Our Frankston South educators are warm, caring and genuinely invested in every child. Many of our families have been with us since the centre opened in 2024, and they often tell us the team is what makes Birches feel like a second home.

We believe strong relationships are the foundation of learning. Our educators take the time to get to know each child: their personality, their routines, what comforts them and what makes them curious. That understanding shapes everything from how we settle a new baby in the nursery to how we plan the next learning experience in kinder.

Every educator holds an early childhood qualification, and our kindergarten program is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher.

Our team also holds:
A current Working With Children Check
First aid and CPR
Emergency anaphylaxis management, including EpiPen use
Emergency asthma management
Food handling certification

 
Learning doesn’t stop for our educators either. Our team takes part in regular professional development, mentoring and first aid refreshers, so their skills stay current and our program keeps improving.

Starting childcare is a big step, especially for first-time parents. We make it as easy as we can. Before your child starts, we’ll meet with you to learn about their routines, sleep patterns, likes, dislikes and any health needs. Together we’ll plan a settling-in approach that suits your child, whether that takes a few days or a few weeks.

Once your child is with us, you’ll never be left wondering how their day went. Through our parent app, you’ll get regular updates and photos covering meals, sleeps, nappy changes, activities and the special moments worth sharing. Our educators are always happy to chat at drop-off and pick-up, and you can book a longer conversation any time.

We see you as your child’s first teacher. What you tell us about home, from a new word to a new interest, helps us plan learning that builds on it. We welcome your ideas, your feedback and your involvement in centre life.

Each child also has a developmental portfolio of artwork, photos and our observations. It tracks how your child grows and learns with us, and it’s yours to keep when they move on.

Our program is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and follows the Early Years Learning Framework. Learning is play-based and led by children’s interests, so they stay curious, engaged and confident.

🌿 Bush Kindy – Exploring the natural environment and extending learning through outdoor adventures. Children build resilience, problem-solving skills and a love of nature.

⚽ Weekly Sport Program – Building coordination, balance, confidence and teamwork through fun, active play.

🎵 Weekly Music Program – Singing, rhythm, instruments and movement that build listening skills, language and self-expression.

👩‍🍳 Cooking Classes with Our Chef – Hands-on sessions where children learn where food comes from, try new tastes and practise early maths through measuring and mixing.

🎨 Sensory Classes (up to 3 years) – Supporting early development through engaging sensory play that builds fine motor skills, language and curiosity.

🚒 Monthly Incursions – Visits from emergency services and community groups covering sustainability, animals, culture, health and dental care, music and live performance.

🎓 School Readiness Program – A kindergarten program led by an Early Childhood Teacher, with visits to local primary schools before children start Prep.

📒 Developmental Portfolio – A collection of your child’s artwork, photos and our observations. It’s yours to keep when they move on.

Our 4-year-old kindergarten program is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and is designed to give children a confident, happy start to Prep.

Kinder at Birches is play-based and purposeful. Children learn through projects, conversations, games and hands-on experiences that follow their interests, while our teacher makes sure every child is building the skills they’ll need at school.

Through the year, children develop:

Early literacy: recognising letters and sounds, storytelling, and early writing and drawing
Early numeracy: counting, patterns, shapes, sorting and measuring
Confidence and independence: speaking up in a group, trying new things and solving problems
Social skills: sharing, turn-taking, making friends and working as a team
Emotional skills: naming feelings, managing frustration and bouncing back
Self-care: managing belongings, packing a bag and following routines

Children also visit local primary schools during the year, so classrooms, playgrounds and routines feel familiar before their first day. We share progress with families throughout the year and work with you to make sure your child is ready for the move to school.

Because kinder runs within long day care, you get a full kindergarten program with the convenience of 9, 10 and 12 hour sessions, open 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Our on-site chef prepares fresh, nutritious meals every day, so there’s no need to pack food. Menus are balanced, varied and seasonal, designed to give growing children the energy they need and introduce them to new tastes and textures.

We take allergies and dietary needs seriously. Before your child starts, we’ll go through their requirements with you in detail, and our chef and educators work together to make sure every meal is safe for every child. Families managing allergies tell us that knowing exactly what their child has eaten each day gives them real peace of mind.

Mealtimes are also a time for learning. Children sit together, serve themselves where they can, try new foods and practise good manners and independence. Our cooking classes help them understand where food comes from and build a positive relationship with healthy eating.

Children spend plenty of time outdoors and stay active through our weekly sport program. We follow sun-safe practices and teach healthy habits like handwashing, drinking water and resting when they need to.

Child safety isn’t a box we tick. It shapes every decision we make, from who we hire to how our rooms and yard are set up to how we listen to children.

We follow Victoria’s Child Safe Standards across everything we do. Every educator holds a current Working With Children Check, first aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and asthma management, so they’re ready to respond if something happens.

Our purpose-built centre was designed with children’s safety in mind. Rooms and outdoor spaces are set up so educators can supervise children at all times, and entry to the centre is controlled so only families and approved visitors can come in.

Most importantly, we create an environment where children feel safe, respected and heard. We encourage children to speak up, and we listen when they do. If you ever have a question or concern, our centre director is always available to talk it through.