Carey Street Kindergarten

Welcome to Carey Street Kindergarten, located in Ararat, Australia. Our dedicated team of educators is passionate about Early Childhood Education and is ready to welcome you to our service. We are proud to be recognized as Exceeding in the National Assessment and Ratings, constantly striving for best practice in everything we do.

At Carey Street Kindergarten, our program draws on the best of theory and practice, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and the Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). We also take inspiration from European forest schools, recognizing the importance of open natural learning environments. As part of our Bush Kinder program, we take the children into the bush to explore, investigate, and make connections with their natural world. We aim to create awareness and education in looking after our environment and promoting a sustainable future.

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program plays an integral part in this process, giving children hands-on experience in gardening, cooking, and sharing meals together. Our kindergarten plays an important role in the lives of families, offering support and resources that are reflective and supportive of their needs. We encourage family engagement and participation within the program.

Carey Street Kindergarten proudly displays the Kinder Tick, which recognizes our program as a funded kindergarten program. We offer a variety of excursions and incursions to enhance learning and development, allowing children to explore and get to know different spaces outside of the center. Our own vegetable garden, as part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, introduces food education to children, helping to form positive food habits for life.

Storypark connects our educators with parents, providing the ability to share news, service updates, progress, and exciting moments from kinder to home. Our outdoor play areas are designed to encourage learning and exploration in the natural environment, including a sensory path, dry creek bed, mud kitchen, large lawn areas, and a fort.

Safeguarding children and young people is of utmost importance to us. We provide safe and fun environments for children to flourish. Our kindergarten's philosophy, informed by the National Quality Framework, guides our teaching and approach to early learning. It underpins all our service's operations and daily practices. For more details, please ask us for a copy of our Philosophy Statement.

The Y has been delivering Early Learning Programs for over 20 years and is passionate about creating safe, fun, and educational environments where children can thrive. We believe in the power of inspired young people and feel that there is no better time to begin inspiring than in an Early Learning program.

Carey Street Kindergarten's enrolment process is managed by the Y Kinders' enrolment team. We understand that starting kindergarten can be a big step for your child and your family. From choosing and visiting a service to enrolling, orientation, and anticipating the important first day, we are here to support you every step of the way.

To enroll in one of our programs, please use the links on this page. If you need assistance or further information, please fill in the form below. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to Carey Street Kindergarten, where learning and growth are nurtured in a safe and inspiring environment.