6 wks to 1 yr
1 yr to 2 yrs
2 yrs to 3 yrs
Kindergarten
3 yrs to 4 yrs
Kindergarten
4 yrs to 5 yrs
3 yrs to 4 yrs
4 yrs to 5 yrs
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Some of the programs on offer at Headstart Early Learning include:
The stimulating environment of the centre is designed to challenge the children. Educators use the National Early Years Learning Framework to build their program, which focuses on play-based learning.
The framework helps to develop the child’s love for learning, their sense of self, and their feeling of belonging in their environment, being engaged in areas that interest them, and becoming prepared to take the next steps in their education.
The centre offers mid year and end of year parent-teacher interviews, so that parents can see where their child is developmentally.
The educators at Headstart pride themselves on their open door policy. Parents are welcome to visit their child or any of the educators anytime. The team values participation and parental involvement, and encourages parents to give feedback or ideas anytime.
At Headstart Early Learning, the rooms are divided up according to the ages of the children. Each area is designed to provide the best possible early learning experience for each child.
Nursery rooms: 6 weeks – 2 years
Educators try to provide a home away from home where children feel safe and secure. The children’s wellbeing and development is the focus, with age appropriate activities. Children take part in tummy time, sensory play, messy play, reading and singing. There is a private room for parents to feed their babies anytime.
Toddler rooms: 2 years - 3 years
The children learn through play to encourage development, through music, dance, games, reading and lots of outdoor fun. Educators encourage group play to develop communication, confidence and social skills. Interactive technology is used to develop their fine and gross motor skills. Literacy and numeracy concepts are introduced through real life experiences with educators and peers.
Kindy rooms: 3 years - 5 years
A school readiness kindergarten program focused on numeracy and literacy will help children prepare for the next step in their education. Children lead the curriculum depending on their interests and preferences. Respect for self and others is taught while play based learning is designed to enhance their social and emotional skills before they begin formal schooling.
All meals and snacks, seasonally prepared, are provided for children under care by the centre’s in-house chef. Food is used as a way to teach the children about the benefits of healthy eating.
The centre offers a varied menu that meets Nutrition Australia recommendations. The children are offered breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack.
Children who attend a full day at the centre will be offered at least 50 per cent of their recommended daily dietary intake. Educators use the centre’s vegetable garden to teach children about sustainability, by growing their own herbs and vegetables to use in the kitchen.
Morning
Leah is 11 months old and enjoys playing outside when she first arrives. She starts her day in the sandpit with her friends and educator, where there are lots of buckets and spades to choose from.
Lunch
Leah and some of the other nursery children enjoy some storytime with their educators before they head off for rest time. Leah loves it when they read ‘Where Is The Green Sheep?’ as that’s her favourite.
Afternoon
Leah joins in with her educator’s music session, choosing some maracas from the pile of instruments. She taps along to the beat and enjoys the songs that the educator is teaching the children.
Morning
Jimmy is two and a half years old and is looking forward to the special visitors in the centre this morning. Some local librarians are coming in for storytime with the children, and they’ve brought some puppets along to help tell the stories.
Lunch
Jimmy loves getting his hands dirty so is always keen to help the educators with some gardening. He waters the herbs and helps plant some new basil seedlings.
Afternoon
Jimmy picks some cherry tomatoes from the garden and brings them to the chef where they’ll use them to make some mini pizzas for afternoon tea.
Morning
Amelia is four years old and loves to play outside. She and her friends are having some fun with water play, making some waves for the toy boats to roll over.
Lunchtime
Amelia loves taking part in the cooking demonstrations with the centre chef. Today they’ve picked some raspberries from the garden to use in homemade muffins for afternoon tea.
Afternoon
Amelia and her friends are taking part in the centre’s yoga program. Led by an educator, Amelia learns to hold her pose and is improving her balance every week.
Care for children under school age, on premises especially built or adapted for early childhood education and care services. Private operators, local councils, community organisations, employers and non-profit organisations may run long day care centres.
Occasional, Casual or Flexible CareOccasional, Flexible or Casual Care Services provide short periods of care for children under school age. Families can access Occasional, Flexible or Casual Care on either a regular or casual basis a variety of reasons including, shift or part-time work, respite care, crisis and emergency care, shopping or attending appointments.
Pre-school / Kindergarten / PrepPre-school is a planned educational program for children in the years before a child commences school. Children are usually aged between 3 and 5 years of age. Pre-school may take place in a range of settings including a purpose built building, in a community setting, a school, as part of a long day care centre or a mobile or visiting service.
In January 2012 the National Quality Framework (NQF) came into effect across Australia.
The purpose of the NQF is to improve and standardise the quality of child care through a
range of measures including better staff to child ratios, higher staff qualifications
and an assessment and rating system designed to promote continuous improvement.
Under the NQF child care services are assessed and rated against the National Quality Standards (NQS).
The NQS measures the quality of early childhood education and care in Australia. It will cover
most long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten and outside school hours care services.
Under these standards child care services will be assessed and rated against the
seven quality areas, 18 standards and 58 elements that make up the NQS.