Our centre chef prepares and cooks healthy and nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating. We have a 4-week rotating menu, and we also provide a breakfast and puree menu.

Our centre offers children simple, nutrient-rich, unprocessed, and seasonal whole foods - designed to tempt even the fussiest of eaters.

Our Educational Programs:

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space:

Nursery Room (6 weeks - 12 months) 

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication, and cues (body language, facial expression, and sounds) and by experimenting. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play, water play, music time story time, and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning, and well-being! 

Toddler Space:

Junior Toddler (12 months - 2 years)

Senior Toddler (2 years - 3 years) 

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, and reading experiences. 

On any given day the Toddler children can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns, and participating in counting songs and games. 

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as turn-taking, developing self-confidence, and emotional self-regulation. Our team helps children through talking, planning, and role modelling. 

Kindergarten Space:

Pre-Kindergarten (3 years - 4 years)

Kindergarten Room (4 years - 5 years) 

Kindergarten is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program encourages active engagement in learning and supports a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking, and creativity. 

The oral language supports literacy learning. A child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our kindergarten children's development by engaging in rich discussions, introducing new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations, as well as singing, playing games, and reading with the children daily.

Throughout the kindergarten year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning environments. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations.

We offer a great variety of learning experiences at Kindy Patch Paddington including;

• Incursions & Excursion Program: Our programs encourage children to interact with and discover their local Community. We often have visits from community services such as emergency services and the local librarian. We also go on adventures to the local parks, schools, aged care residences, and shops.
• Sports Programs: As a part of the daily fee our three to five-year-old children participate in the centre’s future champs program. The Future Champs program places a large emphasis on promoting a healthy lifestyle, and developing the children’s gross motor skills and also their hand-eye coordination.

Morning 

Georgia is 11 months old and enjoys sensory play outside in the sandpit with her friends. She sits near her educator who helps teach her how to scoop the sand into the bucket. Georgia is learning how to dig, carry, and move the sand. She is also exploring texture and learning what happens to the sand when she adds water! 

Lunch 

Georgia has finished her lunch and is preparing to take a nap. Her educator changes her nappy, prepares a bottle, and reads Georgia a story before her afternoon sleep.

Afternoon

Georgia and some of her nursery friends enjoy some story time and songs outside in the shaded garden. They read ‘Peepo’ which is Georgia’s favourite book.