Great Beginnings Epsom
Great Beginnings Epsom Centre overview
Great Beginnings Epsom Centre highlights
- Our center offers the VIC Gov-approved Kindergarten program as part of our enhanced learning. It supports your child.
- Our music programs nurture essential skills for children's self-regulation, memory, and concentration, while fostering an appreciation and understanding of music, all while having fun.
- Our program fosters kids engagement with their community through visits and local adventures, helping them explore and understand their surroundings.
About Great Beginnings Epsom Long Daycare and Kindergarten
Welcome to Great Beginnings Epsom. We're ideally located for families in Epsom or nearby suburbs Ascot, Bendigo, California Gully, Eagle Hawk, Goornong, Huntly, Jackass Flat and White Hills.
Our Long Daycare and Kindergarten Centre provides early education and care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.
At Great Beginnings, 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 Great Beginnings Epsom including:
- Sustainability Program: Helps children develop and understand the importance of embedding sustainable practices into everyday life.
- 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.
- Sports Program: Allows the children to be active and learn about different sports and movements.
- 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.
- Language Development Programs: Our centre offers Japanese lessons to help children develop an understanding of different languages and cultures. Learning additional languages provides children with intellectual advantages.
Fees & Vacancies
Great Beginnings Epsom Service features
See more (15)Great Beginnings Epsom 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 Great Beginnings, 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
Jesse 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. Jesse 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
Jesse has finished her lunch and is preparing to take a nap. Her educator changes her nappy, prepares a bottle and reads Jesse a story before her afternoon sleep.
Afternoon
Jesse and some of her nursery friends enjoy some story time and songs outside in the shaded garden. They read ‘Peepo’ which is Jesse’s favourite book.
Morning
Nick 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, Nick is learning about himself and the world around him. Dramatic play is helping Nick identify his interests, abilities, likes and dislikes.
Lunch
Nick is watering the vegetables in the garden. By doing this, Nick is learning the importance of growing and caring for the veggies in the garden. Nick picks a tomato from the garden, which the Chef will use to help make Nick and his friend’s lunch - Spaghetti Bolognese!
Afternoon
Nick 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, Nick is learning how to express himself creatively and how to convey his ideas and emotions. Painting is also helping develop Nick’s hand eye coordination, finger, wrist and hand strength. Making marks on paper is important for self expression as well as later learning.
Morning
Daniela is almost five years old and can’t wait for today’s carpentry experience - she loves building things! Carpentry experiences allow Daniela and her friends to extend their learning through real-life experiences. While participating in carpentry, Daniela is learning to problem solve, experiment and predict. She is also improving her hand eye coordination, manipulative skills and muscular strength.
Lunch
Before Daniela sits down for lunch with her friends and educators, Daniela takes part in the centre’s sports program. Daniela loves sports. Sports helps Daniela improve her flexibility and strength (perfect for growing bodies!). Sports also allows her to practice different skills in a fun and engaging way.
Afternoon
Daniela is off to ‘big school’ next year and she can't wait to start! Daniela 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 Briony, and I am the Centre Manager here at Great Beginnings Epsom. I started working in early learning in 2011 and joined Great Beginnings Epsom in 2024. I hold an Advanced Diploma in early education and care, along with qualifications in cooking, trauma-based practice, and child protection. I've worked across all areas of early education, from a Certificate 3 assistant educator to roles in head office. I believe each child is unique and that their basic needs must be met for their learning and development to thrive, guided by Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
I’m passionate about helping children on their learning and life journey. I believe in forming strong relationships with families to understand their needs and provide the best educational path for their child. Our team at Great Beginnings Epsom is incredibly passionate, with experienced educators and fresh new perspectives. Our chef not only prepares nutritious meals but also educates children on healthy eating.
We support our families from the moment they enquire, ensuring all their questions and concerns are addressed. We continue this support throughout their time here, building strong relationships by truly getting to know our children and families.
We look forward to welcoming you to Great Beginnings Epsom!
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30-36 Howard StreetEpsom, VIC, 3551
Centre Reviews
As two very nervous parents who left their baby in the hands of the Great Beginnings team 10 months ago we could not... As two very nervous parents who left their baby in the hands of the Great Beginnings team 10 months ago we could not be happier with the choice of daycare centres. The staff genuinely care for the children from the educators all the way up to management and are always happy to assist with working towards any developmental goals our daughter is working on. The updates received throughout the day via the app are a highlight and most importantly our daughter is happy when we drop her off which says to us she is happy to spend her day at the centre. Read more
My son has attended Great beginnings since 2021 and is still there until the end of this year. The staff have been... My son has attended Great beginnings since 2021 and is still there until the end of this year. The staff have been so accomodating with Tommy and his needs. The past few months the centre has had a change around and the staff are amazing and the centre has had a big clean up. The rooms looks so much cleaner and the entire centre looks fresh. Tommy just loves looking at the fish in the foyer. Keep up the great work guys. Read more
Dear Jodie, 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 Great Beginnings Team.
We have been part of the GB family almost since it opened. We have loved getting to know the educators who have cared... We have been part of the GB family almost since it opened. We have loved getting to know the educators who have cared for our children. They’ve always had the care and wellbeing for the children as the highest priority. We are provided with updates through the day on how and what the children have been doing through the day. Even though there has been a number of changes within the centre over the past 12 months their standard of care of the children has remained the same. Communication has improved since the change in management (which was already good prior to change), it now includes a monthly newsletter which keeps parents up to date with upcoming events and introduces different educators each month. We love coming in the morning and being greeted by the friendly management team and educators. Highly recommended GB our children have settled so well into the centre with staff taking the time to get to know our children and their needs. Read more
Dear Janelle, 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 Great Beginnings Team.