Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Heathcote

Our childcare and education centre provides long day care to 56 children including a fully funded kindergarten program with qualified kindergarten teachers.

Our commitment to quality childcare has the industry’s best staff aspiring to be employed with us. We understand the importance of consistency and stability with your career and aim to have the highest staff retention rates in the industry. Individual children’s cultural, religious and nutritional needs are catered for and we encourage communication from parents who like to check on their child’s progress throughout the day.

We know how important the decision is, as to where you are going to leave your child or baby in care and we guarantee to make your day care experience full of fun and happiness. If you are passing by, drop in and see for yourself how amazing the centre is.

Our centre proudly offers a kindergarten/preschool program to ensure your child is supported for their transition to school every step of the way. With a focus on language, literacy, numeracy, social skills and more your child will become school ready. 

Rooms

Our childcare centre provides care for the following age groups:

Facilities

Our service provides the following facilities:

• Morning tea
• Afternoon tea
• Sustainability program
• Veggie garden
• On-site parking
• Fully air-conditioned
• Large, natural play environments
• Two Early Childhood Educators that guide our specialsed Preschool Program
• Xplor – a parent portal that enables families to have access to their accounts and billing information and book additional days 24hours per day
• Transition to School program with local Public School
• Interactive Whiteboard and Technology based curriculum
• Sunscreen & late snacks included in fees
• Incursions/Excursions and connections with local community regularly
• Bush Kinder Program
• Close to Public Transport

Jaclyn

I started working in Early Education in 2015 post completing my certificate III traineeship and started working at Creative Garden Heathcote in February 2023.

I have completed a Certificate II in Community Services (Childcare) through TVET course at school after graduating high school I went on to complete a traineeship Certificate III. I also completed my Diploma in 2016 and since then I have enrolled in Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five).

As a teenager I really enjoyed looking after my younger brother which is why I turned to child care and early education. Since being in the sector I have enjoyed watching children learn and develop in all areas. When a child achieves a goal, they have been working towards it makes me feel very proud that I was part of their learning growth.

The first thing I learnt being in child care and early education is that children want to play and enjoy themselves with someone who they have formed a strong attachment with. A teaching practice I often use in my approach is playful pedagogy and the circle of security. This method aims to make the learning environment a playful space for both the children and educators. Children are guided through their play by the educator to learn.

Ensuring each child is seen as an individual and given equal opportunities. Approaching all learning journeys with children feeling as though they are included. As we are a small service, we can achieve this each day in our centre. I like to take the time to get to know the children in the centre so I can ensure that they are getting all their needs met.

Being able to be in an environment that allows children to build on their social and emotional wellbeing whilst engaging in a play-based learning environment is key to building the foundation skills for life ahead.

We have a passionate team of educators who are passionate about helping every child succeed in discovering their identity and become confident, happy, and resilient learners.

After completing a tour at our centre, I send a thank you email to the family who attended, from there I have a clear step by step process on how they would like to enrol their child. I also have an open-door policy if families have any questions they may need answered or even if they need help with enrolment forms. Our centre holds family events for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, and Christmas for all families to come and join.

We also offer information nights for families, and I also provide a ‘Tips & Tricks’ section in our newsletter for families these tips can range from getting rid of the dummy to how to teach my child to tie their shoelaces. Building a working partnership with families is an extremely important part of the enrolment process. As a centre manager I always try to schedule myself on an open and/or closed shift to ensure I get to see all our families weekly and have a conversation with them. I always ensure I attend all centre events from Mother’s Day and even all centre excursions when I can which we invite families to also attend if they can.

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. Creative Garden also offers the virtual tour option in all our centres. 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.

Creative Garden’s Family Support team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes 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 Creative Garden’s 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 centre 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 Creative Garden’s child care and early education centres offer 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 toys or blankets, 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, a comforter or medication.

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

Creative Garden 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, Creative Garden 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.