Play, learn and grow in the year before Prep.
Our Queensland Government-approved Kindergarten Program gives children the opportunity to explore, play, build confidence and learn alongside others in the year before they start school.
Delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher, the program runs within our long day care setting and is guided by Queensland’s approved kindergarten learning framework.
— THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Learning through play, curiosity and connection
Kindergarten is a play-based educational program designed for children in the year before Prep.
At Little Zebra, our educators build on children’s interests, ideas and questions through experiences that support communication, confidence, creativity, problem-solving and relationships.
The program is delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher and follows an approved Queensland kindergarten learning framework.
What children experience:
— WHAT CHILDREN BUILD THROUGH KINDY
Confidence for the next chapter
Kindergarten supports more than academic skills. It helps children develop the confidence, communication, independence and social skills they’ll draw on as they move toward Prep.
Confidence & independence
Having a go, asking for help, making choices and taking increasing responsibility for everyday routines.
Communication, literacy & numeracy
Through stories, songs, conversation, mark-making, counting, sorting, pattern, measuring and problem-solving, children build early language, literacy and mathematical thinking in meaningful, everyday ways.
Social & emotional development
Children practise sharing, collaborating, managing emotions, building friendships and navigating challenges with support.
Curiosity & persistence
Kindy encourages children to ask questions, explore ideas, try different approaches and experience the satisfaction of working something out.
— FREE KINDY IN QUEENSLAND
Free Kindy, explained simply
The Queensland Government funds 15 hours of an approved Kindergarten Program each week, for up to 40 weeks per year, for eligible children in the year before Prep.
For children attending kindy within long day care, families may still pay for the additional hours of care outside the funded Kindergarten Program. Child Care Subsidy may help reduce those additional costs.
01
Check your child is eligible
Kindy is generally for children who are 4 years old by 30 June in the year they attend the program.
02
15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year
The Queensland Government funds up to 600 hours of approved kindergarten each year.
03
Delivered within long day care
Your child can take part in the approved Kindergarten Program within their usual Little Zebra day, with additional care available outside the funded kindy hours.
Receive a genuine kindergarten program with all the benefits of long day care – longer hours for busy families, meals and inclusions provided, and the comfort of learning in a familiar, nurturing environment.
— TRANSITION TO PREP
Supporting a confident transition to school
As children move through their Kindergarten year, educators support them to build the confidence, independence and familiarity that can make the transition to Prep feel more manageable.
This may include conversations about school, practising everyday routines, building relationships with local schools where appropriate, and preparing transition information to help support continuity in learning.
— COME AND SEE KINDERGARTEN IN ACTION
Meet the educators and explore the program
A tour gives you the chance to meet our team, see the Kindergarten environment, ask questions about the program and understand how Kindy fits within your child’s day at Little Zebra.