Multi-age Programs

To accommodate the diverse needs of families and the increased hours of participation for children in their first year of kindergarten (3YO), we aim to provide programs that offer a variety of day and hour options, for attendance.  

Children at Glen Education services are no longer separated based traditionally according to their age.  Multi-age grouping is simply where children are not separated into three-year-old and four-year-old groups, but grouped across the week

Possible Parent Questions

“What if my 3YO child feels overwhelmed or lost with older children?”

“Will my child regress from playing with younger children?"

"How will my child be ready for school next year if they are in a class with younger children?"

Children won't be lost or left behind and similarly, children who are ready for more challenges will be supported to reach their potential.

Children's development is non-linear.  There are already wide developmental ranges between children, from differences seen between a 4 year old and a 5 year old and between two children of the same age, as well as differences in an individual child's development in different areas such as physical and social skills.

Groups that bring together children aged three to five-years-old, offer unique opportunities for learning and development. Children in these settings benefit from learning from younger or older peers and build stronger social skills that can be used as they grow older.

Children will develop friendships and engage in learning, being able to access peer support and lead learning for other children. These opportunities offer children the opportunity to develop more sophisticated social skills.

Older children can learn by teaching younger children and have opportunities to practice nurturing and leadership.  They may also have a boost in confidence as they are able to be the wiser play partner.  

Our educational teams are skilled at providing an individualised program to support the specific learning needs of children, as per the National Early Years Learning Framework and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.  

Educators offer flexible spaces and differentiated experiences that allow children to learn at their own pace with individual support. In such environments with the active support of educators, children are supported to access resources, materials and experiences that match their interests and skills as well as those that challenge them to extend their capabilities.