A place to explore,
create and learn.
The perfect starting point for your child and their learning journey.
Welcome to Westgarth Kindergarten, the home of bush kinder
Westgarth Kindergarten is proudly a not-for-profit community kindergarten. Situated on Wurundjeri Country, we have a campus adjacent to Westgarth Primary School and a bush campus at the Darebin Parklands. Our Bush Kinder experience was the first of its kind in Australia.
Our pedagogy is deliberate and based on issues of social justice, contemporary issues, current research and passion. We recognise that children are knowledgeable, and that their intelligence is based on experiences within their contexts, and their learning begins when these experiences are challenged.
We support children's play, it is their work; it is used by them to practice what they know and to explore the unknown. We honour the child's right to 'not know' and their right to experience all the emotions that ensue 'knowing'. We advocate for children to play in nature because we know they are happier, smarter, healthier and kinder when they do.
We’re proudly community-minded
Our community endeavours to..
..be kind
..have time
..act on behalf of the community foremost
..act as custodians
..coexist through recognising the differing abilities and skill sets of each other
..recognise gender and age equity and equal outcomes
..be culturally competent
..question social norms and customary rules
..share knowledge and practice
..be courageous
..acknowledge Indigenous perspectives
..know participation within our community is a continuum