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Our Approach to Quality
Warm, professionally led communities where children feel safe, valued and inspired to explore.
Quality
Quality & the National Quality Standard
Every MEYM kindergarten operates under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the seven Quality Areas of the National Quality Standard (NQS). We don't just aim to meet the Standard. We work continuously to exceed it.
Our teaching teams complete cycles of self-assessment, reflection and improvement, supported by central leadership and informed by the latest research in early childhood education.
Safety
Child-safe by design
MEYM is a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and racism, and every adult in our care, including staff, volunteers and contractors, is held to the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
Children's voices are listened to and acted on. Families are partners in safety. Our policies, recruitment practices and training are designed so that children always feel safe, valued and respected.
Nature
Outdoor & nature play
Our outdoor environments are designed for real, unhurried nature play, with gardens, sand, water, loose parts, and space to dig, climb and imagine. Children spend significant time outdoors in every kind of weather.
Bush kinder excursions, community walks and gardening programs deepen children's connection to Country, season and place.
Mixed-age
Mixed-Age Learning Communities
Children grow together across ages, mirroring family and community life.
For your child
What This Looks Like for Your Child
Across most of our kindergartens, three and four year old children learn together in mixed-age groups. Younger children are stretched by older role models; older children deepen their learning by mentoring and explaining. This mirrors how children learn in families and community, and supports stronger social, language and emotional development.
Morning
A warm welcome
Your child is greeted by name, settles in with a familiar educator and chooses where to begin: art, blocks, dramatic play or quiet reading.
Mid-morning
Outdoors and exploring
Time in the garden every day, with sand, water, climbing, loose parts and real tools for digging, building and growing.
Together
Small group projects
Educators follow your child's questions into deeper investigations: building a worm farm, mapping the neighbourhood, making a play.
Lunchtime
Shared meals, shared stories
A calm, unhurried lunch together, followed by group storytime where every voice gets a turn.
Afternoon
Learning across ages
In mixed-age groups, older children mentor and explain. Younger children watch, try, and stretch into what comes next.
Throughout
Known, seen, supported
Educators document your child's learning and share it with you, so home and kinder stay closely connected.
See it for yourself.
The best way to understand our approach is to visit. Book a tour at the kindergarten closest to you.
Book a Tour