About Us

St Peter’s Kindergarten provides a nurturing environment in which children can develop lifelong skills for learning, through connections with family, community and the environment.  Through a balanced approach of intentional teaching and child-directed learning, children learn organically through play and exploration.  Reflecting children’s individuality, capability and resourcefulness, we offer a range of open-ended experiences which connect exploration and discovery with a positive sense of self.  With a large part of our learning happening in the outdoor space, our beautiful natural setting supports diversity, embeds First Nations Perspectives and a sustainable approach to early childhood education.  We support children in developing skills for life to look after themselves, each other and the planet. 

St. Peter's Kindergarten is proud to announce we were rated as 'Exceeding' the National Quality Standard Framework in all 7 areas.

• Quality Area 1- Educational program and practice
• Quality Area 2- Children's health and safety
• Quality Area 3- Physical environment
• Quality Area 4- Staffing arrangements
• Quality Area 5- Relationships with children
• Quality Area 6- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
• Quality Area 7- Leadership and service management

St Peter's Kindergarten is a child safe, inclusive environment where everyone has the right to feel respected, valued, safe and protected from harm, neglect and abuse.

St Peter's Kindergarten acknowledges the Bunurong and Boon Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea and waters on which we work, play and live. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

The Kindergarten is located within the grounds of St Peter's Anglican Church, Brighton Beach, at the corner of Were and Moffat Streets. As the landlord of the kindergarten, the Church was founded in 1909. After the opening of a rebuilt Parish hall in 1956, the Parish defined a Kindergarten precinct, which comprises a shared kitchen and exclusive use of part of the Parish Hall and Church grounds.

The Kindergarten is a not-for-profit early childhood education provider and is managed by a volunteer Committee of Management, a team of qualified Teachers and Educators, with support from HR, Business and Finance Managers. The Committee, as the Approved Provider, is comprised of parents and Parish representatives who are responsible for Kindergarten management, policy formulation and legal and regulatory compliance.

We believe that if children are happy and supported by caring and sensitive teaching professionals they will learn and flourish no end.

St Peter's is committed to ensuring our kindergarten is compliant with the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education inclusive of the Early Year Learning Framework. This will ensure your child receives a "quality" educational program driven by continuous improvement in all seven quality areas.

The vision is for all children to experience play-based learning that is engaging and builds success for life. When children play they are showing what they have learned and what they are trying to understand. Our teachers will guide your child's play experiences by carefully designing learning experiences and activities exploring the foundations of the Early Years Learning Framework.

Much of a child's learning is intangible. Learning in relation to their feelings and ideas cannot be assessed or measured. Therefore, our emphasis is not on a child reaching a specific level at a given stage, rather assisting each child to have a sense of belonging, becoming and being which underpin the Early Years Learning Framework.

• Children should feel that they belong because of a relationship they have with their family, community, culture and place.
• Children need to just be, have time to play, try new things and have fun.
• Children start to form a sense of identity from an early age, which shapes the type of adult they will become.

We aim:

• to provide a safe, warm and secure environment.
• to promote connections and friendships between children, their families, staff and their communities.
• to encourage children to grow and develop by providing them with a stimulating environment to scaffold and extend their learning experiences both indoor and outdoor.
• to encourage sharing of ideas, thoughts and concerns in an open ended play based program.
• to provide a fun and welcoming atmosphere to stimulate and initiate the love for learning.
• to respect themselves and other people and their environment.
• to prepare children for a smooth and positive transition to their next year of learning or school.
• to respect parents as first teachers of their children and welcome their input and sharing of ideas, thoughts and concerns.
• to encourage families to be involved in the program to enhance the resource and richness this can bring to our community kindergarten.
• to teach children resilience, independence and above all positive self awareness.
• to teach life skills such as making choices, sharing, taking turns listening to others and negotiating outcomes.
• to have a universal view of our community and the world around us.

Please download a copy of our philosophy.

The following policies are available for our kindergarten, and can be forwarded to families via email on request. Hard copies are available for viewing in the office.