“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.”
“On our journey to find the perfect daycare we came across this little gem Play and Learn. The very first day we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm, the vibe of the place just felt so right we knew we had found our place. The daycare itself is beautiful, full of colour, has a mini garden, a brilliant new water play feature which is a hit on these hot sunny days. The kids get delicious home cooked meals which my little girl just loves. The staff I cannot fault, each one we love and adore. They are passionate and so caring about what they do everyday. My little girl is safe, happy and cared for and I couldn’t ask for any more. It’s like a second home and family for us, I would recommend Play and Learn as the best daycare in North Lakes. We are looking forward to our next member of our family joining our Play and Learn family.”
“From the moment we entered North Lakes Play and Learn they made us feel at home. Their kindness and love they have for the children is exceptional. We love the focus they have on educating our children on all cultures, as we feel it’s very important.”
“North Lakes Play and Learn is the most amazing centre we have ever been a part of. Elkie absolutely loves going to care every single day and her educators and Play and Learn staff is nothing short of amazing. Elkie has learnt so much from being in care at North Lakes Play and Learn and I wouldn’t want her anywhere else. As parents it’s so comforting to know that our child is so loved and so cared for each and every day. Anyone looking at North Lakes Play and Learn for care of their child, I wouldn’t recommend it enough.”
“We highly recommend North Lakes Play and Learn, they are such a friendly and caring team. As first time parents we put our trust in a team of people who will look after our child as if he was their own. We have seen first hand that they meet all the children’s needs and are willing to go the extra mile. You can see by the smiles on all the kids faces how happy they are and love their daycare. Such a wonderful team of teachers.”
” I cannot recommend this centre enough. The girls did an amazing job settling our youngest. Both of our children absolutely love coming to daycare. Their friendly, professional attitude and regular updates give us peace of mind knowing that they are well looked after.”
Our North Lakes Infants 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;
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.
North Lakes 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.
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.
North Lakes Kindy rooms cater for children 2-4 yrs, we have two 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.
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.
Our North Lakes 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 North Lakes!! 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 North Lakes 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
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.
We have engaged Kindy Science to enrich and extend early childhood aged children in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) using engaging activities in an everyday environment. Early exposure to STEM concepts encourages children to question the world around them and look for solutions to problems. Hypothesising and following scientific and design methods to create new and interesting ideas. The curriculum has been developed by Camille Newlands, a STEM teacher with 20 + years of experience in Science and Mathematics.
Group Name | Age | Daily Fee |
---|---|---|
Infants 1 & Infants 2 | 6wks - 2yrs | $122/day |
Junior Kindy & Kindy | 2yrs - 3yrs | $120/day |
Pre-Prep | 4yrs - 5yrs | $119/day |
Note: No more 5 days discount starting from 1 July 2022 |
Centre re-opens as normal operational hours
Farewell to the last of our prep children
Water play day!
Centre closed for Australia Day
Waitangi Day Celebrations
Pre-Prep Parent Info Night
Valentine’s Day
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Clean up School Day
Clean up Australia Day
Holi Celebration
St. Patrick's Day
Harmony Day
Ramadan begins
Earth Hour
International Children’s Book Day
Easter Parade
Good Friday (Centre will be closed)
Easter Monday (Centre will be closed)
Ramadan ends
Anzac Day (Centre will be closed)
New Zealand Music Month
Labour Day (Centre closed for public holiday)
International Compost Awareness Week
Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea
National Simultaneous Storytime - The Speedy Sloth
National Sorry Day
Reconciliation Week
Mabo Day
World Environment Day
World Ocean Day
Art Expo from 5:30pm
World Refugee Day
NAIDOC WEEK celebrations (2nd - 9th)
Teddy Bears Picnic
National Pyjama Day
National Schools Tree Day
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
Jeans for Genes Day
Dental Health Week (7th - 13th)
Photo Week (7th - 11th)
Red Nose Day
Science Week (14th - 18th)
Book Week (19th - 25th)
Dental 2 You Visit
Father’s Day Afternoon Tea
Child Protection Week (4th – 8th)
Early Childhood Educators Day
Ocean Life Show
Talk Like A Pirate Day
World Space Week (4th - 10th)
World's Children’s Week (22nd - 30th)
Grandparents Day Afternoon Tea
Day for Daniel
Halloween Disco Party
Dress to Impress
National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)
Diwali – Hindu Festival of Lights
Remembrance Day
November Crazy Hair Day
Pre-Prep Graduation from 4:30pm
Children’s Christmas Party (TBA)
Christmas Pyjama Week (18th - 22nd)
Centre closed 22nd from 6:30pm (will reopen on 2nd January 2024)
Get in touch with the team at Play and Learn to discuss our range of service options and how we could be the best fit for your child today!