Headstart Early Learning Croydon
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Headstart Early Learning Croydon Centre overview
Headstart Early Learning Croydon Centre highlights
- We provide the VIC Government-approved Kindergarten program as part of our enhanced learning program, supporting your child's development.
- Leading-edge, play-based educational programs and tools, to support your child's development at every stage, including an Bush Kinder program.
- Our experienced team, some with over 5 years at the center, fosters a nurturing atmosphere, ensuring children feel loved, safe, and secure.
About Headstart Croydon Long Daycare and Kindergarten
Welcome to Headstart Croydon. We're ideally located for families in Croydon, Croydon South, Bayswater North, Nelsons Hill, Croydon’s Hill, Ringwood East, Mooroolbark, Kilsyth North.
Our Long Daycare and Kindergarten Centre provides early education and care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.
At Headstart Croydon, we provide convenient, full care coverage from 9hr, 10hr or full days, 5 days per week, including school holidays.
Our longstanding, dedicated team of Teachers and Educators provide a safe, nurturing, and inspiring learning environment - where your child can thrive, and be their wonderful self, every day.
Getting school ready? We offer the 3 and 4-year-old Government-approved program that helps ensure your child has a successful transition to formal schooling.
We offer a great variety of learning experiences at Headstart Croydon including.
- 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 Bush Kinder program.
- 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 whilst having lots of 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 all focused on the importance of protecting our planet.
- 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.
Fees & Vacancies
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Headstart Early Learning Croydon Service features
See more (15)Headstart Early Learning Croydon service include:
Book a live tour at this carefully curated childcare centre and embark on the journey for your child’s growth and development
Get to know us
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Our centre offers the VIC Government-approved ‘Best Start, Best Life’ Kindergarten Program.
At Headstart, your child will benefit from the VIC ‘Best Start, Best Life’ Government-approved program as part of our enhanced learning program. Our program will support your child’s learning, development, and well-being for now, at school and beyond. We tailor our Kindergarten program across:
- Numeracy
- Literacy
- Emotional and Social Development
- Self regulation
- Healthy minds and bodies
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
About the Curriculum
About the Curriculum
“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 by experimenting. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play, water 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 and reading experiences.
On any given day the Toddler children 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 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 encourages active engagement in learning and supports a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.
The oral language supports literacy learning. 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 development by engaging in rich discussions, introducing new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations, as well as singing, playing games, and reading with the children daily.
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, is supported through group learning environments. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Lastly, ensuring that all children are ready for the ‘big school’ by preparing them for all that ‘big school’ has to offer.
Morning
Sarah is 11 months old and enjoys sensory play outside in the sandpit with her friends. She sits near her educator who helps teach her how to scoop the sand into the bucket. Sarah is learning how to dig, carry, and move the sand. She is also exploring texture and learning what happens to the sand when she adds water!
Lunch
Sarah has finished her lunch and is preparing to take a nap. Her educator changes her nappy, prepares a bottle and reads Sarah a story before her afternoon sleep.
Afternoon
Sarah and some of her nursery friends enjoy some story time and songs outside in the shaded garden. They read ‘Peepo’ which is Sarah’s favourite book.
Morning
John is two and a half years old and loves to start his day at the centre outside on the climbing equipment. His friends join him, and together they pretend to be pirates on a ship looking for treasure. Through this exciting dramatic play, John is learning about himself and the world around him. Dramatic play is helping John identify his interests, abilities, likes and dislikes.
Lunch
John is watering the vegetables in the garden. By doing this, John is learning the importance of growing and caring for the veggies in the garden. John picks a tomato from the garden, which the Chef will use to help make John and his friend’s lunch - Spaghetti Bolognese!
Afternoon
John enjoys art, and today he is painting a beach scene from a recent family holiday. He adds the finishing touches and sets the painting aside to dry; so that he can take it home to share with his family.
While painting, John is learning how to express himself creatively and how to convey his ideas and emotions. Painting is also helping develop John’s hand eye coordination, finger, wrist and hand strength. Making marks on paper is important for self expression as well as later learning.
Morning
Camilla is almost five years old and can’t wait for today’s carpentry experience - she loves building things! Carpentry experiences allow Camilla and her friends to extend their learning through real-life experiences. While participating in carpentry, Camilla is learning to problem solve, experiment and predict. She is also improving her hand eye coordination, manipulative skills and muscular strength.
Lunch
Before Camilla sits down for lunch with her friends and educators, Camilla takes part in the centre’s sports program. Camilla loves sports. Sports helps Camilla improve her flexibility and strength (perfect for growing bodies!). Sports also allows her to practice different skills in a fun and engaging way.
Afternoon
Camilla is off to ‘big school’ next year and she can't wait to start! Camilla and her friends will be visiting the local primary school next week. In preparation for the visit, the class is creating a list of questions to ask the Principal and school children.
Health and Nutrition
Health and Nutrition
Our centre chef prepares and cooks healthy and 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.
Our centre offers children nutrient-rich, unprocessed, and seasonal whole foods – created to delight the fussiest eaters.
Meet the team
Meet the team
Hi! My name is Mikaylah and I am the Centre Manager for Headstart Early Learning Centre CroydoI. 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.
We look forward to meeting you and are excited to be part of your child's learning experience.
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380 Dorset RoadCroydon, VIC, 3136
Centre Reviews
The past 3.5 years that my son has attended Croydon Headstart we have seen him flourish and grow. The Educators there are nothing... The past 3.5 years that my son has attended Croydon Headstart we have seen him flourish and grow. The Educators there are nothing short of amazing and have allowed my son to thrive in a safe, trusting and developmentally appropriate environment. My son has made some strong connections with Educators as well as some wonderful friendships with his peers which is why he loves going everyday. Management are always warm and welcoming and the first to greet my son. I couldn't have picked a better childcare to start my son’s education at. He will be sad to leave in 2 years when he heads off to school. Highly recommend Croydon Headstart. Read more
My son has attended headstart Croydon for 2 years, from babies through to toddlers. My son absolutely loves attending and doesn't stop talking... My son has attended headstart Croydon for 2 years, from babies through to toddlers. My son absolutely loves attending and doesn't stop talking about his educators and friends he wants to see on his days off. The centre has been a great support system for both my son and myself over the last 2 years with a family/homely vibe. Read more
Dear Jessica, thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Kind regards, The Headstart Early Learning Team.
We have had 2 children attend Headstart Croydon with 1 still enrolled and they love it. After moving we tried a different centre... We have had 2 children attend Headstart Croydon with 1 still enrolled and they love it. After moving we tried a different centre due to location and were appalled at the service and were quick to return. The development and care for our kids was evident from Day 1 and I couldn't recommend this centre any more. Shout out to the team for their love and support to our little ones. Read more
Dear Jarrod, thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Kind regards, The Headstart Early Learning Team.