Active Kids Early Learning Centre - Hillcrest

I am incredibly grateful for an amazing centre who has had both my boys from about 4/5 months old. We have been lucky enough to enjoy the same teachers for most of my children’s years which has helped with their development. The director Kiri is always happy and polite to speak with. She has done an excellent job at running the entire place and all her work shows through the results of a great centre. She has always been patient and takes the time of day to explain things for you whatever your enquiry may be. Thank you, Kiri, and Active Kids Hillcrest.

Cindy, parent

I am so thankful I found Active Kids. I went in to check out the day-care with my then 10-month-old and my mum. I was so nervous about day-care as are most first time mums. I was welcomed by a friendly and smiling Kiri. She took time out and walked me around the whole centre showing me all the rooms and introducing me to the staff members. We spent time in the nursery, to have a play with my daughter to see how we felt. It was then that I knew it was the place for us. It was so homely, could smell home cooked food as soon as you opened the door.

The staff were friendly, and facilities were spot on. It had everything we needed. That was 6 years ago, and I have never looked back. I had two difficult reflux babies and Kiri and the staff have always gone above and beyond to care and accommodate the kid’s needs. Six years on and the dedication, communication, care, and professionalism has only grown. Nothing is too much, and the team are so approachable. 

The children always come first and most of the staff have been there since I started attending. My family and I cannot thank the team enough for all you have done for our family. You have helped mould my children into who they are today, and I am so thankful you have been there in their younger years. I will be terribly sad to be leaving you at the end of the year.  

Elisha, parent 

I cannot recommend the centre highly enough. My children are so well loved and cared for. Kiri is such an amazing director who genuinely loves her job, and it is reflected through the staff and many happy families. 

Lauren, parent 

A long due review. My son is extremely attached to me, and I was nervous to put him in a day care. The ladies at Active Kids were amazing with the transition. They are attentive, caring and always helpful. I would especially like to mention and thank Miss Teneal who went above and beyond to love, cuddle, and make sure my son settled in well.

Snehal, parent 

Amazing staff, great price, I know my kids are loved and cared for and my kids always love going to kindy.

Talitha, parent

Active Kids early learning Is an amazing school. I have two children who attend this centre, one who is special needs. He has been going to this centre for 11 months now, when he first started, he could not say more than five words, he was three! Now he is talking in sentences. They have done and amazing job with my 3 year old helping him learn and grow. The centre director has also been an amazing help has worked with me when I have needed help. Would recommend the centre to everyone.

Kayla, parent

What an incredible centre. Exceptionally high standards in terms of care, health and safety, education & food quality. Great standards and support when it comes to different behaviours with the children also. The staff are very friendly and care about you and your family. If you ever have any issues, they will address them straight away and make sure the problems are resolved. They are also very engaging with the children and always doing a wide variety of fun activities. My son has been going to this centre since he was  3 months old, he is now 4 years old. Thank you all so much for helping me raise my son into the wonderful little person he is today.

Jasmine, parent

I could not fault this centre; the staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcome at the centre. I am always kept up to date on what my kids are doing and can call or email their teachers whenever I have a question. We love this centre and will be sad to leave when the youngest starts prep.

Tania, parent

Our son has loved his two days a week at Active Kids. The team are wonderful, and the daily updates are a delight.

James, parent

Active Kids Early Learning Centre Hillcrest offers the following programs as part of the daily fee: 

• Bush Kindy and Beach Kindy in alignment with nature play principles and guidelines 

• Government approved Kindergarten program offered 5 days a week by fully qualified Early Childhood Teacher 

• Vacation Care program including excursions, on site events and activities 

• Weekly cooking experiences led by the centre’s qualified cook 

• Extracurricular activities including Happy Feet Dance Program and Ginger Sports Soccer 

• ELLA language program where the children learn French

• Centre pets including chickens, guinea pigs and fish 

• Regular excursions within the local community which coincide with learning within the classroom

• Regular incursions, shows and visitors to the centre including Itty Bitty Stars shows, visits from Emergency Services, visits from local teachers and more.

The team at Active Kids have a goal to ensure that all children and families, regardless of circumstance or vulnerability, are included and feel welcome and supported. Prior to enrolment, the educators take time to get to know each child’s and family’s needs and begin to plan and access support (when needed) to best support their learning journey.

The educators at the centre are culturally diverse and can assist with meeting specific cultural requests, translating for families where communication is a barrier, as well as to assist the child in their settling in process.

The educators pride themselves on ensuring that all children are included in the amazing experiences at the centre. Children with additional needs are welcomed and additional support is sought via the Inclusion Support Subsidy and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The staff go the extra mile to ensure that all children’s individual needs are met, and that all children and their families feel valued and included.

At Active Kids, there is continual investment in their educators to build their capability to support families and children. With increased experience and skills, Educators and Management play a vital role in delivering inclusive practices in care and education for all children and families.

Environmental responsibility and education play a vital part in the centre’s programs, and the physical environments of the centre. With sustainability and care of the environment being so socially important today, the team feel it is their duty to ensure that this passion and love for the environment is embedded in each child’s learning while they are young. Playgrounds and outdoor play spaces are sourced from natural and recycled resources. Indoors, children will interact with a wide range of nature-based play experiences and activities that ensure they learn how to care for and respect the world around them.

I have had the privilege of being part of senior management since Active Kids began, back in 2009. As Centre Director, I am proud to be surrounded by dedicated and professional staff who love and adore what they do. As a team, we enjoy making every day something special for each and every child we care for at the centre. Many of our families have been with us for years, which I know reflects the quality of care and education we are providing our children. We see our centre as a family, and an extension of your family’s home life. With this, we ensure that the care we provide is of exceptional quality, so that you can be sure that your child is loved and kept safe while away from you. We love watching your little ones grow and learn, and the joy they experience when they learn something new or make a new discovery. We hope that you will pop in and see why Active Kids is the centre of choice for you and your family. 

Kiri Richards, Centre Director, Active Kids Early Learning Centre Hillcrest

What I feel a child needs most at any age is to feel loved and welcomed into their safe space, a sense of respect for their own ideas and actions, to be able to freely and openly play, to laugh, have fun, to be noticed, have full attention of the adults around them, to be listened to, to be encouraged to foster their sense of wonder and imagination, to have chances to make mistakes and be supported to learn from them, to be trusted, to be given opportunities to learn and grow, and most importantly to know they are loved and feel like they belong. All educators here do our best within our service team environment to accomplish this for each and every child. 

Katie, Lead Educator

I love working at our service because, for me, it is all about the growth and transition I see in the children in my class over the year. They start out as ‘babies’ and grow into confident, risk taking, information seeking, fun loving, creative and kind children who are bursting at the seams to go to big school. It is such a privilege to be part of their journey, to be able to guide, educate and nurture them as they flourish. 

Anna, Kindergarten Early Childhood Teacher

I love being able to work within a service that supports the development of the children and enables them to achieve their full potential as they grow. For me, the most joy comes from being able to build a  positive and trusting relationship with not only the children but with the families as well. 

Educators at our service are passionate about the roles in which they play to help build and shape small minds in the first early years. 

Sophie, Lead Educator Active Kids Hillcrest 

Our Mission

At Active Kids, our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where children and families feel welcomed and accepted. We pride ourselves on our individualised approach to each child, ensuring that experiences and play based programs are unique and centred around their abilities, needs and culture.

The Active Kids Hillcrest Team

Active Kids Early Learning Centre Hillcrest offers an in-house meal service to meet the nutritional needs of the children in their care, including those with special dietary needs. The centre’s menu consists of four rotating menus filled with delicious healthy home-style cooked food, all prepared on-site by the centre cook. The menu is regularly reviewed and is endorsed by a nutritionist. 

The children engage in weekly cooking experiences which they then enjoy as part of the menu. They enjoy a variety of hot dishes, salads, fruit platters, sandwiches and wraps, as well as healthy made from scratch snacks. All baby food is prepared fresh and cooked on site.