Welcome to Explore & Develop Brookvale.
Enquire here Video of ServiceWelcome to Explore & Develop Brookvale, a 48-place service and one of the smallest owner-operated early childhood services on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Conveniently located behind Westfield Brookvale on Old Pittwater Road, we offer a high-quality learning environment for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.
What truly sets us apart is the consistency and commitment of our team. Many of our educators have been with us for over 10 years. This is not a transient job—it’s a career and a calling. That stability creates deep, meaningful relationships and a strong sense of continuity for the children in our care. Our owner/operator is present daily and represents the heart and soul of our service.
Every classroom, including our nursery, is led by a university-qualified teacher. Our curriculum takes a holistic view of development, supporting each child’s social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and interpersonal growth. We are passionate advocates for early intervention and work closely with a range of Allied Health partners to ensure every child has access to the support they need.
Involving parents and the community in the educational process creates a supportive learning ecosystem and strengthens the child’s sense of belonging.
We are proud to have been recently accredited through ACECQA, receiving Exceeding in all seven quality areas, demonstrating our commitment to going above and beyond the national standards in every aspect of early childhood education and care.
We view our learning environments as the “third teacher”, reinforcing the belief that learning happens everywhere—not just at tables or desks. Our approach places a strong emphasis on building and nurturing relationships among all members of the learning community—children, educators, families, and the wider community. These connections are essential for creating a supportive, inclusive, and enriching educational experience.
What truly sets us apart is the consistency, maturity, and commitment of our team. Many of our educators have been with us for over 10 years, creating strong, lasting relationships with children and families. We pride ourselves on having a stable, experienced team—we do not use agency casuals, and our educators are not transient. This continuity provides a deep sense of trust, familiarity, and belonging within our community.
Our size allows us to build strong, authentic relationships with families, fostering a deep sense of trust and belonging We see ourselves as an extension of each family, walking alongside them in these formative years and creating a nurturing, responsive space where children feel safe, seen, and supported.
We embrace a holistic approach to learning that honours the rhythms of nature and the changing seasons. This philosophy supports the development of the whole child—emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively—by creating an environment where children feel connected to the world around them.
Our learning spaces are thoughtfully curated to invite wonder, exploration, and connection. Known for our beautiful invitations to play, we view the environment as the third teacher—intentionally shaping how children engage, feel, and learn. Each season brings a transformation: in Winter, fairy lights twinkle softly, cosy blankets offer warmth and comfort, and the gentle ritual of warm milk creates a sense of home and belonging. These seasonal changes reflect our commitment to creating nurturing, responsive environments that honour the rhythms of the year.
Our dedicated Transition to School program is led by two Early Childhood Teachers who each hold a Bachelor of Education. They provide a rich and purposeful preschool program that supports children to develop the confidence, skills, and independence they need for a successful start to school. Our approach nurtures each child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development while fostering a love of learning through play-based experiences and intentional teaching.
Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care. We strictly maintain educator-to-child ratios at all times, ensuring close supervision and individualised attention throughout the day. Our centre is also equipped with security cameras in classrooms, hallways, and common areas—never in private spaces such as bathrooms or nappy change areas. All footage is securely stored and can only be accessed by the owner/operator, ensuring both transparency and privacy are upheld.
Explore & Develop Brookvale has been proudly independently owned and operated by qualified early childhood professional Charlene Fredman since 2008. As a mum to two grown-up children, Charlene brings both professional insight and personal understanding to the joys and challenges of raising a family.
Her family grounds her; they are the soul to who she is. Charlene is well aware of the struggles of having small children and going to work every day. At the time when Charlene opened the service her children were 3 and 5. While operating the service 5 days a week from 7.30-6.00, her husband Scott was her rock and able to have flexibility in providing the balance when Charlene was in the early stage of the business.
With a background in Human Resources, Charlene transitioned from a corporate career into early childhood education—but believes she never really left the HR space. “I’m still in the business of people,” she says. Holding a Diploma in Children’s Services, a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, and a Diploma in Energetic Healing, Charlene draws on this unique blend of experience to foster genuine, heart-centred relationships with children, families, and her team.
“I truly believe that when we connect with our people, we build strong relationships—and strong relationships are the foundation of everything we do.”
A Welcome from Charlene
Welcome to Explore & Develop Brookvale.
I’ve always believed that—that how a space feels can shape how we connect, learn, and grow. You know that feeling when you walk into a room and you ‘know’ whether you are going to fit in or not. That is no different to walking into any space. When you walk into my service, you’ll notice I burn a candle this is the same candle that I would burn at home. It’s a simple gesture, but one that brings warmth, comfort, and a sense of calm to what some may find a stressful start to their day.
I love setting up spaces that make people feel welcome. Soft furnishings, natural light, and intentional design help turn each day from just a routine into a ritual—an opportunity for something meaningful to unfold.
Whether you’re a child, a parent, an educator, or a visitor, I want you to feel that you belong here.
Charlene Fredman
Owner & Operator
We work closely with families to ensure consistency between the baby’s home life and their time at the service, which gives our youngest children an important sense of security, allowing them to build confidence and begin to explore. Led by an Early Childhood Teacher, our nursery room educators have also received expert sleep and settling training through our partnership with the Tresillian organisation.
The toddler years are a busy stage of development where children are intent on discovering new things about themselves and their environment. Small group sizes and high educator-to-child ratios allow us to offer a variety of child-led, child-inspired and educator-guided opportunities. We value play-based learning as an ideal context for young children’s development and this is reflected in our practice.
Our best-practice Preschool program is Reggio-inspired, holistic and enquiry-driven. Woven intrinsically into the Early Years Learning Framework (the national curriculum for the early childhood years), we recognise the importance and value of play. As such, our programs are child-centred and play-focused. Each opportunity for play that is introduced has an underlying objective – whether it be the development of early language, math or STEM skills, or to support social and emotional development through engagement and interaction with peers.
We have two separate outdoor spaces catering to our Babies and our Toddlers/Preschoolers, ensuring that all children feel safe, secure and confident to explore their natural surroundings. Our beautiful backdrop of established trees, shrubs, garden beds, rocks, grass areas, edible gardens, digging patch and sandpits offer opportunities for open-ended imaginative play and a variety of sensory experiences. These opportunities allow children to strengthen their sense of agency and gain an understanding about the natural world and the importance of sustainability.
Ground Floor
122 Old Pittwater Road
Brookvale NSW 2100
Monday – Friday
7.30am – 6.00pm
