YOU MADE IT!
Welcome to Tarralla Kindergarten
Tarralla Kindergarten provides a stimulating, creative, play-based learning program in a warm, friendly, and caring environment. Together with our highly qualified and motivated teachers, and our excellent facilities, we offer a comprehensive early learning experience for children. The programs we offer are 4 year old, 3 year old.
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What We Offer
Tarralla Kindergarten is a not for profit community Kindergarten, established on 20th September 1975.
Tarralla Kindergarten takes it’s name from the Wurundjeri name of the creek which flows nearby – “Tarralla” means “walking quickly”.
We believe children learn through play and that through play our children are “walking quickly” on their road to being life-long learners.
Tarralla Kindergarten takes it’s name from the Wurundjeri name of the creek which flows nearby – “Tarralla” means “walking quickly”.
We believe children learn through play and that through play our children are “walking quickly” on their road to being life-long learners.
Our Committment to Child Safety
Tarralla Kindergarten is committed to child safety. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered and have zero tolerance of child abuse. We understand our legal and moral obligations to treat all concerns seriously and to report allegations and concerns about a child/ren’s safety and wellbeing to authorities.
We are committed to the cultural safety of all children including Aboriginal children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.
For more information click on our Child Safety Code of Conduct
We are committed to the cultural safety of all children including Aboriginal children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.
For more information click on our Child Safety Code of Conduct
Acknowledgment of Country
Tarralla Kindergarten acknowledges the First Nations people of the land on which we learn and play, the Wurundjeri People of Kulin Nation. We pay respect to all ancestors, elders and children. We recognise the tradition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as knowledge-sharers and early educators within our community.
Kindergarten Program
Tarralla Kindergarten provides a government funded 4yo Kindergarten program as well as funded 3yo Kindergarten program.
The Kindergarten was assessed and rated as “Exceeding” the National Quality Standard at the last assessment.
The Kindergarten was assessed and rated as “Exceeding” the National Quality Standard at the last assessment.
Tarralla Kindergarten is very proud of this achievement.
The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high national benchmark for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care services in Australia.
The NQS includes 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children.
Services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the NQS, and given a rating for each of the 7 quality areas and an overall rating based on these results.
The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high national benchmark for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care services in Australia.
The NQS includes 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children.
Services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the NQS, and given a rating for each of the 7 quality areas and an overall rating based on these results.
Committee of Management
At Tarralla Kindergarten we have a highly skilled, and extremely dedicated team of teachers and educators. However, they cannot operate the kindergarten alone. As a not-for-profit Incorporated Association, Tarralla Kindergarten is managed by a Committee ofManagement, which is supported by an Operational Sub-committee.
The Committee of Management and Operational Sub-committee positions are held by volunteer parents and community members who are willing to give some of their time to help Tarralla Kindergarten run smoothly.
Tarralla acknowledges and believes that children belong first to a family, a cultural group, a neighborhood and a wider community. We work to build collaborative partnerships with our families, and strongly encourage their participation at all levels and times within our kindergarten. Our educators are passionate in welcoming, supporting, and promoting the inclusion and diversity of children and our intention is for all families to feel a sense of belonging to our community.
We acknowledge and believe that all children are successful, confident, and capable learners who learn at their own pace through different learning styles. Diversity is recognised and embraced in a supportive environment where all children feel secure, included, respected, and valued. We believe in allowing children the time to explore, question, analyse, reflect, collaborate, and take risks. Educators design an environment to maximise children’s learning through collaborative and respectful partnerships between children, educators, families, and the wider community. We welcome and encourage family and local community involvement through a variety of spontaneous and planned experiences.
Tarralla implements an emergent curriculum where the teacher’s role is to evoke, facilitate, co-learn and extend children’s thinking through open-ended experiences based on their interests and needs. We place equal value on the indoor and outdoor environments developing a connection with nature and a desire to care for and respect the natural environment. We believe that by fostering awareness and respect for the beauty and wonder of the natural world around us we are laying down the foundations for caring for our earth and each other, now and into the future.
We believe that all educators, students and volunteers should feel welcomed, respected, valued, and appreciated as part of our team. Educators are encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas, knowing these will be listened to and seriously considered. We have a collaborative approach to leadership that allows us to draw on the ideas and experiences of all educators, including acknowledging the important role that our committee plays in ensuring our service operates effectively.
Tarralla Kindergarten promotes professional standards to guide practice, interactions, and relationships. We are committed to providing access to professional development and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Tarralla values the diversity of its educators and is committed to establishing a professional workplace that encourages strength-based approaches, collaborative reflection, and professional conversations to promote a healthy team environment.
We are situated in the Gracedale Park precinct and regularly visit the oval for activities such as footy day, exploring the puddles which form there after the rain and many other activities. We also regularly enjoy nature activities along the bike path at the back of the kindergarten, including planting experiences with Maroondah City Council. The Four Year Old groups enjoy a fun ball skills program with the tennis coach at Gracedale Park Tennis club, which the children love. We also enjoy regular walks exploring the localcommunity.
The park adjacent to the kindergarten is where families meet after session where children play and parents chat, establishing friendships with other Tarralla families and a strong Tarralla community. Friendships developed in kindergarten often last a life time.
The park adjacent to the kindergarten is where families meet after session where children play and parents chat, establishing friendships with other Tarralla families and a strong Tarralla community. Friendships developed in kindergarten often last a life time.
Indoor Rooms….
Tarralla Kindergarten’s indoor area features three fully equipped rooms to meet the needs of our 3yo and 4yo groups.
All three of our rooms have large carpeted areas for teachers and children to share stories, play games, do jigsaws and celebrate milestones together.
Each room also has a home corner, that rotates depending on the interests of the children at the time –
home, restaurant, school, shop – the rooms are updated to match the interests and discussion topics of the groups.
Our painting easels, pasting tables and playdough are always favourites with the children.
The bright open spaces in the rooms provide lots of natural light which allows for a perfect learning environment.
Once you move through the entrance area, there is a colourful foyer and locker area, which lead into the spacious rooms. Our rooms may change throughout the year in the way they are set up, depending on the program and interest area of the children at the time. We provide children with opportunities to explore their learning environment with open-ended play as well as structured play spaces.
Once you move through the entrance area, there is a colourful foyer and locker area, which lead into the spacious rooms. Our rooms may change throughout the year in the way they are set up, depending on the program and interest area of the children at the time. We provide children with opportunities to explore their learning environment with open-ended play as well as structured play spaces.
There are also well-equipped craft corners, with plenty of materials, textures and colours for children to let their imaginations run free.
The children’s toilets allow easy access and also have warm water for hand washing.
The children’s toilets allow easy access and also have warm water for hand washing.
Outdoor Area….
Our outdoor learning space was upgraded in 2010, extended in 2016 and upgraded again in 2017.
In 2023, a major redevelopment of the outdoor learning space occurred and now incorporates more of a natural learning environment, as well as more open-ended play spaces for children to explore their own play ideas.
Tarralla Kindergarten’s outdoor play area has so many features and stimulation for children with all kinds of interests.
In 2023, a major redevelopment of the outdoor learning space occurred and now incorporates more of a natural learning environment, as well as more open-ended play spaces for children to explore their own play ideas.
Tarralla Kindergarten’s outdoor play area has so many features and stimulation for children with all kinds of interests.
There is tan barked zone for swings and climbing frames to develop confidence and motor skills in a safe environment.
The kindergarten also features a bike path down the centre with a loop, for children to ride the trikes round the play area.
The real, working traffic light is a highlight for many children – queuing up waiting for the light to turn green.
The play area includes a grassed area for free play and ball sports, or for sitting on and enjoying lunch outside under the shade of the gum trees.
Tarralla Kindergarten has a large covered sandpit, complete with its own water tank to supply water for sandy creations and sand play.
One of the most popular features of Tarralla’s outdoor learning space is the silver water pump that takes water from the water tank and provides children with water for water play and for filling the creek bed.
The creek-bed also features a mini wooden bridge to cross over the creek.
A child’s imagination can be transformed into reality in this great outdoor space.
