Glen Education Oakleigh South
Building Relationships and Community Connections
By Glen Oakleigh South Educational Team
This year at Glen Oakleigh South Kindergarten has been full of learning, growth, and meaningful connections. Central to our practice is building strong relationships with families, the wider community, and local services to support children’s wellbeing and development. Our approach is guided by Vygotsky’s belief that:
"Learning is a social process and children develop and thrive through meaningful interactions with educators, families, and peers, building knowledge and skills together."
Through these partnerships, we have created rich learning experiences that empower children, celebrate diversity, and strengthen our kindergarten community, fostering a sense of belonging where every child can flourish.
Connections with Families – Sharing Culture, Expertise, Interests and Skills
At Glen OSK, families are valued as partners in their children’s learning. Our practice is grounded in genuine collaboration and two-way communication, ensuring that family voices, cultural identities, and home experiences meaningfully influence our curriculum and daily interactions. Educators recognise parents and carers as their child’s first and most influential teachers. Through open communication, shared planning, and offering access to community information and resources, we work together to support each child’s wellbeing and development.
Families have enriched our program by sharing their cultures, stories, skills, and unique knowledge. These contributions not only deepen children’s learning but also foster a strong sense of inclusion and identity. Abby’s mum joined us for a wonderful Mooncake cooking experience, where the children learned about festival of China and enjoyed making mooncakes together. Anmol’s parents visited us to read a story about Diwali (festival of India) and even brought small presents for the children. Liam’s mum joined to do gardening with the children and Romeo’s dad and Romeo supported us by bringing soil and other gardening supplies to our Kindergarten. These experiences support children in understanding the importance of contributing to the world.
Connections with Maternal nurses
As part of our integrated hub model, our connection with the maternal and child health nurse continues to be a strong and valued partnership. Regular communication and shared observations help us support children’s development holistically, ensuring families have access to guidance, early-intervention pathways, and consistent support across services. Our nurse’s presence strengthens continuity of care and builds a safe and trusted environment for families. This collaboration enhances children’s wellbeing, supports families in navigating developmental milestones, and reinforces our shared commitment to nurturing each child’s growth.
A wonderful example of this partnership was one of our nurses Amelia’s visit to our kindergarten, demonstrating care for babies and young children. This experience particularly supported children who are expecting new siblings at home, helping them understand their role and responsibilities in caring for a growing family.
Connections with Wider Community
Our connections with the broader community provide meaningful learning experiences and help children understand the people and places that support us. This term, a highlight was our visit to Bunnings, who have been generously donating gardening supplies to our kindergarten. The children travelled by bus to express their gratitude and learn how community workers help support our daily lives.
The children learned about dental hygiene, healthy habits, and the important role health care workers play in supporting our community. This meaningful interaction helped children connect real-life community roles to their own wellbeing and deepened their understanding of the people who help keep us healthy.
As we reflect on the year 2025, we are proud of what we have achieved together as a team. Through strong partnerships with families, community members, and local services, we have enriched children’s learning, supported their wellbeing, and strengthened our kindergarten community.
We thank everyone for their collaboration and look forward to continuing to grow these connections in the year ahead.