Goodstart Early Learning McKinnon

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Goodstart Early Learning McKinnon Centre overview
Goodstart Early Learning McKinnon Centre highlights
- Through two annual parent/teacher evenings, families have the opportunity to discuss their child's development, view photos, artwork, and hear about their learning experiences.
- Our dedicated educators, many with long-term tenure, create dynamic learning experiences tailored to each child's unique learning style, supplemented by extra-curricular activities like Computer Gym and Happy Feet Fitness.
- All meals, prepared by our qualified cook, feature fresh and nutritious ingredients, ensuring children's hunger is satisfied throughout the day.
Goodstart Early Learning Child Care Centre McKinnon is located in a quiet residential area close to schools, shops, and public transport, ensuring convenient access for families.
We prioritise collaboration with families, providing daily updates on children’s activities and offering parent-teacher evenings twice a year to discuss progress and celebrate achievements. Our educators, many of whom are long-term team members, are dedicated to creating engaging, play-based learning experiences tailored to each child’s needs and interests.
Inside, our Nursery to Kindergarten/Preschool rooms are aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework, fostering sensory and play-based growth in vibrant, stimulating spaces. Outside, our recently upgraded yard features age-appropriate play equipment, sandpits, decks, a music wall, rope and climbing areas, and shaded spaces. Sustainability is a key focus, with vegetable gardens, water tanks, and a worm farm enriching children’s understanding of the environment.
We celebrate our multicultural community with events such as Greek Easter, music lessons, and more, alongside annual highlights like graduation ceremonies and family celebrations. Extra-curricular activities, including Computer Gym and Happy Feet Fitness, further enrich children’s experiences.
Our qualified on-site cook prepares fresh, nutritious meals to fuel growing minds and bodies. We use the Storypark platform and regular family events to ensure open communication and involvement.
We warmly invite you to visit, meet our team, and explore how we can support your child’s early learning journey.
Fees & Vacancies
Goodstart Early Learning McKinnon Service features
See more (15)Goodstart Early Learning McKinnon service include:
Get to know us
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Our high-quality, play based preschool curriculum is delivered by Bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teachers. Our teachers tailor their programs to ensure all children develop the confidence and social and emotional skills needed for a smooth transition to school. Through play, our Early Childhood Teachers facilitate children’s learning of important language, literacy, numeracy and creative skills.
Benefits of Goodstart Kindergarten/Preschool programs:
- Our programs are planned and led by qualified and experienced Early Childhood Teachers, in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework
- Our programs have the tick of approval, meaning they meet (and exceed) Government guidelines around learning in the year before school
- Strong connections with local schools support our extensive transition to school programs
- We offer greater flexibility and convenience for busy families with longer opening hours, five days a week, 52 weeks of the year.
- We offer 9-hour, 10-hour and all-day sessions.
- Nutritious meals are provided throughout the day, so there’s no need to pack lunch boxes.
Curriculum and programs
Curriculum and programs
The educators at Goodstart Early Learning follow an evidence-based curriculum that aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework. Informed by world-leading research, practices and techniques, the curriculum encourages the children’s natural curiosity and engages them in their learning journey.
As the children move through the different rooms in the centre, the curriculum evolves with them. The educators set goals for the children and celebrate as they reach their milestones. At every stage, the educators are tailoring the curriculum and goals to each child’s individual needs.
The curriculum involves different types of learning experiences and styles. From child-led learning to sessions guided by educators, the children participate in small and large group sessions as well as individual play. Most importantly, the children learn through play, developing social skills, confidence and independence in addition to more formal academic skills.
Play is the order of the day of Goodstart Early Learning and the programs at the centre are grounded in a play-based approach. The educators embed teaching and learning into play experiences, helping the children to make sense of the world around them. This is how the children learn about how things work and develop important foundational relationships and skills.
The primarily child-directed, play-based curriculum ensures that the children are engaged in their learning. They are encouraged to take the lead, developing their negotiation, risk taking, problem solving and social skills. The educators observe the children and help to challenge them by extending their learning and interests.
The educators recognise that every child is unique and that they bring their own needs, interests and strengths with them each day. The program is designed to be flexible to cater to these differing needs, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive at Goodstart.
Parent communication and involvement
Parent communication and involvement
Goodstart Early Learning uses the StoryPark app to connect with parents throughout the day. The educators upload photos and stories to the secure app, which parents can access anytime and anywhere to track their child’s progress.
The approach at the centre is very much based around partnership between families and educators. The educators work with the parents and carers to build strong relationships. They develop trust so the children can feel safe and secure while at the centre. Parents are also encouraged to share their insights and feedback with educators to add depth to the relationship.
The educators observe the children every day and tailor the program around their observations. They share these with parents, so they can feel connected to their child’s progress and also provide feedback that will further enhance their child’s learning experience.
Meet the team
Meet the team
Goodstart Early Learning employs qualified and skilled educators who are dedicated to making a difference to the children in their care. The centre employs people who are empathetic and compassionate, with a nurturing disposition and a passion for care. Working collaboratively as a team, the educators display qualities such as positivity, kindness and, most importantly, a desire to help every child thrive.
The educators hold relevant qualifications, including the Kindergarten and Preschool Program teachers who are university qualified. The educators are lifelong learners, participating in regular and ongoing professional development to enhance their skills. They are encouraged to upskill, learning about the latest research and thinking in the sector. They can then bring this knowledge back to the centre to share with their colleagues for the benefit of the children.
Barbara Echeverria
Hello, my name is Barbara and I am the Centre Director at Goodstart Early Learning Child Care Centre McKinnon.
I have been an early learning educator since 2003 and I hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education. I have worked across all age groups during my career and my most recent role before Centre Director was as Kinder Teacher.
I’ve worked as Centre Director at Goodstart McKinnon since 2011 and have been a Centre Director since 2010. Before my career in early learning, I worked in retail management, events management and travel and tourism.
It didn’t take me long to realise however that early learning was my passion. Working with young children is extremely rewarding and I strongly believe that a quality early learning experience in the first years of life will have an enduring impact on children and their wellbeing.
My philosophy is to provide children with a happy, safe and stimulating environment. It’s also important to support and partner with families so that we create the most positive environment we can for our children. One of the key ways to make this happen is through good communication. I will always make myself available to parents and our team of educators.
I now have a daughter of my own and I choose to send her here at Goodstart McKinnon. I have complete trust in the educators in her room that they will make her time here special and stimulating. I’ve always been committed to giving the best possible care to the children at the centre and since having my own daughter it has reinforced my understanding of parent’s expectations of an early learning centre.
I work with a great team and together we strive to provide the highest quality care.
We invite you to come and visit our centre to meet our team and to see for yourself our commitment to your child’s early learning journey.

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97 Wheatley RoadMckinnon, VIC, 3204

Centre Reviews
Both my children have been going here for the past couple of years, they always have a good time and are well cared... Both my children have been going here for the past couple of years, they always have a good time and are well cared for. All staff and educators are fantastic and have a personal touch for each child and family. Thank you Goodstart McKinnon, it has been wonderful to be part of the community. Read more
Fantastic centre with caring educators and staff who know all the children well. Lovely community feel here! We have been so happy after... Fantastic centre with caring educators and staff who know all the children well. Lovely community feel here! We have been so happy after moving our son to the centre from another childcare, best decision. Read more
Thank you for the fantastic 5-star review! We're thrilled that you have found Goodstart McKinnon to be such a positive change for your son. A caring and supportive community environment is what we strive for, and it means a lot to know that you feel it too. Our team takes pride in getting to know all the children well. We're so happy to hear that your son is thriving at Goodstart McKinnon!
Great team, with wonderful Educators that really care! Highly recommend! The kids absolutely love going! Great team, with wonderful Educators that really care! Highly recommend! The kids absolutely love going!
Thanks for the 5 stars! We're thrilled the kids love our centre and our educators!