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The year before primary school is one of the most important in your child’s educational journey.
It’s when confidence is built, independence takes hold, and the foundations of a lifelong love of learning are set. The school readiness program at Rise & Shine Kindergarten is designed to make every moment of that year count, so your child walks into their first day of big school feeling capable, curious, and ready to thrive.
Rise & Shine’s dedicated school readiness program is woven into every day across our preschool and kindergarten rooms. It covers literacy and language, numeracy and cognitive development, social-emotional learning, physical development, and independence, because school readiness is never just one thing.
School readiness isn’t about whether a child can write their name or count to 20. It’s about the whole child, their confidence, communication, ability to manage emotions, physical coordination, and capacity to learn independently.
That’s why our school readiness program for preschoolers and kindergarten children is built around the Shine Advantage™ curriculum, our own holistic framework that goes above and beyond the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Framework (NQF). Every preschool and kindergarten room is led by a university-qualified Early Childhood Teacher (ECT), and every day balances free play with structured learning that mirrors the rhythm of a school classroom.
Oral language, listening, phonological awareness, and early reading skills developed through songs, stories, Reading Eggs activities, and show-and-tell.
Number recognition, counting, pattern-making, and problem-solving built through play, STEM materials, and guided group activities.
The ability to manage feelings, take turns, resolve conflict, and form friendships is developed through the Unite and Crew elements of the Shine Advantage™ curriculum alongside Smart Start learning.
Pencil grip, scissors, self-dressing, and physical confidence. These skills develop in parallel with early childhood exercise classes through our Fit program, and both feed directly into school readiness.
Lunchbox practice, toileting, managing belongings, and asking for help are the practical life skills that help children navigate a classroom on day one.
The Smart Start Room is a purpose-built environment designed around how preschoolers actually learn best.
Our interactive LED board (the same technology used in leading primary schools across Australia) gives educators the tools to deliver dynamic, engaging lessons that build digital fluency and higher-order thinking before children step into Kindergarten.
Our school readiness activities are woven through every part of the day, not just structured lessons. Daily storytime (2–3 times), independence-building routines, and fine motor activities round out a program that sets children up for success. Explore school readiness activities to try at home to keep the momentum going outside of care.
Quality school readiness programs shouldn’t come with a barrier to entry.
Families in Queensland can access our program through Free Kindy QLD, and NSW families benefit from Start Strong funding, making premium early education more accessible than ever.
Use our childcare subsidy calculator to see what your out-of-pocket cost would be.
In the year before school, our program shifts focus toward transition. Educators work closely with families to track each child’s development, share progress, and identify any areas needing extra support before the big move.
Our Transition to School Program walks children and parents through exactly what Kindergarten involves, routines, expectations, social dynamics, and the independence required from day one.
Preschoolers finish our school readiness program confident, curious, and ready.
Our school readiness program for preschoolers is designed for children aged 3–5, with the most focused transition preparation happening in the year before school. That said, the foundations, language, movement, social skills, and independence are built from the very first room at Rise & Shine.
From the very first room. While the transition to school program has a dedicated preschool and kindy focus, the foundations, like language, movement, social skills, and independence, are built across every age group from infancy.
No. Literacy is one part of school readiness, but children also need emotional regulation, physical coordination, communication skills, and the ability to manage themselves independently.
Eligible families in QLD can access Free Kindy QLD funding, and NSW families can apply for Start Strong funding, both applied directly to reduce fees. Use our childcare subsidy calculator for a personalised estimate.
Book a tour at your nearest Rise & Shine centre to meet the team, see the school readiness program in action, and secure your child's spot. Waitlists fill quickly, especially for the kindy year.
Every Rise & Shine preschool room is led by a university-qualified Early Childhood Teacher who runs the Shine Advantage™ curriculum, a five-element framework that covers not just academic readiness but physical, social, emotional, and creative development too.
Long-day care gives educators far more time with each child, which means more opportunity to observe, support, and build skills consistently across the full day, not just a few hours. Rise & Shine's qualified Early Childhood Teachers deliver the same curriculum quality as a sessional preschool with additional offerings such as STEM, excursions, events and sport, all included with enrolment.
Rise & Shine Kindergarten would acknowledge the Traditional Custodians across Australia and recognise First Nations peoples’ continued cultural connection to the land, sky and waterways that surround us. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Rise & Shine Kindergarten would acknowledge the Traditional Custodians across Australia and recognise First Nations peoples’ continued cultural connection to the land, sky and waterways that surround us. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
