2026 Kinder Program Overview: Understanding Age and Grouping
Total Enrolment: 60 Children
- 3-Year-Old Program – 25 children
- 4-Year-Old Program – 35 children
Key Points to Keep in Mind
In 2026, Maribyrning Kindergarten will move to a rotational and mixed age model.
What is a rotational model?
A rotational model is where a number of smaller sub-groups are brought together to create a larger group. Each child is allocated with other children to a small group. These children always attend together throughout the week on the same days and will attend with other groups during the week. The same groups will attend the same regular days, ensuring continuity from week to week.
Each of the groups in the table above are the sub-groups that will form the larger group on each day. For example, on Tuesday Wombats, Bilbies – 4YO – Mixed and Bilbies – 3YO – Mixed will join to form a mixed age class and Lorikeets and Willy Wagtails will form a 4YO class. Different groups will mix to form a class throughout the week.
We Teach to the Individual Child – Not Just Their Age
Our program is designed around each child’s unique needs, interests, and stage of development. While age plays a part, our planning is always centered on the individual.
Mixed Ages Are Already a Natural Part of Kinder
You may not realise it, but both our 3-year-old and 4-year-old groups already include children of varying ages. Here’s how:
- In the 4-Year-Old Group:
- Some children have birthdays in February–April and may have delayed starting until the following year. This means they could be up to 12 months younger than peers.
- Others may have turned 4 in May of the previous year, making them about 8 months younger than children born earlier in the year.
- Some children have birthdays in February–April and may have delayed starting until the following year. This means they could be up to 12 months younger than peers.
- In the 3-Year-Old Group:
- Some families choose to start their child later, meaning children can be older than others in the same group. This might be due to readiness, maturity, or family preference.
Our Focus: Growth at Every Stage
This diversity in age and readiness is a natural and expected part of early childhood education. We welcome and support all children in developing at their own pace, and we work closely with families to ensure each child feels safe, confident, and engaged in their learning journey.
Have questions?
We’re always happy to chat. Please feel free to reach out with any question