their family and home therefore we feel it is important to consider how best we can help make this experience, as positive as possible.
We believe there are several factors that need to be considered when thinking about a child’s readiness for 3-year-old kinder:
A child's age/developmental stage are important factors to consider.
Ability to cope in a social environment outside the family. Children will gain the most out of their kindergarten years and subsequent school years if they are socially mature and ready to cope with the expectations, learning environment and challenges that will be placed upon them.
Your child is eligible to enrol for 3-year-old kindergarten if they turn 3 by the 30 April in the year of attendance (they must turn 3 years of age before they can commence.)
If your child turns 3 between January to April, you do have the option to defer your child's attendance until the following year (children cannot repeat a second year of 3-year-old kinder.)
When considering three-year-old kinder readiness please remember that beginning kinder is a major step in the education and learning journey. Readiness for kindergarten or school does not reflect parenting styles or the child’s intelligence; rather, it is based on their current development. If your child is not yet ready for kindergarten you might consider enrolling in one or more of the following alternatives to assist their development and growth of social skills:
playgroup
childcare
community activities, such as library story time sessions
occasional care
music groups
When to start 3 year old kinder?
For more information please visit the Victorian State Governments Kindergarten calculator here.
When considering 3-year-old kinder:
Will your child be able to say goodbye to you or the person bringing them to kinder and separate without a great deal of distress?
Will they be able to interact positively with others and find a sense of belonging within a group of 21 other children?
If confronted with challenges, can they ask for help?
Are they beginning to share equipment and spaces with others?
Can they follow a basic routine and instructions?
Do they have the language and/or confidence to interact with both peers and teachers?
Can they concentrate for short periods of time at activities of interest, and can they work towards completing small/simple tasks?
Are they showing independence with self-help and toileting skills? For example, feeding themselves and going to the toilet unaided?
Are they able to help pack up and enjoy a song or story together with their friends?
Indoor/Outdoor Program
Winston Hills Preschool provides opportunities for children to choose whether they would like to play inside or outside. Children can relax, have fun, develop healthy bodies and minds. Providing time for unstructured, uninterrupted play gives children a chance to:
Recognise/express/manage their interests and feelings
Develop a sense of wonder and curiosity
Freely explore and discover new ideas/skills
Make decisions, problem solve, concentrate, and persist
Develop their independence and initiate their own play
Think creatively, improvise, problem solve and make-believe
Interact with other people, build relationships
Connect with the natural environment
Develop their communication skills
During this time teachers and educators sensitively observe and carefully choose the moments when they might subtly introduce an element which will extend the child’s learning and discovery.
Outdoors, children’s connection with nature is fostered. Children are offered all of the learning resources that are offered indoors such as art, blocks, books, puzzles, box construction and more, with the added bonus of being surrounded by nature.
POSSUM ROOM
In 2025 our Possum Room runs our Green and Blue group 3 year old programs and our Purple Group 4 year old program.
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.”
WHAT OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE SAYING ABOUT US
CHILD
“I am so lucky to play for a long time!”
PARENT
Winston Hills Preschool has been an enriching and rewarding experience for our whole family.
PARENT
3 year old kinder was an incredibly valuable stepping stone for my daughter. It was a gentle, nurturing and supported environment for her to venture into.
PARENT
I could not be happier with the staff and the program offered by WHPS, and would recommend 3 year old kinder as the perfect 1st step into any child's education.
Enrolment
Enrolment for our 4 year old kinder program is managed centrally through the Banyule City Council and further information can be found on their website.