Young children learn deeply through imitation. In light of this, our Early Childhood program (Kindergarten and Prep) offers a warm, homelike environment with gentle rhythms and repeated routines to create a warm, secure and calm atmosphere for children. Within this nurturing space, each child can grow, explore, play and build social connections through movement and rich-sensory experiences.

Our Kindergarten (preschool) and Prep programs

Our Early Childhood program has an Exceeding National Quality Standard rating, meaning we go above and beyond national benchmarks for the quality of children's education and care services across Australia. We also offer Free Kindy to eligible families.

We offer a number of multi-age programs:

• Pre-kindy for children the year they turn 4 (three days a week),
• Kindergarten for children the year they turn 5 (four days a week), and
• Prep for children the year they turn 6 (five days a week).

To learn more about our Early Childhood programs and to experience the wonder of Steiner education for yourself, be sure to book onto a School Tour. Tours run every fortnight during term time.

A place where children can be children

Within our Early Childhood program, and under the loving and watching presence of our qualified Teachers, children are simply allowed to be children. 

We offer a rich program of wholesome, home-based activities, crafts and artistic pursuits, rather than an academic program. Afterall, a great deal of what children need to learn at this age can be achieved through their own rich and rewarding world of self-directed play. For example, children may be involved in:

• baking bread and churning butter for morning tea,
• chopping and preparing food for lunch, 
• working in the garden to grow vegetables that we use in our meals, 
• growing flowers for flower garlands or fairy rings, 
• sweeping and mopping, washing dolls clothes and hanging them out to dry, 
• building cubbies, 
• weaving, sewing and felt-felting,
• painting, drawing and beeswax modelling, 
• woodwork, 
• singing, ring-dancing and movement games.

Early language learning

Our teachers provide children with rich and beautiful oral language experiences which build foundations for the language work that comes later in their educational journey.

Each day the children and the teachers come together for morning circle, a meaningful part of our daily rhythm. The children sing songs, recite verses and poems, play finger games and participate in play-acting; all of which provide repetition for early language learning. 

Later in the day the class meets again for story time, where teachers share traditional folk and fairy tales and simple nature stories with the children; often using puppets and handmade props to bring a richness to their tales. The telling of stories aids children's speech and vocabulary development and also helps build an understanding of grammar.

Foundations for future academics

Similarly, the groundwork is also being developed in other areas of learning throughout the children's day.  Children develop body geography through guided movement in morning circle, which helps with reading; the foundations of mathematics through rhythmical and counting activities; and their daily exposure to the world of nature and a focus on seasonal elements underpins science.

 Shelley Pollard is our Nominated Supervisor for all Kindergarten programmes. 

2026 Rating Report - We're Rated Exceeding 

In February 2026, Cairns Hinterland Steiner School's Kindergarten Service underwent its inspection and review by the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority. Our overall rating is Exceeding National Quality Standard.

Of the seven Quality Areas assessed, our Kindy was rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standard (NQS) in five Areas and Meeting in the remaining two Areas. Our overall rating is Exceeding National Quality Standard. 

Notice of Rating Certificate 2026