Lizard Preschool & Kinder Program
The year before school is a big one. Our preschool and kinder program for 4 to 6 year olds builds the confidence, independence, literacy and numeracy your child needs to start school ready to thrive, all within long day care, so you get full-day care too. Eligible families can get fee relief (NSW) or Free Kinder (VIC). Trusted by Australian families for more than 45 years.
- NSW Fee Relief & VIC Free Kinder for eligible families
- Transition-to-school support
- Meals included
A day in our preschool and kinder room
In NSW this year is called preschool, and in Victoria it’s kinder. At Oz Education, it’s the same school-ready program, run inside long day care and led by qualified educators and an early childhood teacher.
A typical day includes:
- Focused group learning with early literacy, phonics and maths, including the award-winning Reading Eggs and Mathseeds
- Play-based projects that follow your child’s interests, from building to science experiments
- Sport, dance, gardening and cooking in our Oz Champions, Oz Dancers, Oz Growers and Oz Chefs programs
- Indoor and outdoor play to build strength, coordination and friendships
- Freshly prepared meals and snacks, matched to any dietary needs
- Rest and quiet time after lunch, easing towards a school-style day
- Progress updates through our Parent App
How we prepare your child for school
Our program follows the Early Years Learning Framework (and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework in VIC). Every child grows at their own pace, so the skills below are a general guide.
Social & Emotional
Making friends, managing feelings, solving disagreements and working in a group, which help children settle quickly into a busy school classroom. Read: How early learning supports social skills and emotional growth
Literacy
Recognising letters and sounds, writing their name, retelling stories and joining group discussions. Read: Why early literacy skills are critical to your child’s success
Physical
Holding a pencil and using scissors, plus running, jumping and balancing through dance, sport and obstacle courses. Read: How physical activity supports healthy growth
Numeracy
Counting, recognising numbers, sorting, patterns and measuring, plus everyday maths like the calendar and time. Read: 15 questions to ask preschoolers to build critical thinking
Creative
Art, music and pretend play help children express ideas, plan and solve problems. Read: Cultivating mental strength through play, sport, dance and the arts
Early Learning & STEM
Hands-on experiments, building and measuring that grow curiosity and critical thinking. Read: Why is STEM important in early learning?
Ready for school: independence & transition support
Being school-ready is about more than letters and numbers. We help your child manage their own belongings, open their lunchbox, go to the toilet and wash their hands independently, and follow a group routine.
In their final year, we also offer:
- Transition to school information sessions with local schools
- Progress reports through our Parent App, so you know where your child is at
- Free dental and eyesight checks during the year (Health assessments)
- A graduation ceremony with a preschool achievement certificate
Early Learning Curriculum
Our curriculum follows the Early Years Learning Framework. In the year before school it adds more structured group learning, while keeping the play-based approach that helps children love learning.
It covers seven areas of development: language, physical, social-emotional, cognitive, creative, mathematical and STEM.
All-inclusive preschool and kinder. No hidden costs.
One daily fee covers what your child needs for a full day of learning.
Freshly prepared meals
Breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Reading Eggs & Mathseeds
Award winning literacy and maths programs.
Sport, dance, gardening & cooking
Extra activities at no extra cost.
Transition to school support
School information sessions and graduation.
On-site health checks
Health checks happen at the centre, so there are no extra trips.
Flexible session hours
Choose 9, 10, 11 or 12-hour sessions to suit your week.
What our families say about Oz Education
Starting in our preschool & kinder room
Whether your child is new to Oz Education or moving up from our Kangaroo room, we help them settle in quickly.
Already in our Kangaroo room? Your child moves up with friends they know, after short visits to the preschool room with a familiar educator.
Enquire
First, tell us your child’s age, start date and preferred centre, and we’ll check your funding options.
Visit the centre
Then meet the preschool/kinder educators and see the space.
Orientation visits
Before the first day, short stays together help your child get to know their educators and new friends.
First day
On the day, we’ll send updates and photos so you can relax.
Fee relief, free Kinder & childcare subsidy
Preschool and kinder in long day care can cost less than you think, with government funding on top of the Child Care Subsidy.
All Oz Education centres are approved for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Under the 3 Day Guarantee, eligible families get at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight. Our team can check what your family is eligible for.
NSW: Start Strong preschool fee relief. The NSW Government’s Start Strong program reduces preschool fees for eligible children in long day care. Families don’t usually need to apply separately. Read: How Start Strong works
Victoria: Free 4-Year-Old Kinder. Our Dallas and Footscray centres offer funded four-year-old kinder (transitioning to Pre-Prep), led by qualified early childhood teachers. Eligible families can get up to 15 funded hours a week. Read: How Free Kinder works
A safe, secure place to learn
Nothing matters more than your child’s safety. For more than 45 years, families have trusted us to care for their children. Today our centres meet the National Quality Framework, with qualified educators in every room. We’re family-owned, and parents ourselves, so we never take that trust lightly.
Next stage: starting school
After preschool or kinder, your child heads off to big school with the confidence and skills to thrive.
Enquire about preschool or kinder for your child
Tell us a little about your family and we’ll call you back to talk through availability, funding and school-start timing. Prefer to talk? Call 1300 088 520.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the program
What age is the Lizard Preschool & Kinder program for?
Children aged 4 to 6, in the year (or two) before they start school. Most children join from our Kangaroo program, and new families are always welcome.
What's the difference between preschool and kinder?
They’re the same stage with different names. NSW calls the year before school “preschool” and Victoria calls it “kinder” (or kindergarten). At Oz Education, both run as a school-readiness program inside long day care.
Can my child do preschool or kinder in long day care?
Yes. Our preschool and kinder program runs inside our long day care centres, so your child gets a full school-readiness program plus full-day care, meals and extra activities in one place.
Who teaches the preschool and kinder program?
The program is led by qualified educators and early childhood teachers.
School readiness
How do I know if my child is ready for school?
Signs include managing their own belongings, following simple instructions, getting along with other children, and showing interest in letters and numbers. Our educators share progress through the Parent App and can talk with you about school-start timing. Read: School readiness
How does the program prepare children for school?
It combines focused group learning in literacy and numeracy with play-based projects, independence skills and social skills. In the final year, families also get transition to school information sessions, progress reports and a graduation ceremony.
Do you offer transition to school support?
Yes. We run transition to school information sessions with local schools, share progress reports through our Parent App, and celebrate with a graduation ceremony and preschool achievement certificate.
Should my child do one or two years of preschool?
It depends on your child’s birthday, your state’s school starting age and how ready they are. Our educators can talk it through with you. Read: How to prepare your child for school
What do children learn in preschool and kinder?
Early literacy and phonics, numeracy, STEM, social and emotional skills, physical skills and creativity, guided by the Early Years Learning Framework. They also use Reading Eggs and Mathseeds and take part in sport, dance, gardening and cooking.
Funding and fees
Is kinder free for 4 year olds in Victoria?
Yes, for eligible families. Under Free Kinder, eligible children can get up to 15 funded hours of four-year-old kinder a week at our Dallas and Footscray centres. Read: How Free Kinder works
Does Start Strong reduce preschool fees in NSW long day care?
Yes. The NSW Government’s Start Strong program provides fee relief for eligible children in preschool programs in long day care. Families don’t usually need to apply separately, and it can be combined with the Child Care Subsidy. Read: How Start Strong works
How much does preschool cost at Oz Education?
Fees vary by centre and session length. Most families can reduce costs with the Child Care Subsidy, plus Start Strong (NSW) or Free Kinder (VIC). See our fees, or enquire for your centre’s daily fee.
Daily care
Are meals and extra activities included?
Yes. Freshly prepared meals and snacks, Reading Eggs, Mathseeds, sport, dance, gardening and cooking are all included in your daily fee. See all inclusions
Do preschoolers have health checks?
Yes. Children receive free dental and eyesight checks at the centre during the year. Health assessments
Enrolment
Which Oz Education centres offer preschool or kinder?
All 13 centres. Preschool in NSW: Auburn, Fairfield, Guildford, Homebush, Lidcombe, Redfern, Tuggerah, Wyong, Boambee East, Gunnedah and Lake Cathie. Kinder in Victoria: Dallas and Footscray. Find your nearest centre