About Us
Our History
In 1945, the Rowen Street Kindergarten operated out of the old pavilion at the recreational reserve on High Street, Ashburton. An Airforce hut was purchased and moved into the site at 27 Rowen Street, (then Burwood), in November 1947. This building remains an integral part of the kindergarten as it stands currently.
The kindergarten became a double-unit centre in 1958 with the addition of a second room. 3-year-old and 4-year-old sessional groups operated in both rooms. In 1988, an extended hours program began in one room with 3-year-old and 4-year-old operating in the other room.
Today we still have two rooms - one for the 3-year-old program and one room for the 4-year-old program.
Click the button below to learn more about our programs.
We offer an above-standard ratio of teachers to children, with one teacher and two co-educators in each 3-year-old group and one teacher with three co-educators in each 4-year-old group. Our dedicated educators are all highly qualified and experienced and are committed to the education here at Rowen Street Kindergarten, with around half our staff having been part of the RSK team for ten years or more.
Using the National Quality Framework, our teachers advocate each child’s state of Belonging, Being and Becoming through our play-based curriculum. Our excellent practice is embedded consistently, frequently and intentionally into all that we do. It is informed by critical reflection towards continuous quality improvement and is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and the community.
Inside Our Kinder
Our Playspace
Rowen Street Kindergarten boasts an extensive and inviting outdoor play and learning space. Children are encouraged to interact with the environment through building cubbies, small-parts-play, walking barefoot, water-play, mud-kitchens, and climbing trees. We go outside in all weather, utilising our covered learning area and sandpit, shady trees and shade-cloths and cubbies for part-protection, and otherwise encouraging children and families to enjoy the outdoors with appropriate clothing.
Sustainability is a part of the everyday learning as children actively take part in composting, feeding the worms and chickens, being water-wise, growing vegetables, reducing, reusing and recycling. We instil the notion of being a caretaker for our environment through gardening, caring and showing empathy for our chickens, and respectfully interacting with nature in the gardens. Our educators guide the children’s experiences so as to foster creativity, problem solving, fine and gross motor skills, independence, and social interactions in the outdoor environment.
National Quality Standards
The NQS provides a rating system for Australian children’s education and care services, and covers seven quality areas. These standards promote wellbeing in children, educational outcomes, connection with families and excellence in management. Rowen Street Kindergarten are proud to continue to meet all seven standards as set out in the NQS
embedded
Practice
Our curriculum documents are guided by the National Quality Framework to ensure we always support the concepts of Being, Belonging and Becoming for our children.
Continuous
improvement
We take time to reflect on our practice and actively look for ways we can keep improving in our planning, delivery and leadership in the kindergarten.
community
engagement
Through our Committee of Management, we have a direct line of communication to parents, as well as consulting with our wider parent network on all major decisions.
Rowen Street Kindergarten is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making. Rowen Street Kindergarten has zero tolerance for child abuse. Rowen Street Kindergarten is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with additional needs. Every person involved in Rowen Street Kindergarten has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively in ensuring that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make. Read more about our protective practices in our Child Safe Environment Policy.