Crestmead

Crestmead Play and Learn Centre includes infants from 6wks – 3yrs and a Kindergarten program for our 4yr-5yr olds.

“Our programs are play based aimed with knowledge that children learn best when provided with opportunities and environments to freely engage with the world around them in pursuit of their own interests and curiosities.  The classroom environments are full of innovative and original activities that allow children time and space to explore and learn.  Early Childhood Services are a platform in which children can practice the skills required for their futures such as friendships, exploring and understanding emotions and ultimately discovering their own footprint within the broader community.”

— Cyndi Sek, Crestmead Service Director

 

What Parents are Saying…

“We are so happy we have found Play and Learn Crestmead. Our son really enjoys going to kindy each and everyday. The staff are always kind and friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them to do. I love receiving daily updates on how my child’s day has been, and love the bonds he has built with all the educators at the centre. The Director is always approachable to discuss any issues and also all the Educators at the centre. Being a working parent it makes it easy to drop my child off everyday knowing he will be so well cared for . We are so glad we have found Play and Learn Crestmead, we wouldn’t send him anywhere else.”

— Lisa Collyer

 

“The process of elimination began with the first visit. Not only was the first visit to Play and Learn pleasant and inviting, but once I entered the building I noticed all of the teachers greeting each child and parent by name, with attention given to each child.

The Director Rachael answered all of my many questions and once we did drop him off the first day, she was there, assuring us that our son would be OK and that we could call her anytime to see how he was doing. And, she meant it. Anytime I called, she would check in on him and let me know how he was doing, and what he was doing – that extra bit of information gave it that special touch. She took that extra step.

Thank you… For the great communication from the very start – I can’t count the amount of centers I called and visit trying to find quality and affordable daycare for my son Arlo, Rachael was quick to contact me back and took the time to talk me through the learning and development ethos behind Play and Learn which was very much in line with my parenting beliefs.

Our first visit to the center was great fun and my son didn’t want to leave, in fact ended up going back for three visits! Rachael put my mind at ease by calling me mid-morning to let me know my little cherub was fine and enjoying himself which was exactly what I needed.

Arlo has come out of Play and Learn Crestmead with a boosted self confidence, improved social skills and incredible manners – a parent’s delight! Along with newly found skills Arlo has made some great friends along the way and have absolutely fallen in love with all the career at Play and Learn.”

— Chelle Stanton

 

“I would just like to say a big thank you to the staff at Play and Learn Crestmead for the love and care you show our beautiful daughters each and everyday. I could not be happier with each of their development over the last year . It’s lovely to be sent emails daily showing me what they girls have been up to and photos of them living their best lives each day. Every morning and afternoon without fail we are greeted with a smile and a warm hello. It’s comforting to know that while we are working our girls are enjoying their days with their friends and being shown nothing but love from all the educators. The ladies at Play and Learn aren’t just our daughters’ teachers they are like family, always there for us no matter what is going on in our lives. Our eldest is off to prep next year and all she wanted was to take miss Kaitlyn with her, this just shows the love she has for her and all the other staff members. So thankyou to all the ladies at Play and Learn you make it easier being a working mum knowing they are in such good care each and everyday.”

— Tannika Wolff

Our Team

Julie-Watts
Julie Watts
Area Manager
Cyndi Sek
Cyndi Sek
Service Director

Facilities

Infants (6 weeks – 18 months)

Our Crestmead Infant care room is licensed for 8 infants with 2 permanently employed educators.

Experience with infants over the years has taught us that sometimes babies are not predictable and a third educator may be employed to assist with the room.

Several factors will be considered in determining when three educators will work in this group they include;

  • How many bookings there is on each day – no point having three educators with one baby.
  • If a new infant is to start at the service – extra help is often needed while settling and bonding with children.
  • The ages within the group.
  • The individual needs of each infant.

Experiences

Our main focus in the room is forming secure attachments with your baby. Secure attachments and trust develop when we respond consistently, sensitively and confidently. Our attachment however will not affect your babies’ attachment to you – it helps them be close to people.

Current research very clearly tells us that babies who experience any care that is unresponsive, unpredictable or threatening may develop problems developing trust and attachment, this often affects a child’s overall development.

What we will do to establish Infant connections

  • Connect with parents so you feel relaxed and confident in using the service.
  • Smile at your baby – so simple but so powerful
  • Cuddle
  • Sing
  • Baby massage or bath
  • Read Stories
  • Have tummy time and encourage your child to reach their infant milestones.
Toddlers (18 months – 2.5 years)

Crestmead Toddler room is licensed for 12 children with 3 permanently employed educators.

Settling children is again our main focus in this age grouping as now children are very aware when their primary caregivers have left.

Anxious and stressed children find it difficult to learn anything so bonding and establishing relationships with your child is vitally important.

Experiences

Our Toddlers have many opportunities to join in fun and educational experiences throughout the day. Informing us about what your Toddler loves to do helps us to plan for the transition from home to the centre.

Toddlers are developmentally egocentric. So helping Toddlers understand that there are other children in the group who may want to play with the same trucks is really tricky!! In helping this we deliberately set up our environments with multiple equipment that is the same or similar. Having one off pieces of equipment sets children up for challenges. However not everything can be avoided and nor should it, our educators are skilled in helping Toddlers learn life’s social skills.

Similarly, your child’s sensory motor development is vitally important. The Toddlers years see rapid growth in your child’s sensory motor systems and it is these systems that provide your child with the foundations for academic learning.

To continue developing the sensory motor systems we will

  • Crawl / Spin / Creep / Climb / Jump
  • Dance
  • Explore messy play – please supply old clothes
  • Skip / hop / throw / catch
  • Sing / play music
Junior Kindy & Kindy (2 years – 4 years)

Crestmead Play and Learn Kindy rooms cater for children 2-4 yrs, we have two Kindy rooms.

2 Jnr Kindy rooms, each licensed for 15 children aged approx. 2.5 yrs – 3 yrs with 3 permanently employed educators per room and

1 Senior Kindy room which is licensed for 22 children aged approx. 3 yrs – 4 yrs with 2 permanently employed staff.

The service will be flexible with age groupings to meet the needs of our children our families and the community.

Remaining flexible with age grouping allows for children of the same family to be together or children who are friends to remain together while settling.

Experiences

Within this age group our educators are planning activities that develop the integrations of two brain hemispheres, fine hand co-ordination, sense of direction, awareness of time and many other really important areas of development.

So often we hear parents say “When will they learn their colours, their numbers and letters” and although this is somewhat important they ARE NOT the markers for a child’s ongoing success and later learning. What I mean is a child may be able to recite the alphabet but unable to sit for a story or problem solve with peers.

Our service looks at children holistically across many areas of development some that cannot be seen nor measured nor sent home on a piece of paper but please note we are always thinking planning and evaluating all that we do.

In our Kindy groups we will be

  • Running
  • Playing ball
  • Drawing
  • Painting and some days it will be messy.
  • Water play
  • Listening to story / music
  • Playdough and clay
  • Climbing…….parents look away if you have to….! But small risky play is vital and if we deny children of risk taking in Early Childhood they will take greater risks as adolescents and these risks will have far graver consequences. So please allow us to be at the top of the fort…
Pre-Prep (4 years – 5 years)

Our Crestmead Pre-prep room is our Approved Kindergarten program led by our Early Childhood Teacher.

The room is licenced for 22 children with 1 Teacher and 1 Assistant and children in this room who are then moving to Prep will be 4yrs old by June 30th.

Let’s get ready for Prep …….not really at Crestmead!! What??? What is being ready anyway? It will be so different for each child and each family. So often parents rely on markers such as knowing colours and letters as being school ready and that could not be further than the truth.

Prep teachers often tell us that if a child can look after their own belongings at school they will be eternally grateful…. But that doesn’t sound as glamorous at the end of the day does it…. “Oh...by the way your Billy put his pencil in the pencil holder today” said NO Teacher ever…..but at Play and Learn Crestmead those life skills are just as important as learning our colours.

Our kindergarten program is based on the Queensland Curriculum guidelines and a copy can be found at

www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/kindergarten/curriculum

Experiences

We look at children holistically and our programs are play centered – (hence our name) Block play, games, puzzles, arts and crafts, dress ups, dancing, stories and singing are just a few things your child will enjoy.

Fun environments ensure that children learn best. When children are pressured to rote learn, recite and spend long periods of being directed and lectured by adults learning actually becomes far more difficult. When it happens naturally driven by children interests it has greater meaning and therefore retained more easily.

Getting ready for prep is:

  • Using language to communicate ideas and feelings.
  • Co-operating with peers without hitting /pushing and biting.
  • Adjust to separating from their primary caregiver
  • Working independently
  • Expressing ideas and thoughts though the arts
  • Developing language for problem solving i.e. Words like “lets negotiate”
  • Mastering fine and gross motor skills – I cannot write if I don’t know where my body is in time and space.

Fee Schedule

(Subject to change without prior notice)

Group Name Age Daily Fee
Infants & Toddlers 6wks - 2yrs $121/day
Junior Kindy 2yrs - 3yrs $121/day
Kindy & Pre Prep 3yrs - 5yrs $121/day

What you need to bring

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Wide Brim Hat

Your first sun smart hat is supplied by Play and Learn
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Water Bottle

To keep children hydrated throughout the day
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Footwear

So little feet get used to wearing shoes
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Linen & Blankets

Play and Learn Crestmead will supply all linen.
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Spare Clothes

For after water play or lunch time adventures
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Preferred Formula

If your child can’t have the S26 we provide
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Comforter

That special item your child finds comfort in
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A Bag

To put everything into morning and afternoon

Upcoming Events

Jan

Our 3rd Birthday/Dentist Visit

January 6, 2023

Our 3rd Birthday/Dentist Visit

Jan

Chinese New Year

January 23, 2023

Chinese New Year

Jan

Australia Day

January 25, 2023

Australia Day

Jan

Australia Day Public Holiday

January 26, 2023

Australia Day Public Holiday

Feb

Waitangi Day

February 6, 2023

Waitangi Day

Feb

Valentine's Day

February 14, 2023

Valentine's Day

Feb

Random Act of Kindness Day

February 17, 2023

Random Act of Kindness Day

Mar

Clean Up Australia Day/ World Wildlife Day

March 6, 2023

Clean Up Australia Day/ World Wildlife Day

Mar

International Woman’s Day/ Holi Festival

March 8, 2023

International Woman’s Day/ Holi Festival

Mar

St Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2023

St Patrick’s Day

Mar

NO Bullying Day

March 18, 2023

NO Bullying Day

Mar

Harmony Day

March 21, 2023

Harmony Day

Apr

Autism Awareness Day

April 3, 2023

Autism Awareness Day

Apr

Easter Activities (3rd - 6th)

April 3, 2023

Easter Activities (3rd - 6th)

Apr

Family Easter Afternoon Tea

April 6, 2023

Family Easter Afternoon Tea

Apr

Easter Public Holidays (7th & 10th)

April 7, 2023

Easter Public Holidays (7th & 10th)

Apr

ANZAC Day Public Holiday

April 25, 2023

ANZAC Day Public Holiday

Apr

ANZAC Day

April 26, 2023

ANZAC Day

May

Labour Day Public Holiday

May 1, 2023

Labour Day Public Holiday

May

Mother’s Day Morning Tea

May 12, 2023

Mother’s Day Morning Tea

May

National Storytime Day/ Biggest Morning Tea

May 25, 2023

National Storytime Day/ Biggest Morning Tea

May

National Sorry Day

May 26, 2023

National Sorry Day

Jun

World Environment Day

June 5, 2023

World Environment Day

Jun

Ocean Day

June 8, 2023

Ocean Day

Jun

Make Music Day

June 21, 2023

Make Music Day

Jul

NAIDOC Week (3rd - 7th)

July 3, 2023

NAIDOC Week (3rd - 7th)

Jul

National Pyjama Day

July 22, 2023

National Pyjama Day

Jul

Crazy Hair Day

July 28, 2023

Crazy Hair Day

Aug

Jeans 4 Genes Day

August 4, 2023

Jeans 4 Genes Day

Aug

Science Week (14th - 18th)

August 14, 2023

Science Week (14th - 18th)

Aug

EKKA Public Holiday

August 16, 2023

EKKA Public Holiday

Aug

Red Nose Day

August 17, 2023

Red Nose Day

Aug

Book Week (21st - 25th)

August 21, 2023

Book Week (21st - 25th)

Aug

Daffodil Day

August 25, 2023

Daffodil Day

Sep

Father’s Day Afternoon Tea

September 1, 2023

Father’s Day Afternoon Tea

Sep

Early Childhood Educator’s Day

September 7, 2023

Early Childhood Educator’s Day

Sep

R U OK Day

September 14, 2023

R U OK Day

Sep

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

September 19, 2023

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Oct

King’s Birthday Public Holiday

October 2, 2023

King’s Birthday Public Holiday

Oct

Space Week (4th - 10th)

October 4, 2023

Space Week (4th - 10th)

Oct

Grandparents Afternoon Tea

October 11, 2023

Grandparents Afternoon Tea

Oct

Nutrition Week (16th - 20th)

October 16, 2023

Nutrition Week (16th - 20th)

Oct

Loud Shirt Day

October 20, 2023

Loud Shirt Day

Nov

National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)

November 6, 2023

National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)

Nov

Remembrance Day

November 10, 2023

Remembrance Day

Nov

Diwali

November 13, 2023

Diwali

Nov

Steve Irwin Day

November 15, 2023

Steve Irwin Day

Dec

Christmas Program Begins

December 4, 2023

Christmas Program Begins

Dec

Graduation & Christmas Party (TBA)

Event Date

Graduation & Christmas Party (TBA)

Dec

Christmas Holiday Centre Closure (25th - 1st Jan)

December 25, 2023

Christmas Holiday Centre Closure (25th - 1st Jan)

Contact Details

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