Helensvale

Helensvale 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.”

— Nicola Munro, Helensvale Service Director

 

What Parents are Saying…

“My daughter has been with Helensvale Play and Learn for almost 2 years, from 8-10 weeks of age, the staff have been nothing but amazing. My daughter is thriving in the environment that they have created and loves going each day. The outdoor play area has so much for the kids to do and it’s fun to watch the little ones playing in the water and sprinklers during summer. I have had two older children at different daycares including family daycare over the years and Play and Learn trumps them all. Through COVID, the staff were so very supportive and understanding of everyone’s different situations. They have become like family and I am looking forward to my son starting as I know it is the best place for a child to learn and grow. I highly recommend Helensvale Play and Learn.

I could have gone on and on, but I thought I had better stop.

You and your team are amazing, Dakota loves it and loves you all.”

— Leisa St Claire

 

“When we originally selected Play and Learn Helensvale for our daughter it was based on the modern, new and clean facilities provided for the children. The friendly smiles from strangers to us was reassuring, but how could I trust these strangers with my most precious possession.

Indie has been attending the centre for over a year and a half now. All the educators at the centre are way more than teachers to Indie, they are her best friends. The ladies make drop offs as easy and tear free as possible for both Indie and I.

Indie is very loved and cared for there, and we are beyond blessed to have found the most beautiful and caring women to help shape our daughters very bright future. We will be forever grateful.”

— Christie Flexman

 

“My two little ones have been going to Play and Learn Helensvale for almost 1.5yrs and we couldn’t be happier.

The staff are warm, engaging and have always been so genuine with their interactions between my children and myself.

I have used one Kindy prior to this one and the neat facilities and cleanliness here at this centre are outstanding and do not compare!

Highly recommend!!!”

— JW

Our Team

Julie-Watts
Julie Watts
Operations Manager
Nicola-Munro
Nicola Munro
Service Director

Facilities

Infants (6 weeks – 18 months)

Our Helensvale Infants room is licensed for 12 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 (15 months – 2.5 years)

Helensvale Toddler room is licensed for 15 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)

Helensvale Kindy rooms cater for children 2-4 yrs, we have three Kindy rooms.

Our two Junior Kindy rooms are each licensed for 15 children aged approx. 2.5 yrs – 3 yrs with 3 permanently employed educators per room and one 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 Helensvale 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 Helensvale!! 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 Helensvale 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 $131/day
Junior Kindy 2yrs - 3yrs $131/day
Kindy & Pre Prep 3yrs - 5yrs $131/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 Helensvale 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 find comfort in
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A Bag

To put everything into morning and afternoon

Upcoming Events

Jan

New Year’s Day

January 1, 2023

New Year’s Day

Jan

New Year's Day Holiday (Centre closed)

January 2, 2023

New Year's Day Holiday (Centre closed)

Jan

Kindergarten Graduation

January 13, 2023

Kindergarten Graduation

Jan

Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit

January 22, 2023

Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit

Jan

Australia Day Public Holiday (Centre Closed)

January 26, 2023

Australia Day Public Holiday (Centre Closed)

Feb

Waitangi Day

February 6, 2023

Waitangi Day

Feb

World Pizza Day

February 9, 2023

World Pizza Day

Feb

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2023

Valentine’s Day

Feb

Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day

February 21, 2023

Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day

Mar

World Wildlife Day

March 3, 2023

World Wildlife Day

Mar

St Patrick’s Day (Wear Green)

March 17, 2023

St Patrick’s Day (Wear Green)

Mar

Harmony Week (Wear Orange)

March 21, 2023

15th-21st – Harmony Week (Wear Orange)

Mar

World Water Day

March 22, 2023

World Water Day

Apr

Nature Play Week

April 6, 2023

Nature Play Week

Apr

Good Friday (Centre Closed)

April 7, 2023

Good Friday (Centre Closed)

Apr

Easter Monday (Centre Closed)

April 10, 2023

Easter Monday (Centre Closed)

Apr

ANZAC Day (Centre Closed)

April 25, 2023

ANZAC Day (Centre Closed)

May

Labour Day (Centre Closed)

May 1, 2023

Labour Day (Centre Closed)

May

International Compost week (8th - 13th)

May 8, 2023

International Compost week (8th - 13th)

May

Mother’s Day morning tea

May 15, 2023

Mother’s Day morning tea

May

National Sorry Day

May 26, 2023

National Sorry Day

May

National Reconciliation week (27th - 3rd Jun)

May 27, 2023

National Reconciliation week (27th - 3rd Jun)

Jun

World Environment Day

June 5, 2023

World Environment Day

Jun

World Ocean Day

June 8, 2023

World Ocean Day

Jun

International Yoga Day

June 21, 2023

International Yoga Day

Jul

NAIDOC week (2nd - 9th)

July 2, 2023

NAIDOC week (2nd - 9th)

Jul

Teddy Bears Picnic Day

July 10, 2023

Teddy Bears Picnic Day

Jul

National Pyjama Day

July 24, 2023

Wear your PJ’s to Kindy

Jul

Crazy Hair Day

July 29, 2023

Crazy Hair Day

Aug

Dental Health Week (1st - 7th)

August 1, 2023

Dental Health Week (1st - 7th)

Aug

National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Day

August 4, 2023

National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Day

Aug

Jeans for Genes Day

August 4, 2023

Wear your favourite jeans to Kindy

Aug

Red Nose Day

August 13, 2023

Red Nose Day

Aug

National Science Week (12th - 20th)

August 12, 2023

National Science Week (12th - 20th)

Aug

Book Week (21st - 25th)

August 21, 2023

Theme - Read, Grow, Inspire

Sep

Father’s Day breakfast

September 4, 2023

Grab a bacon and egg roll and enjoy some fun activities.

Sep

National Child Protection Week (5th - 11th)

September 5, 2023

National Child Protection Week (5th - 11th)

Sep

Early Childhood Educators Day

September 7, 2023

Help us celebrate our Educators and all they do

Sep

Talk like a Pirate Day

September 19, 2023

Come dress in your best pirate costumes and talk like a pirate

Oct

Queens Birthday (Centre Closed)

October 2, 2023

Queens Birthday (Centre Closed)

Oct

World Space Week (4th - 10th)

October 4, 2023

World Space Week (4th - 10th)

Oct

Children’s Week (22nd - 23rd)

October 22, 2023

Children’s Week (22nd - 23rd)

Oct

Day for Daniel (Dress in Red)

October 27, 2023

Day for Daniel (Dress in Red)

Oct

Halloween dress up day

October 30, 2023

Come dress in your spookiest outfit

Oct

National Grandparents Day

October 31, 2023
10am

Morning tea at 10am

Nov

Outdoor Classroom Day

November 3, 2023

Outdoor Classroom Day

Nov

Melbourne Cup Day

November 7, 2023

Fancy Hat dress up day

Nov

National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)

November 6, 2023

National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)

Nov

Remembrance Day

November 11, 2023

Remembrance Day

Nov

Diwali

November 13, 2023

Diwali

Dec

Centre Closed between Christmas and New Year (25th - 1st Jan)

December 25, 2023

Centre Closed between Christmas and New Year (25th - 1st Jan)

Dec

Christmas Day (Centre Closed)

December 25, 2023

Christmas Day (Centre Closed)

Dec

Boxing Day (Centre Closed)

December 26, 2023

Boxing Day (Centre Closed)

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