Labrador Playschool Early Learning Centre

Our passion for the Abecedarian Approach (3A Abecedarian Approach Australia- The University of Melbourne) has driven our Playschool ELC team to develop a balance between adult-led intentional teaching, meaningful adult- child interactions, spontaneous child centred play and child’s agency.

We aim to provide a comfortable environment at our Early Learning Centres where families/ carers, children and educators want to be! We believe our warm, friendly, nurturing environment and 3A teaching and learning strategies lead our young learners on the path to a happy and successful education and life journey.

Through the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), we aim to foster and provide a higher level of knowledge in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions, providing a place of equity, dignity and respect for all.

We include and embrace each child, their family, respect diversity and have a commitment to inclusion and equality. We aim to develop a deep sense of security, trust and acceptance with the children encouraging them to develop to their full potential.

Playschool ELC recognises the importance of family in a child’s life and encourage the involvement of the primary caregivers, family members and the wider community to connect with and interact with the children’s learning journey. We believe that open, respectful, and regular communication is an integral part of maintaining these vital relationships and we use various methods to ensure they are maintained. Our team endeavour to be an extension of the family and encourage our educators to display teaching practices which reflect this.

Our vision is to lead responsive, motivated, and engaged educators who genuinely care about the future of our children. We aim to employ educators who embrace and implement the 3A Approach, undertake professional development to improve themselves as educators and to deepen their understanding of how children learn and grow. We believe our educators need to be positive role models in every way because children are learning through each experience, every day.

Playschool Early Learning Centres respect and appreciate our natural environment. Our Educators understand the importance of embedding a love of nature in our children and using the learning environment as the third teacher. We believe that play is learning, and there is no better resource than nature. We also incorporate the use of loose parts and recycled materials to ensure we are creating responsible adults and a happier environment. Nature play and Loose parts also create open ended learning experiences allowing children to be creative and problem solve.

We provide an educational program that supports The Early Learning Years Framework as well as implementing the Abecedarian Approach. We believe in creating supportive, stimulating, and harmonious environments, which promote active learning and positive “learn through play” situations with a strong focus on language priorities. We aim to nurture independence, a strong sense of identities, connectedness, wellbeing, confidence, and strong sense of self. We believe these factors are essential to a child’s belonging, being and becoming. Our Centre Philosophy supports Playschool Early Learning Centre’s motto:

“Happy Children, Bright Futures”

Tyler Whichman

“What I love the most is that they really know our kids! We joined Labrador Playschool when my son was 9 months old, and now he's 2 1/2. After considering 5 or 6 kindergartens, we found Labrador Playschool to have the highest standards. They are always accommodating and make us feel cared for every time we visit. My son has had amazing teachers who love what they do. I’m impressed by the range of activities and the excellent facilities and equipment. The staff keep us well-informed about our son’s development, and I would recommend Labrador Playschool to anyone as I’m confident it’s the best kindergarten out there.”

Natalie Kerrigan

“This is the most wonderful centre! From the minute I enquired, the staff were welcoming and accommodating. My son transitioned instantly and loved every day. The staff were warm and loving, providing excellent care and personal feedback each day. The centre was always immaculately clean and smelled divine. I highly recommend this beautiful centre.”

Joanna Clarke

“I have recommended Labrador Playschool to many families. The range of facilities has given Grace the opportunity to explore things we don’t have at home. From the ‘babies’ room onwards, she has enjoyed a variety of arts and crafts and stimulating activities. There are always special occasions and extra activities to look forward to. Many families I’ve recommended are as happy as I am with the quality of care. When Grace goes to prep, I’m not sure who will be sadder to say goodbye, her or me!”

Chris & Jaye Duckworth

“The staff are highly trained, and it shows. From the moment you walk into the centre, children are full of smiles and eager to see their teachers and carers. Each of our four children has experienced each room, from Babies to Pre-Prep. The staff’s programming and teaching are excellent, and the children learn new skills every day.”

Mark & Charmian Adamson

“Labrador Playschool is a wonderful childcare centre with personable, dedicated, and caring staff. Over the past five years, both of our children have developed into confident individuals. The teachers provide fun learning experiences that enhance interpersonal relationships and communication skills. Each child is treated with kindness and respect. The care provided by Bernadette and her staff is exceptional. We are grateful for the amazing experience they have provided our children.”

Netal, Reuben & Javier

“To all the wonderful staff at Labrador Playschool, words can’t express how blessed and grateful we are for the four and a half beautiful years with you in raising our cheeky monkey, Javier. With no relatives close by, you’ve been our surrogate family, helping our baby grow into the little man he is today. Thank you for shaping, teaching, helping, and loving him. We will never forget you.”

Stanley, Kylie, Eamon & Isla

“Having no extended family nearby made daycare daunting, but Labrador Playschool has become our extended family. It is a friendly, safe, and educational centre, and we couldn’t ask for a better environment to help shape our children’s lives.”

At Playschool Early Learning Centres, our framework is child-centred and child-focused, emphasizing learning through play as guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). The EYLF consists of three core ideas: Belonging, Being, and Becoming.

• Belonging: Every child needs a sense of belonging to develop their identity and become confident learners. We cater to each child’s individuality to help them achieve their full potential.
• Being: We create a nurturing environment where children can be themselves, respecting their unique developmental, physical, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Becoming: Our programs support children’s growth, teaching essential life skills like communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, and critical thinking to prepare them for future success.

For school-aged care, we use the "My Time, Our Place" framework, developed by the Council of Australian Governments. This framework extends the principles of the EYLF, focusing on children’s social and emotional development and their engagement in quality experiences for learning, personal growth, and citizenship.

The National Quality Framework (NQF) ensures high standards in early childhood education and care across Australia. The NQF provides benefits such as:

• Greater individual care and attention
• Enhanced support for learning and development
• Improved educator-to-child ratios
• Higher qualifications for educators
• A new rating system for education and care services

Quality early childhood education is crucial for better health, education, and employment outcomes in later life.

Our Kindergarten Program aligns with both the Queensland Kindergarten Program and the EYLF. Qualified early childhood teachers deliver a curriculum that includes literacy, numeracy, scientific exploration, and social skills. We provide additional services such as vision screening by an optometrist and speech assessments by a speech pathologist, free of charge.

We focus on preparing children for their transition to primary school, ensuring they are socially and emotionally ready. Our program aims to develop a strong sense of identity and well-being, confidence, and an ability to contribute to their world.

Our centres implement the Abecedarian Approach, an evidence-based program prioritizing children’s language acquisition and development through:

• Learning Games
• Conversational Reading
• Enriched Caregiving
• Language Priority

These elements promote secure attachment, exploration, and healthy emotional, social, and cognitive development from birth to age 5. Our educators are trained in Abecedarian techniques and help parents apply these methods at home to extend the benefits of the approach.

We maintain an open-door policy, inviting parents to observe and participate in our programs. Resources are available on our website and Facebook page to support parents in practicing the Abecedarian Approach at home, maximizing developmental benefits for their children.