Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Armadillo Childcare Early Learning Services Centre overview
About Armadillo Early Learning Centre Long Daycare and Kindergarten
Welcome to Armadillo Early Learning Centre. We're ideally located for families in Smithfield, Caravonica, Clifton Beach, Holloways Beach, Kewarra Beach, Kuranda, Trinity Beach, and Trinity Park.
Our Long Daycare and Kindergarten Centre provides early education and care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.
At Early Learning Services, we provide convenient, full care coverage from 9hr, 10hr or full days, 5 days per week, including school holidays.
Our 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 4-year-old Government-approved Kindergarten program that helps ensure your child has a successful transition to formal schooling.
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
Armadillo Childcare Early Learning Services Service features
See more (10)Armadillo Childcare Early Learning Services service include:
Get to know us
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Our centre offers the QLD Government-approved ‘Free Kindy’ Program.
At Armadillo Early Learning Centre, your child will benefit from the QLD ‘Free Kindy’ Government-approved program as part of our enhanced learning program. Our Kindergarten 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:
- QLD ‘Free Kindy’ 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
Our Educational Programs:
“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.
We offer a great variety of learning experiences at Armadillo Early Learning Centre including:
- Sustainability Program: Helps children develop and understand the importance of embedding sustainable practices into everyday life. Children learn about recycling, conserving water, growing food and 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 teach the children about their local environment.
- 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.
Programs
Programs
Morning
Kate 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. Kate 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
Kate has finished her lunch and is preparing to take a nap. Her educator changes her nappy, prepares a bottle and reads Kate a story before her afternoon sleep.
Afternoon
Kate and some of her nursery friends enjoy some story time and songs outside in the shaded garden. They read ‘Peepo’ which is Kate’s favourite book.
Morning
Daniel 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, Daniel is learning about himself and the world around him. Dramatic play is helping Daniel identify his interests, abilities, likes and dislikes.
Lunch
Daniel is watering the vegetables in the garden. By doing this, Daniel is learning the importance of growing and caring for the veggies in the garden. Daniel picks a tomato from the garden, which the Chef will use to help make Daniel and his friend’s lunch - Spaghetti Bolognese!
Afternoon
Daniel 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, Daniel is learning how to express himself creatively and how to convey his ideas and emotions. Painting is also helping develop Daniel’s hand eye coordination, finger, wristand hand strength. Making marks on paper is important for self expression as well as later learning.
Morning
Holly is almost five years old and can’twait for today’s carpentry experience - she loves building things! Carpentry experiences allow Holly and her friends to extend their learning through real-life experiences. While participating in carpentry, Holly is learning to problem solve, experiment and predict. She is also improving her hand eye coordination, manipulative skills and muscular strength.
Lunch
Before Holly sits down for lunch with her friends and educators, Holly takes part in the centre’s sports program. Holly loves sports. Sports helps Holly improve her flexibility and strength (perfect for growing bodies!). Sports also allows her to practice different skills in a fun and engaging way.
Afternoon
Holly is off to ‘big school’ next year and she can't wait to start! Holly 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.
Interested in this centre but want to keep looking?
Share and add to your favourites for laterLocation
1 Ainslie PlaceSmithfield, QLD, 4878
Centre Reviews
The worst information on payment system It says we have 15 hour kindy Free from QLD Government. But no one can explain... The worst information on payment system It says we have 15 hour kindy Free from QLD Government. But no one can explain how does this even work Read more
Absolutely love Armadillo! The centre and the staff are phenomenal! Their care and dedication to our little ones is reassuring ❤️ Our little... Absolutely love Armadillo! The centre and the staff are phenomenal! Their care and dedication to our little ones is reassuring ❤️ Our little one has been there since 11mths through to kindy! The educators are so caring and nurturing! They also make amazing meals. The center is clean and modern! Highly recommend them! Read more
My boy has been here since 10 months old (now almsot 4). Perfect sized Yard, I know he is always looked and if... My boy has been here since 10 months old (now almsot 4). Perfect sized Yard, I know he is always looked and if I have any concerns they will listen to me and take action. Wouldn't want him anywhere else. Read more