Headstart Early Education Croydon

Our Early Learning Environments:

Headstart Early Learning Centre Croydon provides a nurturing and enriching early learning environment that fosters exploration and curiosity.

The outdoor environments at our Croydon child care centre include a bike track, sandpits, a climbing fort, cubby houses, a vegetable garden and more, all fully covered encouraging all-weather play. Our outdoor learning program focuses on the development of your child’s strength, balance, and self-confidence.

Our learning spaces offer a variety of engaging environments including natural resources and interactive whiteboards to encourage exploration through play. Our experienced educators and teachers use these to design various age-appropriate play-based experiences.

Longstanding team of Educators and Teachers

At the heart of our child care centre in Croydon is our longstanding team of early childhood educators and teachers with some team members at the centre for over 5 years. Our team of passionate and qualified early childhood teachers and educators are dedicated to ensuring every child feels safe, nurtured, and inspired throughout their early education journey.

At Headstart Croydon child care centre, we recognise the importance of play in a child’s learning and development journey. Our team tailors play-based learning activities in line with national standards, specifically the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), helping prepare them for kindergarten and school readiness.

We also offer the following enriching learning experiences:

• Real-life experiences: Children participate in fun and exciting experiences throughout the day, we encourage active participation in learning about our local environments, including our weekly Bush Kinder program for the kindergarten children.
• Music & Movement Program: Designed to develop fundamental skills that help support children’s self-regulation, memory, and concentration. Children learn to appreciate and develop an understanding of music – and of course, have fun.
• Sustainability Program: Helps children develop and understand the importance of embedding sustainable practices into everyday life. Children learn about recycling, conserving water, growing food, composting and looking after their worm garden.
• Community Engagement Program: Encourages children to interact with and discover their local community. We often have visits from community services, and we go out on adventures to the local parks, library and schools to teach the children about their local environment.

Our Kindergarten programs are tailored to meet your child’s individual learning needs across numeracy, literacy, emotional and social development, resilience, and self-regulation.

We offer the VIC Government-approved Kindergarten enhanced learning program, supporting your child’s development and well-being from now, at school and beyond. In Victoria, 3 and 4-year-old children are able to access a funded Kindergarten program led by a Bachelor Qualified Teacher. If eligible, your child will be able to participate in the government-approved Kindergarten program, at no cost, up to a minimum of 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year. Talk to us about how this reduces your out-of-pocket costs.

The added benefits of our Kindergarten program include:

• VIC ‘Best Start, Best Life’ Government-approved program
• Extended opening hours
• Open all year round (excl public holidays)
• Programs developed and delivered by our Early Childhood Teachers
• Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation

Mikaylah

I have been working in early learning since 2018. I hold a Cert III and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to pursue a career in the Early Childhood Education sector. Each day has been different and rewarding since I started my career. I love encouraging children to be themselves and lead their own learning.

Each child grows and develops at different paces and no two children are the same. Giving children their own voice by implementing child-led learning, allowing them to have their say with daily routines/experiences help them gain independence. I always ensure to adjust my teaching approach to suit each child. As a educator and leader, I always ensure that we are approaching children in the correct manner, which is gentle, calm and inviting. 

The skills that a child learns in the early years of their life are crucial for their social, emotional development and future academic performance. Here at Headstart Croydon, we ensure that all children are given the opportunity to grow and develop at their own pace while enjoying play-based learning.

We have a full team of long standing educators who are committed and passionate about their jobs as early childhood educators. Each educator has a different approach of teaching which allows the children to have a range of opportunities of learning. We have created a place for families to feel comfortable when leaving their children in our care. We ensure to provide great communication and support to all families.

We understand that starting at a new centre can be overwhelming and that is why from the very first enquiry, we make sure that we address all your questions one by one. We walk families through all the forms and administration that need to be done, this includes enrolment forms, Child Care Subsidy (CCS), explaining subsidies, government caps, centre schedules, our centre menu and more.

Rooms

Our Croydon child care centre provides care for the following age groups:

Facilities

Our Croydon service provides the following facilities:

• Nappies
• Breakfast
• Morning tea
• Lunch
• Afternoon tea
• Other meals – late snack/fruit available
• Pin number security
• Sustainability program
• Veggie garden
• On-site parking
• Music program
• In-house cook
• Halal meal options
• Fully air-conditioned
• Large, natural play environments
• Water play area (set up in warmer months)
• Early Childhood Teacher
• Government Approved Kindergarten program
• Small numbers of children in each room
• Xplor – a parent communication app that connects families with their children’s progression, development and daily learning

A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time suitable to your family schedule. Headstart also offers the virtual tour option in all our centres in New South Wales and Victoria. Click here to book a tour online.

On the day of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

Headstart’s Family Support team will add your child’s name on our waitlist if a Headstart centre is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place become available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review the availability, and you will receive a text message confirming if you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like to get an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.
Our Family Support team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Headstart centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.

Click here to read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.

Most of our Headstart early education centres offers the following:

– Nappies and wipes
– Sunscreen and hats
– Nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook

Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.

For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toy or blanket, three spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

Plus anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, comforter or medication.

It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.

Headstart uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day. After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.

If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre, and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Headstart is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without the need for families to provide documentation.