At a glance
The Early Learning Centre is where Caulfield Grammar starts, a dedicated early years setting for children aged about 3 to 5 before they step into Prep. It is offered at the Wheelers Hill campus, where a child can carry on through to Year 12 on the same site, which is part of the appeal for families who want continuity rather than a separate kindergarten and then a school search. The programme is built around the IB Primary Years Programme and the national Early Years Learning Framework, with small classes and a teacher supported by a co educator in each room. Three year old kindergarten and a pre prep year give a settled two year run into formal schooling. As an early years provider the centre falls under the wider Caulfield Grammar registration with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority. For the full school across all stages, see our Caulfield Grammar profile, and for the wider field of early years and school options the Melbourne city hub sets the context for relocating families.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Programme | IB Primary Years Programme and the Early Years Learning Framework |
| Stages | Three year old kindergarten and pre prep (ages 3 to 5) |
| Founded | Part of Caulfield Grammar, founded 1881 |
| Accreditation | Under Caulfield Grammar's VRQA registration; IB authorised school |
| Fee band | Premium early learning (see the Melbourne fees guide) |
| Campus | Wheelers Hill, south eastern Melbourne |
Programme and approach
The early years curriculum is play based and inquiry led, drawn from the IB Primary Years Programme and the Early Years Learning Framework that all Australian early childhood settings work to. In practice that means children learn through guided play, structured routines and the kind of open ended exploration that builds language, early numeracy and social confidence. The school also draws on the Reggio Emilia philosophy and a nature pedagogy that uses the outdoors as a learning space, so a typical week balances indoor inquiry with time outside. Three year old kindergarten runs a set number of days, building to a fuller pre prep week in the year before Prep, which eases the transition into formal schooling. Because the centre sits inside an IB authorised school, the early years feed naturally into the Primary Years Programme in the junior school rather than handing children over to a separate institution.
Caulfield Grammar Early Learning Centre fees
Early learning fees at Caulfield Grammar sit in the premium band for Melbourne, in line with the school's wider fee schedule, and are usually charged per term and scaled by the number of days a week a child attends. We do not publish a single headline figure here because the school sets early learning fees each year; you can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Melbourne. It is worth asking about government kindergarten funding, which can reduce the cost of three year old and four year old kinder for eligible families and is separate from the school's own fee. Beyond tuition, plan for an application fee, an enrolment deposit and the usual early years extras such as incursions and excursions. Confirm what the term fee includes before you commit, since some items are billed separately.
Budgeting for an early learning place?
Use our fee calculator to estimate term fees, deposits and the one off charges across Melbourne schools before you enrol. Free and independent.
Admissions
Early learning places are limited and popular, so the school encourages families to register interest well ahead of the late January start of the year. Three year old kindergarten is a common entry point and fills early, and securing a place in the early years often makes the move into Prep and the junior school more straightforward. Assessment at this stage is gentle and age appropriate: a settling visit and an informal observation rather than any kind of test, since the aim is to see that a child is ready to thrive in a group setting. The school asks for basic records, immunisation details as required in Victoria, and a short conversation with the family. Families relocating to Melbourne with a toddler or preschooler should make contact as soon as their plans firm up.
Location and who goes there
The early learning programme is based at the Wheelers Hill campus in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs, a green, spacious site that runs from early learning right through to Year 12. The catchment is the established south eastern arc, from Wheelers Hill and Glen Waverley out across the surrounding suburbs, and the continuity of a single campus appeals to families who want their child settled in one place for the long term. The community is largely local, with a steady thread of relocating and returning families drawn by the IB approach and the through school model. For families weighing a south eastern base against other parts of the city, and for the full picture of where relocating families settle and what each area costs, return to the Melbourne city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended the Caulfield Grammar Early Learning Centre, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Caulfield Grammar Early Learning Centre fees?
Early learning fees at Caulfield Grammar sit in the premium band for Melbourne independent schools and are usually charged per term and scaled by the number of days a week your child attends. The school publishes its current early learning schedule each year, and government kindergarten funding may reduce the three year old and four year old cost for eligible families.
What ages does the Caulfield Grammar Early Learning Centre take?
The early learning programme runs three year old kindergarten from age 3 and a pre prep year from age 4, so it covers children aged roughly 3 to 5 before they move into Prep in the junior school.
What curriculum does the Caulfield Grammar Early Learning Centre follow?
The early years are guided by the IB Primary Years Programme and the Early Years Learning Framework, with a play based, inquiry led approach influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and nature pedagogy.
When do Caulfield Grammar early learning applications open?
Early learning places are limited and popular, so families are encouraged to register interest well ahead of the late January start. Three year old kindergarten is a common entry point and fills early, so applying as soon as you can is sensible.
Where is the Caulfield Grammar Early Learning Centre?
Early learning is offered at the Wheelers Hill campus in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, where children can continue through to Year 12 on the same site.
