Prep School

Mini Masterminds Prep School (preschool / kindy in NSW) welcomes children from 3 years of age, supporting them through the final two years before kindergarten. Children transition into the Prep School room when they are developmentally ready, which varies from child to child rather than being tied to a strict birthday, and we work closely with families to make that move feel natural and well timed.

Our Sydney preschool program runs as a dedicated room separate from our Toddler program, with a focus on school readiness across five core areas: early literacy and phonics, numeracy and number sense, fine motor skills, social and emotional development, and independence. It is built on the Early Years Learning Framework, delivered by Diploma and Bachelor qualified early childhood educators, and includes access to Reading Eggs, an evidence based literacy platform used in primary schools across Australia.

In the year before school, families receive a transition statement prepared by your child’s educators and shared directly with their kindergarten teacher, helping to ensure a smooth, supported and confident start to big school.

Yes, Mini Masterminds Prep School delivers the same outcomes as preschool or kindy: a dedicated school readiness program for children aged 3 to 5 in the years before they start kindergarten. The terminology varies by state and provider; in NSW, the terms preschool, kindy and pre kindy are often used interchangeably to describe this stage of early learning.

What sets Prep School at Mini Masterminds apart is the setting and the support around it. Our Sydney preschool program runs within a long day care environment, open from early morning to late afternoon all year round to suit working families. It is funded through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) rather than state preschool funding, making it accessible to families across our Sydney childcare network. And it is built on the Early Years Learning Framework with a clear and structured focus on kindergarten readiness across literacy, numeracy, fine motor skills and social and emotional development.

For most families, the practical benefit is significant: quality preschool education within a flexible, full day long day care setting that works around the realities of family life.

Daily fees for our Mini Masterminds Prep School program (Sydney preschool) vary by centre and the days you book. For most families, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) significantly reduces the out of pocket cost; the subsidy is calculated by Services Australia based on your household income, activity level and the number of children you have in care.

From 5 January 2026, eligible families can also access the 3 Day Childcare Guarantee, which ensures a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (around three days per week), providing greater certainty around the weekly cost of preschool care.

Because Prep School at Mini Masterminds is delivered within a long day care setting and funded through the Child Care Subsidy, families don’t need to piece together multiple services or providers. Quality preschool education, full day care and all inclusions: one roof, one fee, one drop off.

Use our Subsidy Estimator to calculate your estimated out of pocket preschool cost, or call our enrolment team on 1300 336 464 for a personalised quote.

A typical day in Mini Masterminds Prep School (our Sydney preschool program) follows a structured rhythm designed to mirror aspects of a primary school day, building the stamina, focus and routine familiarity children need before kindergarten begins.

The preschool day flows through morning arrival and table activities, group circle time (calendar, weather and news), a literacy block (phonics, storytelling, name writing and journaling), morning tea, outdoor play, a numeracy block (counting games, sorting and patterns), lunch, rest or quiet reading time, an inquiry based learning block (project work, science experiments and art), afternoon tea, and a final outdoor play session before pick up.

Woven through the week are specialist enrichment programs (sports, yoga, cooking, music and language exposure) that broaden children’s preschool experiences and keep the days varied and engaging. Throughout it all, the structure is intentional but never rigid, with room for play and child led discovery at every stage, all framed by the Early Years Learning Framework.

Every child in our Mini Masterminds Prep School program is supported at their own pace, because development in the years before school looks different for every child. Our preschool educators assess each child’s starting point across literacy, numeracy, motor skills, social and emotional development and independence, then plan learning experiences that meet them where they are, within the group setting, not separate from it.

Children who are ready for more challenge are extended with richer and more complex tasks. Children who need additional support are scaffolded with smaller steps, more repetition and extra encouragement, at their own pace, without pressure.

Where a child has a recognised additional need, we work in close partnership with families and, where appropriate, with allied health professionals such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists and paediatricians, aligning our approach at our Sydney childcare centre with the support your child receives at home and in the clinic.

All of this sits within the Early Years Learning Framework, which places individualised, responsive practice at the heart of quality early childhood education in Sydney.

Yes, play based learning remains central to our Prep School program (Sydney preschool / kindy), even as activities become more intentional in the final years before school. The Early Years Learning Framework is built on the evidence that children learn most effectively through play, and our Mini Masterminds Prep School is designed with that in mind.

As children move through the preschool program, play becomes more purposeful. Educators plan intentional experiences that build specific kindergarten readiness skills (alphabet games that develop early phonics, board games that build numeracy, craft that strengthens fine motor skills, and cooperative role play that develops social confidence and emotional regulation). Children also have dedicated time for child led free play, both indoors and outdoors, where curiosity and creativity are given room to breathe.

This balance of intentional teaching and child led discovery builds the confidence, curiosity and resilience that research consistently identifies as the strongest predictors of school success, more so than academic skills alone.

At Mini Masterminds Sydney preschool, parents stay closely connected to their preschooler’s learning through several touchpoints across the year.

Day to day, you’ll receive real time photos, learning observations linked to the Early Years Learning Framework, and a daily summary through our secure parent communication app. Twice a year, families receive a written learning summary documenting your child’s progress across the five school readiness areas, giving you a clear and meaningful picture of how they’re growing.

Formal parent educator conversations are scheduled twice a year, and preschool educators are always available for informal chats at drop off and pick up. In your child’s final year before kindergarten, you’ll also receive their transition statement, prepared by their educators and shared directly with their school to support a confident start.

As an enrolled Mini Masterminds family, you’ll also receive complimentary access to the Happy Families parenting platform, including guidance on how to support kindergarten readiness at home in the lead up to big school.