Hollins Children’s Centre – Pakenham

A place to learn, play and explore

Kindergarten

Hollins Children’s Centre is a purpose-built service offering both 3-year-old and 4-year-old sessional kindergarten programs.

Our service inspires and nurtures children’s interests through hands-on experiences driven by evidence that learning is most effective when children are supported to explore through curiosity and play. Play is considered a vital part of Our indoor/outdoor environment provides a fun, safe and innovative learning space which fosters exploration, independence and creativity.

Our team of Early Childhood Teachers and Educators are passionate about the vital role they play in the lives of every child. They strive to provide an environment where children feel a sense of belonging and develop self-confidence to support them in their relationships with others. Educators scaffold children’s learning through a quality educational program which will pave the way for their educational journey.

Our play based educational program is stimulating and developmentally appropriate and responds to the needs and interest of each child. It is underpinned by the Victorian Early Years learning and Development Framework, the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework. We are also inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach which focuses on the image of the child where each child is viewed as capable and competent with great capacity and creativity.

At Cire Early Learning Services, we acknowledge the importance of the early years in children’s development and believe that all children should have opportunities for high quality education and care. We value early childhood education as the foundation of lifelong learning and recognise that a child’s learning and development is holistic, enhanced by a partnership between early childhood educators, children, community and family.

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Community and Family

At Cire, we have a saying, “Together is better”. We apply this across all aspects of what we do in Early Learning. We know the proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, and we want to be part of your village to support you and your child through their learning journey.

We understand that choosing an early learning service is a big decision, and we value our relationships and partnership with family and community. We are committed to creating and maintaining strong links with our community and strive to provide support in all that we do. Communication between educators and families is of the utmost importance to us. Strong relationships build a foundation of trust and a partnership paramount in creating an environment where all children feel safe, secure and supported. We believe the best way to work with you and your child is by building a partnership of education and care.

The Reggio Emilia Approach

At Cire, we are inspired and guided by the Reggio Emilia Approach, which views children as active, capable and valuable community members. This approach acknowledges the importance of the early years and encourages exploration and curiosity, creating a solid foundation for lifelong learning. It also focuses on community and relationships founded on the belief that we learn through making connections between things, concepts and experiences and that we do so by interacting with other people and with our surrounding environment. Probably the most famous principle from Reggio Emilia is the idea that children have a hundred languages to express themselves in art, music, and drama, and they should be encouraged to learn through experiences like listening, moving, touching and observing.

Facilities Community Sustainability Excursions & Incursions Specialist Programs

Facilities

Hollins Children’s Centre is a purpose-built early education and care venue. Our facilities include:

purpose built kindergarten rooms (both 3 and 4 year-old)
outdoor play area
walking distance to local shops and transport
additional services included within the centre include, maternal health nurse, playgroups and a toy library.
conveniently located next to Pakenham Primary School.

Community

We are committed to creating and maintaining strong links with our community and strive to provide support in all we do.

Connections to our community include visits to local libraries and aged care facilities to provide intergenerational experiences and to open up the world of books and literure.

Sustainability

Cire is committed to sustainable practices and we pride ourselves on educating our children about how they can help to reduce the carbon footprint of the world. Our initiatives include vegetable gardens, a worm farm and recycling stations.

Children's Services - excursions and incursions

Excursions & Incursions

Excursions and incursions are an important part of our educational program as they expose children to a range of different experiences as well as provide them with a stronger sense of their community. These opportunities include:

visting the local Library
Grandparent and special persons afternoon teas
Stay and play days
Music and drumming

Specialist Programs

Our specialist programs further enhance our children’s love of learning, now and for the future.

FAQs

How do I know if my child is ready to start kindergarten?

We recommend you speak to your maternal and child health nurse about your child’s development.

How old does my child have to be to enrol in a kindergarten program?

For 3-year-old kindergarten, your child must turn 3 years by 30th April in the year they are attending.

For 4-year-old kindergarten, your child must turn 4 years old by 30th April in the year they are attending.

Does kinder operate during school holidays?

No sessional kindergarten operates during school terms only and is therefore closed during school holidays.

What does my child need to bring with them to kinder?

Lunch box with enough healthy snacks for lunch, morning and afternoon tea.
A drink bottle filled with water (that children can open and close independently).
Change of clothes changed due to the weather conditions/seasons.
Appropriate closed-toed footwear.
A Bag to keep belongings in.
Outside jacket/coat for the cooler weather.
Beanie (Winter) or hat (Summer).

Do you have a uniform?

We do, but it is not compulsory. You can, however, purchase a hat, t-shirt and/or a jumper.

How do I enrol my child?

Contact Kindergarten Central Registration Officer | Cardinia Shire Council

Phone: 03 5943 4766 | Web: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au. Once registered with the Council’s Central Enrolment, they will inform Cire of your registration, and we will contact you to send you Cire’s enrolment forms and other relevant documentation.

Centre tours can be made anytime by completing an online enquiry form, contacting us at 1300 835 235, or contacting the service directly at (03) 5940 7394 or earlylearninghcc@cire.org.au.

How much does kindergarten cost?

As part of the Government’s Best Start Best Life reforms in Victoria, kindergarten in sessional kindergarten is free.

Families do not need to have a Health Care Card or Pension Card, Australian citizenship, or proof of address to be eligible to access. You also do not need to be eligible for the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to receive Free Kinder.

You can only receive Free Kinder at one kinder service at a time. Your kinder service will ask you to sign a letter naming the service where you will receive Free Kinder. If your child attends more than one kinder service, you should let each service know where you want to access Free Kinder.