Little Zaks Lane Cove

“At Little Zak’s Academy, we know the importance of a child’s first six years of life. Our aim is simple - to provide excellence in early childhood care and education in a safe, welcoming, adopting and nurturing environment.

Grounded on the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) - ‘Being, Belonging and Becoming’ - and the National Quality Framework (NQF), we have developed an ever-evolving environment which allows for intentional teaching and spontaneous learning. This enables each child to develop lifelong skills of inter-relating, resilience, empowerment, social competence and independence.

To provide the best start in life for all our children, we need you. At the core of Little Zak’s Academy lies our love for family and close partnerships with our Little Zak’s parents. We strive to build meaningful relationships with families based on co-operation and a mutual respect for the reciprocal roles that we play in the lives of your child.”

Little Zak’s Academy team

Some of the activities at Little Zak’s Academy include: 

The Yoga Club: Designed for children aged two to six years, this program develops flexibility and supports development of important skills including emotional regulation, mindfulness and boosts self-esteem.

French language lessons: This program introduces children to new languages to expand their understanding of the world and improves their cognitive development. Delivered by a qualified French teacher, this program is for children aged over 2.

Little Zak’s Kitchen: Introduced to inspire children to learn about smart food choices through cooking classes, children are empowered to take on more responsibility and encouraged to become adventurous eaters.

Zakaroos: Children aged two to six have fun learning to play soccer while improving their athletic ability and building good fitness habits.

Zak’s enviro: This teaches children environmental sustainability in practical ways, while they get their hands dirty composting and planting food in the veggie patch.

Little Zak’s Prep School: This is a program to guide children through transition to school, building skills in emotional resilience, language and self-sufficiency.

Swimming: for an additional fee, the centre can arrange swimming lessons at a nearby pool for children over 4 years of age.

With a menu of five daily food breaks, including morning munch and move, Little Zak’s children enjoy a tasty variety of culturally diverse and nutritious meals. All meals can be tailored around children’s dietary and allergy needs, and the on-site chef ensures that the centre is nut free.  

As part of Little Zak’s Kitchen, a hands-on cooking program for those aged two to five years, children learn fun and helpful skills around healthy eating habits. These lessons also empower self-confidence and a sense of responsibility for personal hygiene and cleanliness.

At Little Zak’s Academy, the educators are a team of dedicated professionals who value the importance of maintaining an optimum level of care and education for all children. They are selected due to their knowledge and values, their vision for children and learning, and their commitment to families. 

Little Zak’s Academy believes that early childhood is a celebration of learning that, when valued and nurtured appropriately, fosters happy individuals that positively contribute to their community and the greater society. 

The educators seek to make the centre a place where all are welcomed, safe and loved. Their high standards, as well as the modern, secure and cosy environment, mean children feel safe. Professional development is also conducted by the team to ensure high support and knowledge is maintained. 

Each child is respected without discrimination or bias and are given the opportunity to succeed with their diversities respected. Through active engagement the educators model positive behaviour and develop meaningful, equitable and socially responsible relationships.

In order to support children within the service the team works hard to create a collaborative partnership with families. This is through welcoming and acknowledging family and cultural perspectives, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the centre program, collecting vital information regarding the care of the children and opening a number of platforms where communication is provided on their care, growth and development. 

The centre’s local community influences their practices through incursions, excursions and collaborations with local businesses and schools. Due to their community influence, the team advocates a focus on being environmentally sustainable.