About Us
Managed by a team of multi-lingual educators, we have over 30 years experience in caring for children in a nurturing learning environment.
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Melbourne Juniors is a beautiful Early Learning Centre in Preston.
Following the Reggio Emilia learning approach, our centre is based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment.
We observe your child and their interests, abilities and needs very carefully and provide appropriate individual and group experiences to challenge and stimulate them.
Our Program
At Melbourne Juniors, we believe the program needs to:
- Be developmentally appropriate and caring
- Be concerned with every aspect of each child’s development
- Reflect the multicultural nature of our Australian society
- Be challenging, interesting, and varied, providing lots of choices
- Involve parents in its planning, implementation and evaluation
“Influenced by this belief, the child is beheld as beautiful, powerful, competent, creative, curious, and full of potential and ambitious desires.”
– Valarie Hewitt
The programs encourages children to:
- Makes choices
- Develop creative abilities
- Problem solve
- Negotiate and cooperate with others
Children learn best through a play based program focusing on their individual interests, strengths and needs. While establishing routine is important for children to develop independence and self esteem, the program acknowledges that all children are unique individuals and need to be nurtured within a flexible environment. There are known ages and stages of child development; but not all children go through these at the same age, time or rate.
Active Start Sports
Sports Program - kids learning centre boys playing soccerOur health and physical education program has been designed for children aged 3-5 years and caters for all backgrounds and abilities. The program is educational and LOADS OF FUN! Our coaches run weekly sessions at Melbourne Juniors and provide all the equipment.
The program runs in alignment with The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. It's structured to achieve five learning outcomes:
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators
Find Out More About Active Start
In working towards achieving these learning outcomes, the program integrates three major components: physical education, health and social development.
Physical Education
- Developing fine and gross motor skills
- Stretching techniques and warming up
- Gaining knowledge of a variety of sports and games
- Familiarising children with a wide variety of sports equipment
- Complex body movements
- Developing a passion for exercise and sport
Health
- Healthy eating choices
- Personal hygiene
- Hydration & Nutrition
- Discovering ways to be active
Social Development
- Achieving goals & encouraging others
- Teamwork and interacting with peers
- Preparing children for primary school life
- Fair play - Sportsmanship and sharing
- Learning to play safely & in a non-competitive environment
- Developing self confidence & learning through play
- Tying in with events and happenings of the wider community
Healthy Habits
Healthy lifestyle approach - young kids yogaWe ensure our children have the right nutrition to keep them going throughout the day. All fresh, delicious meals are prepared in our purpose-built kitchen by a qualified chef and eaten together in the communal eating areas. We can also cater for special dietary requirements and allergies.
Children are encouraged to enjoy our natural environment by caring for chickens and planting their own vegetable garden then using the fresh ingredients in their lunches.
We have a passion for games and activities to keep the children active, develop their gross motor skills and body awareness. We will run a speciality yoga program to introduce concepts of focused breathing, movement and to provide an outlet for self expression. This healthy, active approach will encourage your child to chose a healthy lifestyle in their present and future life.
Music & Movement Program
Early Learning Centre - Music & Movement ProgramMagical Days Kindy Dancing is a Creative Movement Music and Dance Programme specifically designed for children aged 1-5 years who attend Melbourne Juniors.
MDKD is loved by both little boys and girls and has been operating across Melbourne for a number of years. Children will 'wiggle' and 'giggle' as they progress every week through the 27 themed classes. The Early Years Learning Framework has been used to target learning outcomes, and a parent information sheet (children's colouring in sheet) is given to the child to show parents and caregivers. Most importantly they will have FUN!
Some of the themes we have are: Dreamtime 'Indigenous Reflection', Stranger Danger, Water Safety, Fairies and Pixies, Circus Skills, Spooky Wooky Skeletons Body Education, I Get Ready for School.....just to name a few!
More about Magical Days Kindy Dancing
Music & Movement Program InstrumentsHey Dee Ho runs a music program at Melbourne Juniors. Each week different subjects and themes are presented in a fun and multi sensory experience which engages children's natural curiosity and nurtures their cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills, creativity and well being.
Hey Dee Ho we are very passionate about music. Not only does it provide great pleasure and comfort to many people, but it is a proven tool that stimulates learning, thereby providing a key to unlock potential.
In partnership with the ‘Australian Institute of Music and Childhood Development’, and in alignment with the ‘Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (Belonging, Being & Becoming)’, Hey Dee Ho have set up a curriculum to ensure that our program is presented to maximise learning outcomes.
Open Hours
6:30am - 6:30pm Monday to Friday
