Hillarys Community Kindergarten is truly the most wonderful place for your child to begin their schooling journey. It is more than just a kindergarten, it is a beautiful community where your child (and you!) will learn and grow while making the most wonderful friendships! The play based philosophy led by the incredibly passionate teachers creates such a joyful and engaging environment! I loved how my daughter formed new friendships quickly, learnt through experiences that genuinely excited her and built the emotional and social skills she needs for life. 

The space itself is so beautifully designed and you can tell every detail has been thoughtfully considered with children in mind. The warmth, dedication and care shown by the teachers and educator assistants is extraordinary. Combined with the strong sense of community among the families, makes Hillarys Community Kindergarten a truly special place. Our daughter thrived here and she would wake up every morning asking if it was a kindy day! We are so thankful to have been able to be part of this wonderful community and grateful for the nurturing environment that Hillarys Community Kindergarten provides. We will be sending our son here even though we've moved further away because we love it that much and that is thanks to the passion of Ellie and Sandra! 

- Kathryn (HCK in 2025)

We had such a wonderful experience at Hillarys Community Kindy last year. The play-based approach created such a nurturing and joyful environment for learning and the small class sizes meant our son received so much individual attention. The teachers are so caring, patient, and genuinely invested in each child’s growth. We loved how much focus was placed on building real-life skills alongside confidence and independence. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to his schooling journey.

- Clancy (HCK in 2025)

Hillarys Community Kindy has been the best decision for my son. The play-based education is engaging, making him genuinely love going to kindy. The teachers are amazing, creating a warm, nurturing atmosphere that feels like family. They handled his separation anxiety with exceptional care, turning the transition into a positive experience. Grateful for the wonderful impact this kindy has had on our family and highly recommend over school based kindy!

- Bec (HCK in 2023)

HCK has been an amazing experience for my son and entire family. When your child joins HCK, you and your child are supported by the most amazing community of teachers and parents. HCK has given my son a great start to schooling that I am sure will serve him well for years to come. The education program run at HCK has provided my son with confidence, social skills, enhanced his gross motor skills and allowed him to make lasting friendships. I would not hesitate to suggest HCK to anyone as the care, nurturing and education provided by Alison and the entire teaching team is second to none. We feel so lucky to have found HCK and can’t thank the team enough for a fantastic year.

- Belinda (HCK in 2023)

I couldn’t have asked for a better way for my son to begin his schooling than through Hillary’s Community Kindy. I was looking for a schooling option with friendly teachers, genuine play-based teaching, creativity, and developmentally-appropriate learning. HCK has met all my son’s needs and more! His teachers have created a real feeling of community among his classmates, and they do so many wonderful and imaginative activities (eg watching eggs hatch into caterpillars and grow into butterflies, going on a walk to a local park to find the perfect stick to paint, posting a letter at the shops). My son hadn’t been to daycare/pre-kindy, and he felt so confident even on the first day to walk inside and have a great day at school without me there, which he’s normally quite shy about. The fact that the kindy is a standalone place - just one class, rather than a whole school, means the drop off/pick up isn’t stressful, and there’s no extra noise and distractions or overwhelm from bigger kids around. The teachers can choose how to structure the day based around the kids’ needs, rather than needing to structure breaks/activities around the needs of other classes etc. Their approach to literacy and communication has been beautifully cultivated, without pressure, I’m so impressed by what my son can write and understand, which I wasn’t expecting from kindy! I also love their flexibility towards morning tea/lunch, and giving them plenty of play time. Alison is a very genuine, friendly, warm, clever teacher, and I wouldn’t want my son to be anywhere else! She keeps us up to date with what the children are learning each week, and is very approachable if we want any further information about how our children are going. The EAs (Julie, Sandra, Tania) are likewise wonderful, and I felt so comfortable leaving my son in their care. I have felt so supported as a parent, and like a team with the teachers. Cannot recommend highly enough!!

- Emily (HCK in 2023)

Hillarys Community Kindergarten is an absolute gem, and the best decision we ever made for our two children. haven where young minds blossom! The teachers go above and beyond, fostering an environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and growth.

Each child is individually celebrated + nurtured - it’s the most beautiful learning environment. Through a well-thought curriculum and engaging activities, they seamlessly blend learning and play, allowing children to develop essential skills while having fun. The play-based learning approach is incredible, encouraging exploration and hands-on experiences that spark a love for learning.

- Laura Hunter (HCK in 2023 & 2021)

My son moved from interstate and missed 2 weeks but you wouldn’t know it. The staff are beautiful and treat the children with so much respect. My son never felt left behind academically or socially. I love that the kindergarten is play based as I believe at this age that it really is the only way children grow and learn.

Even myself I felt so supported not knowing anyone, it really is its own community. Everyone looks out for everyone and their children.

I would recommend this kindergarten and the teachers Alison Ford & Julie O’Brien to everyone. The class is smaller so all children get that one on one learning time and support.

Not only that but they are honestly making the children prepared and able to tackle the next stage in their schooling. In the best possible way with love and care.

- Mel Whitmore (HCK in 2023)

Hillarys Community Kindy is one of the best experiences of my life. I have learnt so much from Kindy and I will never forget it. Mrs Ford and her wonderful assistants, Mrs Thompson and Mrs O`Brien, are so caring, outstanding, kind and super helpful. I always felt very supported and safe when I was there. Even though it's been a while since I left, I live nearby to the kindy and I always come to say ‘hi’ through the fence when I see Mrs Ford. I will always remember the wonderful times I had there. HCK is an ideal place to start learning. 

- Jacob

So happy we chose to give our son the perfect start to school. Fantastic environment for play based learning with a purpose built classroom, playground and veggie patch, in a beautiful park setting. The staff are second to none and create a wonderful program to nurture and encourage developing minds.

- Lea Artis (HCK in 2021 & 2019)

All three of our children have been through this wonderful kindergarten. Alison, Sandra and Julie are gifted educators who care about every single child in the centre. The children are taught the Education Department curriculum through play based methods, which has been proven to be the best way to teach this particular age bracket. Social skills work is also a big part of the curriculum, as the children need to know how to get along with each other in a group and how to resolve conflicts. Parents are welcome to be involved, with opportunities to help out in the day to day running of the centre, as well as on the parent committee. Each day is filled with fun, laughter, singing and messy play. My children still remember their time here with great fondness and are so sad that their time at Hillarys Kindy has come to an end!

- Magda Upton

Hillarys Community Kindergarten was the best start to my daughters education, the staff are kind and so passionate for the job, their genuine care for children is second to none. We are not in the catchment for HCK, however being a community kindy they are able to accept us. The drive was never an inconvenience as I knew the smaller environment of a play base community kindy was the only place I wanted my daughter to go to. She is off to a main stream school feeling confident and excited. There is no doubt in my mind that my son will go there also, there is no comparison.

- Amy Mattaboni

My daughter had a great experience and absolutely thrived! Alison knows education and the science of children’s development. She knows what the most important and valuable things are for kids at this age. She is also passionate and caring about every child. The kindy is out of our school catchment, but absolutely worth the effort. Sending her to this nourishing environment has been the best decision made so far for my child!

- Fei Liu

My son absolutely loved his year at Hillarys Community Kindy. I’m so blessed to be able to be a part of this beautiful place for another whole year while my next son gets to grow and thrive there also! I can’t wait for the new school year to begin so he can start his adventure at Hillarys Community Kindy! These kids are encouraged to explore their world how kids should be, outside exploring nature whilst in a safe, nurturing environment. We couldn’t ask for a better kindy than this one. Well done ladies, you do such a wonderful job!

- Joanna Georgiou

Hillarys Community Kindergarten is a wonderful kindy. My daughter loves every day there and comes home full of songs and stories. Such a great way to start school. Great staff and great facilities.

- Katherine Bennett

This wonderful kindy has helped my boy flourish and grow more than I could have hoped for. Alison, Sandra and Julie are the most caring, experienced, early childhood educators and have made my son completely ready to move on to full time school. The best schooling decision I have made was to send him to HCK.

- Lynette Jolley

A wonderful play based kindy with the most caring staff. Alison goes over and above with the help of Julie and Sandra to cater to each childs learning style. Hillarys Community Kindy has given my child the confidence and tools he needs to step into Pre Primary School.

- Ebony Lepouture

This is a well resourced, beautifully kept kindergarten with talented and caring staff. Our child has loved every moment and so have we.

- Lucy Birkinshaw

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