Mt Gravatt Community Kindergarten Inc

Mt Gravatt Community Kindergarten is set among the trees at the base of the Mount Gravatt Lookout in a unique bushland playground offering many natural play experiences, learning opportunities and challenges for children to explore investigate and discover.  We have been educating children in this community for 60 years, and have a strong relationship with our local community and families. Our kindergarten is affiliated with and supported by The Gowrie Qld.

Our play-based programs recognise the value and richness of play as a catalyst for children’s learning, and our teachers provide child centred educational programs that align with Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines. Our programs embrace the EYLF vision that “all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life”.

All staff are experienced and dedicated professionals who have a strong knowledge and understanding of young children’s development and current curriculums and are strong advocates for early childhood education. They all bring different interests and experiences to their roles and work as a team to provide the centre, individualised and informed programs for each child in our kindergarten.

At Mt Gravatt we have strong connections to our bushland setting which provides many opportunities for nature play experiences, physical challenges and learning opportunities. The children are encouraged to explore and interact within, to care for and to discover our natural sustainable environment. Within our grounds we have a variety of native plants and wildlife that support our conversation and the practice of caring for our natural world. We are often visited by koalas, possums, native birds and insects who all live harmoniously within our grounds.

We believe that each child is unique, capable and competent with individual strengths and interests and expectations. We believe that each child should be listened to, respected, valued and encouraged and supported to explore and engage in our kindergarten learning environments.

Our program reflects this philosophy as children are encouraged to:

• Imagine, investigate, wonder, plan, question, think, discuss, experiment and reflect in order to build knowledge and concepts of how the world works.
• Develop physical skills which enable them to function independently, express themselves confidently and further develop their strength and agility.
• Develop self-confidence and to have a positive self-image.
• Develop a range of appropriate social skills and strategies including listening to others, turn taking, sharing, co-operation, use language to communicate and play entry skills.
• Develop a positive attitude to learning by being involved in decision making regarding the program, the routine, the room and the rules.
• Think imaginatively and to express themselves creatively through music, movement and art media.

Our kindergarten families are proactive members of our learning community engaging within the program and acknowledged as strong partners in children’s learning. We believe that for children and families it is important that they feel a strong sense of belonging to this community kindergarten.

As a community kindergarten the centre is operated by a management committee which is elected annually from the current parent body. The committee is responsible for the running of this special community kindergarten.

“This kindergarten is rich in natural space, excels in providing quality experiences relatable to your child and prides itself on old fashioned play with investigation and questioning. Having three children go through the gates, I am grateful to have been able to provide that experience for them in this ever-increasing pressure-filled life. Mt Gravatt Kindergarten is a unique and precious place provided at a critical time of learning, it’s a match made in heaven. I would urge anyone to take this opportunity of sending their child to this magical place.”

Amy McCabe