About Us
Discovery Early Education & Care Centre is a Long Day Care Centre catering for children six weeks to school age. The Centre has four purpose-built indoor learning areas that are allocated to groups of children based on their age and developmental readiness. Children move between rooms once they reach an appropriate age or stage of development and room vacancies.
Our inviting parent space has comfy lounges to support breastfeeding or as a place to gather and chat with other parents outside of the busy children’s rooms. We also offer a relaxed community library where children can choose a book to take home and return when ready for other children to borrow.
Our cook provides a variety of nutritious meals informed by the NSW Government Munch and Move program, which provides meal ideas to support busy families. The menu is displayed in the foyer for families to see, and all children share the mealtime experience together in our outdoor dining space. We use mealtimes as a learning opportunity to encourage social relationships with children and educators, to help children develop good eating habits and encourage them to be independent, serving and feeding themselves where possible.
How Discovery supports all aspects of children’s learning
Our centre has planned indoor and outdoor spaces that support the inclusive play-based curriculum and encourage children to explore, take risks and challenge themselves in a supported environment. Our babies have an opportunity to observe the older children in play through the viewing windows, and siblings are given opportunities throughout the day to spend time together.
Our outdoor natural play spaces include a sensory path, vegetable garden and a trickle stream that is popular for creative water play. A large tunnel and fort structure encourage imaginary and active play, and many open-ended spaces inspire exploration and allow opportunities for movable parts and spontaneous activities.
The use of technology provides families with access to their child’s program through the Xplor Home App, accessed through their phone or device. Large screens display photos of the children engaged in the program throughout the day and provide families opportunities to contribute to their child’s learning.
Our Engine room is a space where groups of children can participate in sensory regulation activities to support them to manage many tasks in Early Childhood and achieve the co-regulation they need to interact with and explore the world around them.
Our indoor spaces are light and airy with modern furniture and appropriate toys and learning resources to invite children to explore, learn and create.
How our staff team creates a nurturing and caring learning environment
Families and children are welcomed by a professional team with a wide range of qualifications and experience. These qualifications include Early Childhood Teachers (Degree qualified), Diploma in Children’s Services, Certificate 111 in Children’s Services, Trainees working towards a qualification, Food Safety and Handling qualifications and Work Health and Safety certificates.
All staff have current first aid, asthma and anaphylaxis management certificates, child protection training and a verified Working With Children Check.
Families are welcomed by our Administration and Education Support Officer, Vanessa, on arrival and each child is greeted by an educator when entering their room or outdoor spaces.
Owner/ Director Kerrie
Administration Officer Vanessa
Why it is important to have a natural outdoor area that allows children to be imaginative and creative.
Play spaces in natural environments include plants, trees, edible gardens, sand, rocks, mud, water, real grass and other elements from nature. These spaces invite open-ended interactions, spontaneity, risk-taking, exploration, discovery and connection with nature.
Discovery's play spaces offer children chances to manipulate the environment and explore, to feel wonder and to pretend, to interact with nature, animals and insects, and other children.
How we make learning visible
Our program is documented in the room’s daily journal and through individual children’s observations. Our hallway provides us with the opportunity to share our Centre culture and community relationships visually with families and visitors. All cultures are recognised and embedded into our daily practices through celebrations and an everyday acknowledgement of our Indigenous heritage.
We have a current Reconciliation Action Plan, endorsed by Narragunnawali and Reconciliation Australia (link to RAP), and our philosophy reflects our core values of Relate, Respect and Reflect.
Commitment to Child Safety:
Discovery educators and staff will:
- Follow the Centre’s child safety and wellbeing policies and procedures at all times.
- Behave respectfully, courteously and ethically towards children and their families and towards other staff.
- Communicate with the children in an age-appropriate and realistic manner.
- Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they communicate (verbally or non-verbally) that they do not feel safe or well.
- Promote the human rights, safety and wellbeing of all children.
- Demonstrate appropriate personal and professional boundaries.
- Consider and respect the diverse backgrounds and needs of children.
- Create an environment that promotes and enables children’s participation and is welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive for all children and their families.
- Involve children in making decisions about activities, policies and processes that concern them wherever possible.
- Contribute to policies, discussions, learning and reviews about child safety and wellbeing.
- Identify and mitigate risks to children’s safety and wellbeing utilising our risk assessment, policies or procedures.
- Respond to any concerns or complaints of child harm or abuse promptly and in line with the policy and procedure.
- Report all suspected or disclosed child harm or abuse as required by Children’s Guardian Act 2023.
Contact Discovery Early Education & Care Centre
Phone 02 6516 1900
2 Menzies Street,
Thrumster, (Sovereign Hills)
NSW 2444
