At Mini Miners Early Learning Centre, we offer both a 3-year-old & 4-year-old funded kindergarten program to the families of Miners Rest and wider communities. The kindergarten programs are delivered by VIT registered Teachers, with experience in both early childhood education and primary school education. With a wealth of knowledge in the fundamental years of child development and education, we provide a high-quality educational and care program, focusing on building the skills to support children in regulating their social and emotional wellbeing and school readiness.

The kindergarten program runs purely as a funded Kindergarten program, it is not integrated with the long daycare program. The ‘Waratah’ program runs from a separate room; allowing the program to run an enriched space, focusing on the skills to support children with school readiness.

The 3-year-old Kindergarten Program currently operates on Monday & Wednesday; 8.30am – 4.00pm. The 4-year-old Kindergarten Program operates on a Tuesday & Thursday; 8.30am – 4.00pm (subject to change on a year by year basis). Being within a long daycare service we are fortunate to offer before and aftercare and a school holiday program at no additional cost.

Guided by the Reggio Emilia Project and theorists, we take great pride in creating a learning environment that allows children to express themselves in various ways. We run a program inspired by the ‘Third Teacher’ approach and a child-led program guided by ‘The 100 Languages’ by Reggio Emilia. Our indoor and outdoor learning spaces are thoughtfully planned and reflect the interests and curiosity of each individual child. 

Our program offers the children a unique learning experience: ‘Paddock Kinder’. Mini Miners paddock kinder is a program held exclusively outside, where children use the natural environment to source their own learning. The Paddock Block is a private block of land, generous in size and filled with natural elements. It is located on a private road, behind the service and easily accessible by staff and children. The paddock block was inspired as a stemmed learning opportunity based on our community's agricultural background, where children explore the natural environment and relish the freedom of the outdoors, while learning agricultural elements such as strengthening their understanding of animal care, gardening and nature, and making sense and connections of the world around them.