Headstart Early Learning Centre & OSHC Clarendon

Some of the programs on offer at Headstart Early Learning include: 

• Incursions: special guests come into the centre to share experiences, such as librarians who may visit the centre for storytime with the children.
• Excursions: the children take outings to build their sense of community, to places such as local aged care facilities, local primary schools, parks and shops.
• Music and movement programs: designed to help develop fundamental skills, and to develop an understanding of music. 
• Cooking classes: the educators enjoy teaching the children how to prepare age appropriate meals and snacks, which encourages little ones to try new things and develop a love of healthy food. They also use herbs and veggies from their own garden in their cooking.
• Sustainability program: the educators teach the children about recycling, conserving water, growing food and looking after the planet.
• Sports and yoga programs: these are designed to encourage activity and movement, while also building the children’s gross motor skills, balance and social skills.

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.

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.