Collaboration Brings Y WA’s School ReadY Program to Y Whittlesea Early Learning Centres in Victoria

At Y Whittlesea, we are always looking for innovative, evidence-based approaches that strengthen outcomes for children and families. We’re proud to share that through a collaborative partnership with Y Western Australia, the highly successful School ReadY Program will be rolled out across all seven Y Whittlesea Early Learning Centres from mid-February 2026.

Originally developed and implemented by the Y Western Australia, the School ReadY Program is a unique initiative grounded in contemporary research into early childhood learning and brain development. Since April 2024, it has been successfully delivered across 14 Y WA Early Learning Centres, supporting children to build strong foundations before starting formal schooling.

Learning from Best Practice

After seeing the strong outcomes achieved in Western Australia, a team of educators from Orchard Road Community and Early Learning Centre travelled to Perth in February 2025 to observe the program in action and take part in a specialised Literacy and Language Professional Learning workshop.

During this visit, our educators received targeted training, practical tools and program resources, empowering them to pilot the School ReadY Program at Orchard Road. The results were highly encouraging, with children demonstrating growth in key literacy and language capabilities. Following the pilot’s success, plans were set in motion to expand the program across all Y Whittlesea services.

In August 2025, the partnership deepened when Y WA Literacy Specialist Renee Chakaodza and Executive Manager Early Childhood and Care Ian Dennis visited Orchard Road to conduct lesson observations, review program delivery and support effective implementation. This ongoing collaboration reflects a shared commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

What is School ReadY?

School ReadY supports children’s development across three essential domains:

– Literacy and language

– Social and emotional wellbeing

– Numeracy

The literacy and language component, currently being implemented, supports children aged 3–5 to develop strong oral language and early literacy skills through intentional teaching embedded within play-based learning.

As Y WA Literacy Specialist Renee Chakaodza explains:

“Our School ReadY Program provides opportunities for children to develop fundamental pre-literacy and oral language skills including phonological awareness, semantic knowledge, narrative skills and comprehension. Developing these critical skills before they start school has a lasting impact because the early years are a period of enormous growth.”

By intentionally building these skills in the early years, children are better prepared to transition confidently into primary school.

Rolling Out Across Y Whittlesea

From mid-February 2026, the School ReadY Program will be introduced across:

– Diggers Rest Early Learning Centre

– Eucalyptus Parade Kindergarten

– Galada Kindergarten

– Kirrip Kindergarten

– Mill Park Heights Childcare Centre

– The Heights Kindergarten

– Orchard Road Community and Early Learning Centre

This expansion reflects our commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality educational experiences across all services.

A Shared Commitment to Innovation

At Y Whittlesea, we believe that when educators collaborate, children benefit. This partnership with Y Western Australia demonstrates the strength of the Y network nationally and our shared dedication to evidence-based practice.

Work is already underway in Western Australia to expand School ReadY further, with social and emotional wellbeing resources currently in development and a numeracy component to follow — ensuring a holistic approach to supporting children before they start school.

We look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have on children and families across our community in 2026 and beyond.

To view a sneak peek of the School ReadY Program in action at Orchard Road, watch the following videos:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2OZ7S-J1Qzk

The School ReadY Program in Action

The School ReadY Program in Action: Part 2

If you found this blog useful, you might also enjoy:

https://childrensprograms.whittlesea.ymca.org.au/innovative-learning-at-y-whittlesea-early-learning/