Our centre offers the Victorian Government-approved ‘Kinder: Best Start, Best Life’ program for 3–4-year-olds, providing up to 15 hours per week of funded Kindergarten. This program supports children’s learning, development, and well-being, setting them up for future success.

Our Enhanced Learning Program for Kindergarten children focuses on:

• Numeracy & Literacy: Developing key skills for lifelong learning.
• Self-Regulation: Fostering emotional control and resilience.
• Social & Emotional Development: Supporting independence and building healthy relationships.
• Creativity & Problem-Solving: Encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

With extended hours and a year-round program (excluding public holidays), our Kindergarten program is delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers committed to supporting your child’s individual development.

Additional Benefits Include:

• Government subsidy: Further reduces out-of-pocket Kinder fees in addition to your eligible Childcare Subsidy (CCS).
• Personalised Learning Plans: Tailored to your child’s unique needs.
• Rhythm and Resilience Program: Music and movement to improve emotional regulation.
• School Readiness: Preparing your child for a smooth transition to school.

We also engage with local schools and provide transition statements, ensuring your child feels confident and prepared for the next steps in their education journey. Stay connected with your child’s progress via our Xplor platform, which offers regular updates on their learning and development.

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space: 6 weeks – 2 years

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication and cues (body language, facial expression and sounds) and through experimentation. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play including sensory play, music time, story time and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

Toddler Space: 2 - 3 years

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, role playing and reading experiences.

On any given day the Toddlers can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns and participating in counting songs and games.

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as, turn-taking, developing self-confidence and emotional self-regulation. Our skilled team helps children through talking, planning and role modelling.

Kindergarten Space: 3 – 6 years

Kindergarten is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program has school readiness at its core, encouraging active engagement in learning and supporting a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.

The oral language supports literacy learning and a child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our Kindergarten children's literacy development by engaging in rich discussions, reading, storytelling, dramatic play and experimentation all of which introduce new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations.

Throughout the Kindergarten year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning experiences. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and su pporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Our goal in the kindergarten year is to prepare children and families for a smooth transition to primary school.

Our centre chef prepares and cooks nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating across a wide variety of food.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters.

Hi my name is Helen, and I am the Centre Manager here at St Albans Main Road East Early Learning. My career in early childhood education and care commenced in 1996 and I began working at in 2010. I hold a Diploma of Community Services (Child Care) and an Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services.

Since l was young, I always had a passion for interacting with children as l have a number of nieces and nephews that l grew up looking after and l knew from early on that l wanted to further this passion of working with children and start my career in early education and child care. I am very dedicated and passionate about my current position as Centre Manager. I find it very rewarding and enjoy coming to work every day and building positive relationships with my families, children, and team.

All children are unique and different and have different needs and to provide the best quality care of all children. Our approach to developing a love of learning with children we provide a safe, caring, and nurturing environment where all children, families all feel welcome, safe, and happy while at our service. Providing positive interactions and listening to all children as they are all individual and have different needs.

Our team is extremely passionate and dedicated about creating a early education and child care centre that is a home away from home for both our families and children. Our centre is very multicultural, and we celebrate diversity of many different cultures. We are fortunate to have many educators who speak a variety of languages including Vietnamese, Hindi, Arabic (Dinki) and many more. We work closely with families to build positive relationships to ensure that everyone feels welcome at our service.

We ensure we follow policies and procedures in ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all team members, children and families when coming to our centre. You can read more about our commitment to safety here.

We have long-serving, multicultural team members who reflect our local community. Many have been with been with St Albans Main Road East Early Learning Centre for over tenyears. It is the sort of Centre where everyone knows all the children, no matter which room they are in. We are such a close-knit team it feels like one big family.

Myself and my team are all aware of the enrolment process. We provide help, support and assistance to new families and explain the whole process of what they need to do to enrol their child at our centre.

We go through the enrolment form so families fully understand what is required, explain that they need to complete the activity test which will determine how much per cent and hours they will receive for their child. Ask them to provide a copy of their Child’s Birth Certificate and immunization summary. We offer as much information to the families so that they fully understand the enrolment process and feel supportive.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I am always happy and have been told that l make people laugh!

Our team at St Albans Main Road East Early Learning Centre cannot wait to meet your family and begin this exciting journey with you.