Goodstart Early Learning Maleny
Goodstart Early Learning Maleny Centre overview
Goodstart Early Learning Maleny Centre highlights
- Over 20 years of operation with deep community connections.
- Beautiful outdoor spaces featuring sustainable gardening projects.
- Storypark platform for ongoing family engagement and tailored child development.
Goodstart Early Learning Maleny is nestled in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, close to local schools, shops, and community facilities. Operating for over 20 years, our centre has built strong connections with local schools, businesses, and community groups.
We provide care for children aged six weeks to five years across our Nursery to Kindergarten rooms. Our team of experienced and qualified educators, many of whom have been with us for up to a decade, deliver a play-based curriculum aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework, ensuring each child’s learning style is nurtured.
Our Storypark platform keeps families updated on their child's progress and facilitates open communication. We also hold regular family events and send newsletters, fostering strong relationships between home and centre.
Our outdoor spaces feature sandpits, a tiered stage, a double slide, a vegetable patch, a worm farm, a compost bin, and shaded areas. Sustainability and environmental awareness are key focuses in our learning programs.
We celebrate cultural diversity, welcoming families from all backgrounds and incorporating their contributions into our activities and programs. Daily art and music sessions allow children to express their creativity freely.
We invite you to visit us and experience the warm, supportive atmosphere that makes Goodstart Maleny a special place for your child’s early learning journey.
Fees & Vacancies
Goodstart Early Learning Maleny Service features
See more (9)Goodstart Early Learning Maleny service include:
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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.
Jemma Mays
Hi there! My name is Jemma and I am the Centre Director at Goodstart Early Learning Child Care Centre Maleny.
I have been in the child care and early learning sector since 2003 and I was appointed director of this centre in 2011. I have an Advanced Diploma of Children's Services and during my career I have had the opportunity to work with different age groups and across the variety of areas in the industry.
I am passionate about providing high quality education and care in an environment that ensures inclusion for all. I place a particular focus on helping children build secure attachments with their educators, as this provides them with the confidence to embrace their environment.
The team I am fortunate to work with shares my passion for seeing children meet their potential. They are dedicated, professional, experienced and highly qualified.
I have lived in the Maleny area since I was a child, and love the culturally-rich community and beautiful surrounds.
I look forward to working with you all and exploring how we can navigate through the early learning adventure.
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4 Walkers DriveMaleny, QLD, 4552
Centre Reviews
This is such a great daycare. So happy my grand children have casting staff looking after our littlest. A credit to Gemma the... This is such a great daycare. So happy my grand children have casting staff looking after our littlest. A credit to Gemma the owner. Read more
Such a great Centre - our boys are well cared for with engaging learning experiences and warm and friendly staff. Highly recommended. Such a great Centre - our boys are well cared for with engaging learning experiences and warm and friendly staff. Highly recommended.
Great centre and friendly staff, our girls have so much fun here 😁 Great centre and friendly staff, our girls have so much fun here 😁