Early Learning
Warm & Nurturing
Long Day Care and Integrated Kindergarten Program
Discover Sunraysia's only faith-based and school embedded Early Learning Centre offering long day care and an integrated kindergarten program. Here, highly trained staff will create a warm, nurturing environment where children aged three to five years of age can grow their faith and love of learning.
Long day care commencing 1 September 2025. Integrated kindergarten program commencing January 2026.
Philosophy
A Joyful, Caring, Christian ELC
At Henderson College Early Learning Centre, we believe childhood is a precious gift! For our children, it's about creating a joyful, caring Christian space where each child feels loved and special, just as God made them.
Our philosophy is all about play. Through exciting adventures and hands-on fun, children naturally grow in every way: they explore big ideas, discover how they feel, move their bodies, and learn about God's love. We weave Christian values like kindness and gratitude into everything we do, helping little ones understand how wonderful it is to care for each other.
We're also big on connecting with our community. We love partnering with families and our school, because together, we can make your child's early learning journey even richer and more supportive. Our goal is simple: to create a safe, inspiring place where your child feels happy, confident, and ready to explore the world with curiosity and faith.
Genuine care and relationships with your family
Christian values-based programs
Extra-curricular programs supported by Henderson College including library and chapel
Education Victoria accredited kindergarten program commencing January 2026
Peaceful learning environment
Tailored program to best support each child’s next step to Primary School and future learning.
Long day care to meet family needs
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
Casual care options based on availability
Explore Henderson's Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Opening 1 September 2025
Our highly anticipated Early Learning Centre will open in September 2025. We are really looking forward to welcoming younger siblings of Henderson students and local families with younger children into our community.
Programs
Early Opportunities
At Henderson College Early Learning Centre, we believe that play is the most effective way for children to learn and grow. Through joyful play experiences, children naturally develop essential skills such as problem-solving, creativity, communication, and social confidence. Our play-based learning framework nurtures each child's sense of wonder, kindness, and respect while allowing them to explore the world at their own pace.
Our centre integrates the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) with specialist programs supported by the school, within a nurturing Christian environment that supports each child to develop academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Faith-Nurturing Learning
Chapel and Chaplain Visits
Our regular Chapel sessions and visits from the school Chaplain are meaningful moments for children to come together in community. Through stories, songs, and simple prayers, children learn about God’s love and develop a sense of belonging, kindness, and compassion in a warm, age-appropriate setting.
Early Encounters with Jesus Curriculum
Our faith-based curriculum, Early Encounters with Jesus, introduces children to the life and teachings of Jesus in a way that is accessible and engaging for young hearts. These gentle lessons lay the foundation for a lifelong journey of faith, helping children understand Christian values and the loving nature of God.
Wellbeing
Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum
Your child’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities. Through the Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum, children are supported to develop awareness of personal safety. Delivered in a calm and age-appropriate way, this program helps children learn about their bodies, trusted adults, and how to ask for help if they feel unsafe.
Gardening and Outdoor Play
Daily outdoor play is an important part of our wellbeing approach. In our natural play spaces and gardens, children strengthen their physical abilities, explore the natural world, and develop an appreciation for God’s creation—all while enjoying fresh air and sunshine.
Core Programs
Music and Movement
Our music and movement sessions bring joy to every day, helping children develop rhythm, coordination, listening skills, and confidence. Singing, dancing, and expressive movement support early brain development and allow children to explore emotions in a safe and playful way.
Art and Creativity
Creative exploration is a cornerstone of our learning environment. Whether it’s painting, sculpting, or sensory play, children are encouraged to express themselves freely, building fine motor skills and self-confidence while celebrating their individuality.
Science and Discovery
Young children are natural scientists. Through hands-on experiments and discovery-based play, children are supported to explore their environment, ask questions, and engage with early scientific thinking in fun and meaningful ways.
Cooking
Cooking experiences offer children an opportunity to learn about healthy eating, measurement, sequencing, and teamwork. These sessions are a favourite among children and provide plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning—and delicious outcomes!
Specialist Programs
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Through participation in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, children learn about where food comes from, how to grow it, and how to enjoy fresh, healthy meals. These sessions connect learning with life skills and foster a deep respect for the environment and healthy living.
Library
Our regular visits to the school library spark a love of books and language. Children explore stories, practise early literacy skills, and become familiar with library routines, all in a warm and welcoming environment.
Buddy Program with the Primary School
Our Buddy Program connects early learners with older students from the primary school. These cross-age friendships build confidence, social skills, and a strong sense of community. Older buddies act as positive role models, helping younger children feel known and valued as part of the wider school family.
Our Commitment to a Child Safe Centre
Our Service is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We understand our responsibilities and statutory duty of care to comply with both the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme to build our capacity as an organisation to prevent and respond to allegations of child abuse.
Our Service is committed to implementing and abiding by our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy based on Child Safe Standards in Victoria (2022), which accentuates our zero tolerance for child abuse and raising awareness about the importance of child safety in our Service and the community.
We are dedicated to protecting children from abuse and neglect and promote a child safe environment, maintaining children’s well-being. We adhere to our comprehensive Child Protection Policy, standing by our mandatory reporting responsibilities to protect children from physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse and neglect.
We work to ensure there is clear awareness between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour concerning adults and children. We require clear precincts between children and employees, volunteers and the community to maintain children’s safety.
We are dedicated to promoting cultural safety for Aboriginal children, cultural safety for children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.
We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices.
We are committed to ongoing professional development for employees to maintain their ability to distinguish and respond to situations of abuse and neglect, ensuring employees are responsive to their responsibilities in keeping children safe.
We work in collaboration with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and have confidence in educating children about their right to be safe. We believe in teaching children what to do if they feel unsafe and encouraging them to express their views and thoughts on matters that directly affect them.
As educators we listen to and empower children to act on any concerns, they or others may raise which is reflected in our policies and procedures for keeping children safe.