Welcome to Canterbury & District Pre-school!
Canterbury & District Pre-School will continue to opt-in to Free Kinder in 2024.
If you are interested in joining our community, please enquire via Boroondara Council who manage the applications & enrolments of our kindergarten.
Learn more about our programs via the 3 and 4 year old program pages.
Our Mission
To provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where children develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively.
Canterbury and District Preschool acknowledges and pays respect to the Wurundjeri WoiWurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which we work, learn and play and extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past and present.
We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, cultures and abilities and are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children, families and community.
Established in 1962, Canterbury and District Pre-school (Canterbury Kindergarten), is a community based kindergarten in leafy Surrey Hills, a suburb eleven kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD.
We provide high quality three & four year-old kindergarten programs of varying hours & days to suit your needs, catering for approximately sixty-four children each year.
Our mission is to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where children develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.
We would love to hear from you if you have any questions or would like to visit our facilities. To arrange a tour, please get in touch, we look forward to meeting you!
CDPS Information sheet
To find out more about CDPS please download our Information sheet
Our Philosophy
Creativity abounds at our kindergarten with our stimulating and adaptable indoor and outdoor play areas. Children are encouraged to show initiative, make decisions and develop problem solving skills. The curriculum is both play based and child initiated with creative sensory, scientific and imaginative learning experiences incorporated. There are permanent learning areas of creative craft, sensory, Science and Nature, cultural and community and Literacy and Numeracy. A transition to school program is provided with strong links to our local primary schools.
Exceeding National Quality Standards
The Canterbury and District Pre-School was assessed as Exceeding National Quality Standards in all 7 Quality Areas in 2022.
Parental Involvement
The kindergarten strongly encourages involvement from our parents. We know that your association with us will prove to be a positive and encouraging experience, not only for your child, but also for you as an involved parent. The social committee members are parents who organise catch ups for parents throughout the terms and can include stay &play at the park, picnics, wine & cheese nights, dinners, Christmas party and an annual parent get together. These events are a great way to meet other parents and raise funds which are invested back into the kindergarten’s facilities and program.
Our Commitment to Child Safety
Canterbury & District Preschool (CDPS) is committed to the child safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This is the primary focus of our education, care and decision making.
CDPS has zero tolerance for child abuse and racism.
CDPS is committed to providing a child safe environment wherein children and young people are safe and feel safe and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.
CDPS promotes the cultural safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as the safety and wellbeing of children with a disability and children who may be experiencing vulnerability.
At CDPS we actively manage risks in the physical environment early and remove and reduce these risks. We promote a culture of inclusiveness and openness that supports all people to safely disclose risks of harm.
We treat all allegations and safety concerns very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures. We regularly train and educate our Committee of Management, staff, and volunteers child abuse risks. We raise awareness with families, children, and our community about child abuse risks and to support children’s wellbeing.
We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously. We share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk.
CDPS has robust recruitment practices to reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing Committee of Management members, staff, and volunteers.
We have specific policies and procedures in place that support our Committee of Management members, staff, and volunteers to achieve these commitments.
OUR 3 Year Old Program
Running on a Monday & Thursday, offering the convenience of 8:30am-4.00pm program hours.
For more information on our program, fees and timetable, please click the link below.
OUR 4 Year Old Program
We offer three timetables to choose from, with our sessions running 8:30am – 4:00pm, on a choice of 2 days per week (program running Tues, Weds, Fri).
To learn more, including timetables, fees, educational and development goals, then please click the link below.
Our Sustainability Practices
At Canterbury & District Pre-School, we are committed to creating positive environmental impact through our Sustainability Program.
The Sustainability Program offers practical & hands on opportunities to learn about the environment, the importance of sustainability and individual responsibility that our children will take with them for life.
We are proud to incorporate multiple initiatives to support this learning opportunity, including:
– Growing, tending and harvesting our own vegetables & herbs in a purpose-built veggie garden
– Monitoring the on-site rainwater tank
-Conscious recycling
– Feeding & monitoring our resident worms in the worm farm, & using our compost bins
– Engaging in nature play – utilising the natural wonder of our trees & gardens to promote learning & discovery
Example Specialist Programs:
Music, Sport & Wellness
Life is busy. We all know that. So we believe in giving your child a moment in their week to stop, and find calm with mindfulness & movement as part of their CDPS program. At Hello Yoga our focus is to build a beautiful combo of strength & confidence in kids so they better cope with whatever the challenge, anxiety, or upset. Our classes find calm, balance, & forever focus on how incredible kids are, ‘as they are’. Best thing is that all of this is woven into a whole lot of fun!
@helloyogakids
The Canterbury Committee
Join the Canterbury Parent Committee!
Being a committee member is a great way to contribute to the running and growth of the kindergarten, and the experience it can provide to your child/children.
It is also a great way to meet and connect with other parents, whilst supporting the ongoing running of our beautiful kindergarten. As a community-based kinder we rely on active parental involvement, however big or small, and it is incredibly rewarding to see the impact you can make!
Committee work is varied and includes roles in: employing, managing and supporting staff, developing policies, overseeing the program, enrolling children, managing finances, marketing, purchasing supplies and maintenance.
ADDRESS
Canterbury & District Pre-School
26 Guildford Road
Surrey Hills | VIC | 3127
Melway Reference: 46 F10
GET IN TOUCH
P: +61 3 8840 7949
E:committee@canterburykinder.org.au
W: https://canterburykinder.org.au
REGISTRATION
Reg.No. A00059025
