3 Year Old Kindergarten Programs
Our 3 year old programs provide a great start to a child’s educational learning. Staff build around children’s interests to create an environment which is warm, welcoming, safe and consistent to enable children to develop a sense of trust, security and belonging. The focus is developing the children’s confidence and helping them to become contributing social members of the group.
Staff support each child to initiate and develop friendships and explore aspects of their world and relationships through their role play. A carefully planned environment provides opportunities for children to explore their ideas, to question, to predict, to learn how things work and to incorporate basic maths and science into their learning along with a rich environment for language and literature.
Staff support each child to initiate and develop friendships and explore aspects of their world and relationships through their role play. A carefully planned environment provides opportunities for children to explore their ideas, to question, to predict, to learn how things work and to incorporate basic maths and science into their learning along with a rich environment for language and literature.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR CHILD WILL ONLY RECEIVE ONE YEAR OF FUNDED THREE YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN. If you’re unsure if your child will be ready for 3 year old kindergarten, please review the attached advice from a qualified kindergarten teacher. – KINDERGARTEN AND SCHOOL READINESS
GROUPS
3 Year Old Program Staff: Melissa
Melissa joined the team at Tarralla Kindergarten in 2013 after doing some relief teaching at Tarralla the previous year.
She has been in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1992 – attaining a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood) from Macquarie University in Sydney.
Melissa lives locally with her husband and 2 children and enjoys dining out and spending time with family and friends.
She loves working with young children and gains fulfillment from watching and nurturing their learning and development through play.
She has been in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1992 – attaining a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood) from Macquarie University in Sydney.
Melissa lives locally with her husband and 2 children and enjoys dining out and spending time with family and friends.
She loves working with young children and gains fulfillment from watching and nurturing their learning and development through play.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Annette
Annette is passionate about working with children, helping them recognise their achievements and develop more confidence and independence.
She looks forward to working closely with families, getting to know the children and their interests and supporting each child’s learning.
She has a Bachelor of Early childhood Education and has experience across a range of Early Childhood Settings. Excited to join and be part of the Tarralla Kindergarten Community in 2023.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Kelly-Anne
Kelly-Anne is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher with a Bachelor of Early Childhood education and 20 years experience in working with pre-school aged children.
Kelly-Anne comes to Tarralla from a local sessional kindergarten and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in supporting our preschoolers to enjoy their kinder time and prepare for school.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Rebecca
Rebecca: Rebecca has her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and joins Tarralla Kindergarten after teaching in long day care for two years. She loves working with children and seeing them grow and develop over the duration of the year.
Rebecca is passionate about play based learning and supporting children to extend their learning and development through engagement with their educators, peers and the environment. She enjoys musical and creative experiences and seeing the children build their confidence and friendships with each other.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Santina
Santina has been working with kinder children since 1996, with a break in the middle to have her own children.
She has a Diploma in Children’s Services 0-6yrs and a Diploma in Montessori teaching 3-6 yrs.
Santina loves seeing children become competent and independent human beings through the process of exploring on their own, making choices and watching their beautiful individual personality blossom.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Kellie
Kellie worked in the Disability field for a number of years before having children. After working on the kindergarten committee and helping at her children’s kinder, she decided she would like a career change.
Kellie joined the Tarralla team in 2016 and has a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Kellie is the co-educator in the Kookaburras and Wombats groups, as well as helping out as an additional assistant at times in the kindergarten.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Jean
Jean is a passionate early child educator and holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education.
She holds strong values on forming meaningful relationships with children and their families.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Helen
Helen has had a career as a State Enrolled Nurse for many years, before deciding, in 1998, to change paths to Early Childhood Education in a kindergarten setting. After leaving to start her own family in 2005, Helen completed the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care. She has worked in a local kindergarten since 2016.
Helen is excited to be joining the Tarralla team in 2024, where she can continue to nurture young children’s social, emotional and physical development through play-based experiences and exploring the natural environment. She believes young children learn best, when they are secure and happy in their environment and they feel able to play freely, making their own discoveries, at their own pace.
3 Year Old Program Staff: Gulay
Gulay has a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. She has worked in long day care for 6 years.
Gulay joined Tarralla Kindergarten and the Wombats team in 2025.
4 Year Old Kindergarten Programs
Our four year old program integrates play and learning in a rich and stimulating environment. The program is developmentally based and planned around the children’s interests.
Our curriculum is child initiated and teacher assisted and the children are active participants in their learning. Literacy and numeracy are embedded into the learning program and the development of sound emotional and social skills is a high priority of the four year old kinder year.
Most importantly we aim to provide a nurturing environment that develops self assured life long learners.
Our curriculum is child initiated and teacher assisted and the children are active participants in their learning. Literacy and numeracy are embedded into the learning program and the development of sound emotional and social skills is a high priority of the four year old kinder year.
Most importantly we aim to provide a nurturing environment that develops self assured life long learners.
If you’re unsure if you’re child will be ready for 4 year old kindergarten please review the attached advice from a qualified kindergarten teacher – KINDERGARTEN AND SCHOOL READINESS
GROUPS
4 Year Old Program Staff: Sharon
Sharon: Sharon has worked in Early Childhood Services for over 25 years. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Birth to five years) and has been working in sessional kindergarten settings since 2016. Prior to this, Sharon worked in long day care services including many years as a service Director.
Sharon is a strong advocate for play-based learning and values all aspects of play. She believes in providing children with ample time to explore, discover, and develop the skills needed for lifelong learning. Sharon is dedicated to developing and nurturing children’s sense of self, by creating a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment for children and their families.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Angela
Angela’s Early Childhood Education experience spans over 25 years where she has worked in a variety of kindergarten settings, both suburban and rural and in delivering specialized educational programs in centres and schools across Melbourne.
Angela joined Tarralla in 2005 and has worked with both 3 year old and 4 year old groups during this time. She has always felt a profound commitment to the strong sense of community which Tarralla embodies having been both President and Vice–President on Tarralla Kindergarten Committee of Management during the years when her own daughter attended kindergarten.
Angela’s qualifications include a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood); a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and a Graduate Diploma in Special Education (Early Childhood) all attained at The University of Melbourne.
Her special interests as a teacher are a love of nature, all aspects of creativity, language and music. The joy in watching children grow in confidence and skill is as fresh as the year she first started teaching and she feels privileged to be someone who shares such a precious time in their lives. The experience of parenting herself gives Angela an understanding and empathy for the families she works with.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Jessica
Jessica joined the Tarralla Kindergarten team in 2019. Prior to this, she had been teaching kindergarten in the bayside and inner south region. Jessica came to early childhood education through her love of dance and movement, teaching preschool dance classes for 10 years.
She believes in the power of dance and movement in early childhood so much she even completed a Diploma of Teaching Creative Movement whilst teaching full time.
Jessica has a Masters of Teaching (Early Childhood) from the University of Melbourne. Now a fervent advocate for learning through play and genuine inclusive education, Jessica enjoys her position as co-investigator with the children she teaches; following their curious minds, extending their interests and assisting them to explore beyond the world around them.
She believes in the power of dance and movement in early childhood so much she even completed a Diploma of Teaching Creative Movement whilst teaching full time.
Jessica has a Masters of Teaching (Early Childhood) from the University of Melbourne. Now a fervent advocate for learning through play and genuine inclusive education, Jessica enjoys her position as co-investigator with the children she teaches; following their curious minds, extending their interests and assisting them to explore beyond the world around them.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Fiona
Fiona: Fiona joined the Tarralla team in 2010.
She holds a Diploma in Teaching ( Early Childhood ). She has worked in kindergartens, and pre prep programs.
Her children attended Tarralla Kindergarten .
Fiona is passionate about early childhood. She feels it is a privilege to work with young children.
A nurturing, supportive and flexible learning environment is important to Fiona.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Shelley
Shelley is a diploma qualified educator and has had many years working in sessional kindergartens in the city of Maroondah and brings a wealth of knowledge and support for her fellow educators.
Her son attended Tarralla kindergarten many years ago and she was also a member of the Tarralla committee for several years. Shelley joined the Koala Group in 2021.
She believes that sharing in your child’s kindergarten journey is a privilege and that children learn best when they feel safe, secure and supported.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Kellie
Kellie worked in the Disability field for a number of years before having children. After working on the kindergarten committee and helping at her children’s kinder, she decided she would like a career change.
Kellie joined the Tarralla team in 2016 and has a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Kellie is the co-educator in the Kookaburras and Wombats groups, as well as helping out as an additional assistant at times in the kindergarten.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Wendy
Wendy is a passionate and dedicated Diploma Co-educator who has over 23 years experience working in Early Childhood education with both 3 and 4 year old groups.
She has always worked in Community run kindergartens and joined Tarralla Kindergarten in 2021.
Her qualifications include a Diploma of Early Childhood and Care and a Diploma of Teaching (Primary).
She believes that kindergarten plays an important role in children’s development and that children learn in a play based environment that stimulates and supports them.
She enjoys travelling and spending time with her family
4 Year Old Program Staff: Jade
Jade is a Certificate III qualified educator and worked at Tarralla as an additional assistant, before joining the Koala Group in 2023.
She enjoys interacting with children and families and being a part of each child’s individual kindergarten journey.
4 Year Old Program Staff: Aurelia
Aurelia has worked for several years in childcare settings before moving to sessional kinder. She holds a Certificate III and Diploma of Early Childhood & Education.
Aurelia enjoys getting to know each child as a unique individual and nurture them through play-based experiences. Aurelia believes that through play children learn the best.