What We Have to Offer

At CBCK, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, valued and supported as they learn, discover and grow. Our committed, caring and highly qualified educators create engaging learning experiences in a welcoming environment where children can develop confidence, independence, friendships and a lifelong love of learning. We partner with families to nurture each child's health, wellbeing and development, while preparing them for a positive transition to school.
Families enjoy a range of wonderful opportunities and facilities, including:
  • Caring, qualified educators who support every child's individual learning and development.
  • Spacious indoor and outdoor environments, including a large, light-filled playroom and an 
    expansive playground with varied opportunities for active, imaginative and nature-based play.
  • Enriching specialist programs, including French and Dance in our Four-Year-Old Group and 
    Dance in our Three-Year-Old Group.
  • Exciting incursions and excursions that extend children's learning and connect them with the 
    wider world.
  • Well-resourced learning environments that encourage curiosity, creativity, exploration and discovery.
  • A strong focus on health and wellbeing, including healthy eating, oral health, physical activity, mental health, sun protection and safe environments.
  • A positive start to school, fostering the confidence, social skills, independence and learning dispositions children need for their next adventure.
  • A convenient location, close to tram routes along Riversdale, Camberwell and Burke Roads, with secure parking for families.
  • Strong community connections, built on a long history of working alongside and receiving support from our local community.

Outdoor wooden playground with a yellow slide, climbing structure, swings, and wood-chip ground in a fenced backyard

Our Philosophy

Care Committment Connection

At Camberwell Baptist Church Kindergarten (CBCK) we are committed to providing a high-quality, caring education which values a strong sense of community and connections in an inclusive environment. Managed by the Camberwell Baptist Church, motivated by care, commitment and connection; we recognise the importance of the Christian ethic and values. These are presented in ways that are natural and relevant to the community. We strive to provide a curriculum and atmosphere where each child and their family is welcomed, supported, develop a sense of belonging and are safe. ​ We recognise children as unique, competent, lifelong learners with endless potential, and acknowledge children learn best in a play-based environment. Children are valued as active citizens and constructive contributors to our learning community with rights and shared responsibility to respect and care for themselves, others, and the environment both natural and built. We believe meaningful interactions and respectful relationships are integral to children’s life and learning. Families are respected and valued as children’s first and lifelong teachers, and we recognise best outcomes are achieved when those who are involved in a child’s development collaborate, critically reflect and share goals for their learning and development. We actively seek to foster a strong sense of community, equity and value connections and partnerships with parents/carers and the wider community, including acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, and connections with Indigenous Australians past and present. Our curriculum honours and reflects diversity. We recognise individual learning styles, abilities and rates of learning and interests. Families and their culture add richness to the learning environment and community of learners. Using a strengths-based approach children’s interests, seasonal and cultural events, along with intentional teaching is integrated to enhance learning. Children are encouraged to investigate theories in an environment where they feel safe to experiment, explore, take risks, question and engage with others in learning. The educational team’s training, knowledge, experience and commitment to further Professional Development is valued and commitment to ongoing critical reflection is viewed as vital to the ongoing improvement of our learning community. ​ The ACECQA National Quality Standards, the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and Practise Principles, Child Safe Standards and the ECA Code of Ethics continuously inform and provide benchmarks for the delivery of the service.

Our Committment to Child Safety

Camberwell Baptist Church Kindergarten: ‍ ‍

-has zero tolerance for child abuse

-will actively work towards providing an environment where children are safe and feel safe; where their voices are heard, actions are noticed. We will promote the best interests of each child.

-is committed to the cultural safety of all children including those from Aboriginal &Torres Strait Islander and from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

-is committed to providing a safe environment to those with a disability, in vulnerable circumstances and to promote equity for all children; and will endeavour to do all which is reasonably possible to support them.

-has systems in place to protect children from harm which is upheld in leadership, governance, culture.

-commits to having policies, procedures and training in place which supports staff and the Management Committee to fulfil their legal and moral obligations in Child Safety.

What we will do to ensure ChildSafe Standards at CBCK:

In its planning, decision-making and operations Camberwell Baptist Church Kindergarten will

-Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

-Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;

-Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children

-Promote equity of all children and respect diversity in cultures and family and carer practices while keeping child safety paramount

-Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children

-Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;

-Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues

-Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;

-Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and

-Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.

Child in a red sun hat playing in a sandbox with toy construction trucks and orange traffic cones

Policies

CBCK has a range of operational policies that guide and support high-quality practice within our kindergarten environment. These policies help ensure the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children, families and staff. A number of Risk Assessments are also associated with these policies to support the safe and effective implementation of our practices. Our policies are password protected. Current families can access the policies via the link provided in the Parent Handbook or by emailing the Kindergarten at camberwell.baptist.church.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au.