Lalor East Preschool 186 Darebin Drive, Lalor, Victoria 3075

Welcome to Lalor East Preschool, located at 186 Darebin Drive in Lalor, Australia. Formerly known as TRY Australia, we are now Sparkways! Our institution has been empowering and inspiring Melbourne's children and young people since 1883.

As the nominated Supervisor, I am responsible for the day-to-day management of the kindergarten, which operates under the National Law and National Regulations in Australia. Our team of three dedicated educators, supported by our Area Manager, work towards achieving continuous improvement at Lalor East Preschool as outlined in our Quality Improvement Plan.

At Lalor East Preschool, our goal is to create a learning community where children feel safe, protected, and confident in developing positive self-esteem. We prioritize positive communication, tolerance, and understanding, which we aim to instill in every child in our service.

We highly value the contributions and participation of family members in our service, recognizing that they are a child's first teachers. We provide numerous opportunities for family involvement in our curriculum and kindergarten activities, and family members are welcome to visit at any time.

Our one-room kindergarten offers a play-based curriculum tailored to each child's individual interests and development. With a homely feel, we strive to create a relaxed and welcoming environment for children and their families.

Our passionate team consists of three wonderful early childhood educators, each bringing their own beliefs and interests to enrich the learning experience. From gardening to cooking, we love sharing our diverse interests with the children and ensuring that every experience is a valuable learning opportunity.

We offer various group options for both 3-year-old and 4-year-old children, with sessions running from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. We understand the importance of early education, and starting from 2023, the Victorian Government is making kindergarten programs free for three and four-year-old children, saving families up to $2,500 per year.

Our curriculum is play-based and draws upon socio-cultural theories of learning and teaching. We intentionally plan experiences that reflect the National Early Years Learning Frameworks, taking into account individual children's learning styles, interests, and families.

We respect that each child develops at their own pace and encourage families to have begun toilet training. We provide support to promote positive outcomes and manage toileting accidents sensitively and discretely. We ask families to keep a complete change of clothes in their child's bag, especially for water play activities.

As a sun-safe organization, we provide child-friendly sunscreen, but if your child has sensitive skin, you are welcome to provide your preferred brand.

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, as well as Elders past and present. We celebrate diversity and value the lived experiences of people from every ethnicity, faith, age, disability, culture, language, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Thank you for considering Lalor East Preschool for your child's early education journey. We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our learning community.