ABOUT US

Heritage Preschool is a not-for-profit kindergarten run by a volunteer parent committee. We provide high quality kindergarten education for children in the years before primary school.

History

Heritage Preschool was established in 1976 by local parents and the City of Greater Dandenong. In 2013, our facility was renovated to create a second classroom. The following year we began providing 15 hours of 4 year-old kindergarten per week, and began our 3 year-old kindergarten group. In 2015, we expanded to two 3 year-old groups.

Kinder sessions
Day-to-day experiences

There is one group for 3 year-old kindergarten (22 children). There is one group for 3-4 year old kinder (33 children)
There are two groups for 4 year-old kindergarten (one group of 22 and one group of 33).

Our Staff Team is led by our Educational Leader Deb Maillard. Our teachers are Deb Maillard, Doralyn Chandel, Luisa Giannetti and Shayanika De Saram and our supporting educators are Nancy Giannetti, Leanne Wilkinson, Connie Draxler and Ren Dang.  It is the goal of the Heritage Preschool Staff to provide a happy, productive, and fun learning environment for your child. Our staff all have very different backgrounds of experience and knowledge from Australia and abroad. We work together, as a team, to create the best learning experience for your child.

In 2024 Heritage Preschool will have a dedicated staff team ready and waiting to work with your child. All our staff members have different backgrounds of experience.  Our staff speak Dari, Italian, Vietnamese, and Sinhala.

This provides a wealth of ideas and knowledge that is available to benefit your child. Our staff are committed to providing the highest possible standard of education for your child.

Educational frameworks
Early Years Learning Framework

​Our educators use the following outcomes to guide their programs:
Identity: children have a strong sense of identity
Community: children are connected with and contribute to their world
Wellbeing: children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Learning: children are confident and involved learners

Each program is planned to meet the developmental and emotional needs of the children. Children develop at different rates, and the program caters for a range of differing abilities.

Children also have varied interests, personalities and backgrounds, and the program will reflect this, as the staff plan the program to facilitate the learning of individuals, as well as the group as a whole.

We believe that children learn through play. While children are engaged in their own play, they are involved and motivated learners. It is the educators’ task to ensure that play opportunities are appropriate to the children, providing scope for self direction, as well as stimulating thinking.

Play experiences are the building blocks which lay foundations for more formal learning as the child matures.

For more information, visit the Department of Education and Training website or please contact us about our programs.

The Kinder Year

Orientation week

Interviews: Before sessions begin, families meet their educators and discuss their child’s interests and finalise enrolment details.

Shortened sessions: In the first week, sessions are shortened to enable children to adjust to the new routines and become comfortable in the classroom.

During the year

Incursions: Educators organise visits from professionals on topics like music & dance, safety and animals, at no extra cost to families.

Parent duty: Families are encouraged to have a parent or friend attend kinder sessions once a month, to enjoy the child’s learning.

End of the year

Transition to school: Each primary school has its own transition program for children to visit their school towards the end of the year. Families will receive a transition report from their educator explaining their child’s progress, and their new teacher will receive a copy.

Acknowledgement of traditional owners

We acknowledge the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation as the traditional ownders of the land. We are grateful to the elders who have maintained their language and culture to give to future generations.

Child Safe Standards

Heritage Preschool are committed to providing a safe place for children and are committed to implementing the child safe standards throughout the service.

We will ensure that:

• Heritage Preschool establishes a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
• Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in Heritage preschools leadership, governance, and culture.
• Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
• Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
• Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
• People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
• Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
• Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
• Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
• Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
• Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Immunisations

According to the No Jab, No Play law in Victoria, each child must be fully vaccinated to start kindergarten. An Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register is required before your child can start preschool.

A grace period applies for families who may find it difficult to provide an up-to-date statement by October. 

Further information on immunisation requirements for enrolment in early childhood services is available through the DET Website.