Community Kids Chirnside Park Early Education Centre overview
About Community Kids Chirnside Park Long Daycare and Kindergarten
Welcome to Community Kids Chirnside Park. We're ideally located for families in Chirnside Park, Croydon, Mooroolbark and Lilydale.
Our Long Daycare and Kindergarten Centre provides early education and care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.
At Community Kids, 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 3 and 4-year-old Government-approved Kindergarten program that helps ensure your child has a successful transition to formal schooling.
We offer a great variety of learning experiences at Community Kids Chirnside Park 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.
- Real Life Experiences: Children participate in fun and exciting experiences such as woodworking, harvesting the veggie garden, caring for our worm farm and early cooking skills.
Fees & Vacancies
Community Kids Chirnside Park Early Education Centre Service features
See more (10)Community Kids Chirnside Park Early Education Centre service include:
Book a live tour at this carefully curated childcare centre and embark on the journey for your child’s growth and development
Get to know us
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Our centre offers the VIC Government-approved ‘Best Start, Best Life’ Kindergarten Program.
At Community Kids, your child will benefit from the VIC ‘Best Start, Best Life’ Government-approved program as part of our enhanced learning program. Our 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:
- VIC ‘Best Start, Best Life’ 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
“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.
Morning
Ellie 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. Ellie 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
Ellie has finished her lunch and is preparing to take a nap. Her educator changes her nappy, prepares a bottle and reads Ellie a story before her afternoon sleep.
Afternoon
Ellie and some of her nursery friends enjoy some story time and songs outside in the shaded garden. They read ‘Peepo’ which is Ellie’s favourite book.
Morning
Josh 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, Josh is learning about himself and the world around him. Dramatic play is helping Josh identify his interests, abilities, likes and dislikes.
Lunch
Josh is watering the vegetables in the garden. By doing this, Josh is learning the importance of growing and caring for the veggies in the garden. Josh picks a tomato from the garden, which the Chef will use to help make Josh and his friend’s lunch - Spaghetti Bolognese!
Afternoon
Josh 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, Josh is learning how to express himself creatively and how to convey his ideas and emotions. Painting is also helping develop Josh’s hand eye coordination, finger, wrist and hand strength. Making marks on paper is important for self expression as well as later learning.
Morning
Charlotte is almost five years old and can’t wait for today’s carpentry experience - she loves building things! Carpentry experiences allow Charlotte and her friends to extend their learning through real-life experiences. While participating in carpentry, Charlotte is learning to problem solve, experiment and predict. She is also improving her hand eye coordination, manipulative skills and muscular strength.
Lunch
Before Charlotte sits down for lunch with her friends and educators, Charlotte takes part in the centre’s sports program. Charlotte loves sports. Sports helps Charlotte improve her flexibility and strength (perfect for growing bodies!). Sports also allows her to practice different skills in a fun and engaging way.
Afternoon
Charlotte is off to ‘big school’ next year and she can't wait to start! Charlotte 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.
Meet the team
Meet the team
Hi my name is Rebecca, and I am the Centre Manager here at Community Kids Chirnside Park. I hold a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and I have been working at Community Kids Chirnside Park since 2005, working my way from Assistant Educator to now Centre Manager.
From a young age, I have always wanted to work with children. I have spent the past 17 years working alongside our team to build a service that is committed to delivering quality outcomes for the children in our care. My career in early childhood education has taught me that fostering each child’s sense of agency is paramount in supporting them to grow and develop in a world that is ever changing.
As educators, it is our responsibility to offer a safe environment that nurtures children’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing, and to work alongside families to create a circle of support that will lift children up to their greatest self.
It takes a village to raise a child. We have a long-serving team at Community Kids Chirnside Park, all of whom are incredibly dedicated and passionate educators. As a child care centre, we have created a home away from home for our local community, where a holistic approach to children's wellbeing and education is our focal point. We pay special attention to setting up engaging and aesthetic play spaces that promote a sense of respect towards all children and their ever-changing abilities. We will always continue to challenge ourselves and extend our learning to ensure that we are providing the best care.
We understand that starting at a new child care centre can be overwhelming and that is why from the very first enquiry, we make sure that we address all your questions one by one. We walk families through all the forms and administration that need to be done, this includes enrolment forms, Child Care Subsidy (CCS), explaining subsidies, government caps, centre schedules, our centre menu and more.
I look forward to welcoming your family to our centre.
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3-5 El CentroChirnside Park, VIC, 3116
Centre Reviews
Nursery team have been so kind and patient during our time adjusting to care. They have done an enormous effort to get to... Nursery team have been so kind and patient during our time adjusting to care. They have done an enormous effort to get to know my son and make him feel comfortable and happy in his new space. Keely has made drop off especially easy and my son seems to really like her. Ash & Maggie’s communication has been great on pickup and they create such a fun environment with loads of music & outdoor play. Couldn’t ask for a better Nursery team. Read more
Both my boys attend Community Kids Chirnside Park and it’s an exceptional childcare centre. The staff are incredibly kind, caring, and highly knowledgeable.... Both my boys attend Community Kids Chirnside Park and it’s an exceptional childcare centre. The staff are incredibly kind, caring, and highly knowledgeable. They are always engaged and proactive, ensuring each child receives the best care and attention. The centre upholds strong values around inclusion and diversity, celebrating important days and events with enthusiasm. I particularly appreciate the presence of both male and female carers, which is crucial for my boys to see positive male role models in caring roles. The values and dedication of the staff make this a wonderful place for children to grow and learn. Read more
Dear Katie, thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Kind regards, The Community Kids Team.
We have been sending our son to Community Kids in Chirnside Park for almost a year now in the toddler room and we... We have been sending our son to Community Kids in Chirnside Park for almost a year now in the toddler room and we love the centre! Would highly recommend them to anybody, the staff are doing an amazing job and manage the children very well. Never had an issue and my son seems to be really happy there :) Read more
Dear Jennifer, thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. Kind regards, The Community Kids Team.