ABOUT EXPLORE & DEVELOP

Freshwater

Explore & Develop Freshwater is conveniently located within the new Harbord Diggers development where our families and staff have access to the club’s new fitness, hospitality and aquatic facilities.

Our vision has always been to provide sustainable, high-quality learning environments that evolve and support children, families, educators and staff to feel a sense of belonging and a part of our community.

Our Philosophy has been developed in partnership with children, families, educators and staff in our community, drawing on the ‘National Quality Framework’, ‘United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child’, ‘Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics’ and our sound understanding of the beliefs and values of our families, educators and our wider community.

Through positive and respectful partnerships formed with families, our educators are able to design and implement our educational curriculum in an enriching play-based environment, guided by Australia’s National Curriculum—The Early Years Learning Framework: Belonging, Being & Becoming, to encourage children to engage in critical thinking, experimentation, problem solving, arts, culture, mindfulness and connectedness with peers, educators and the wider community.

Our Transition to School program provides a play-based developmentally appropriate curriculum where children are learning important knowledge, skills and attitudes that will not only prepare them for school but for lifelong learning. We believe that there is no ‘one size fits all’ curriculum and know that it is fundamental, to children’s learning and development, that our educators truly know the children and their families in order to support them in their journey with us. We see ‘school readiness’ as a journey from day one as we build relationships with children and families so as to support children every step of the way in reaching milestones at their own personal pace. School readiness is not just about the transition to primary school, we see value in nurturing a child’s natural curiosities and instilling a love of learning throughout their lifetime.

Explore & Develop Child Care Freshwater rooms

Explore & Develop Child Care Freshwater staff room

Explore & Develop Child Care Freshwater outdoors

Explore & Develop Freshwater Child Care & Preschool

Explore & Develop Child Care Freshwater playground

Explore & Develop Child Care Freshwater nursery

Family owned and operated

Explore & Develop Freshwater is Owned and Operated by a local, Northern Beaches family. Having grown up in the Curl Curl/Freshwater area, we have been active members of the community through sports, surf lifesaving and volunteering for local respite services for children with additional needs. With four young children of our own, we are in tuned to the needs of local families and are connected to the wider community.

All-inclusive offering

We feel that no child within our service should go without. This is why we have developed an all-inclusive offering for families. Fresh seasonal menu, formula and bottles, nappies and bedding for all age groups. A high-quality educational curriculum that includes a transition to school program and an excursion/incursion program is provided.

High-quality learning environments

The service has been thoughtfully designed in collaboration with leading architects, landscape architects, skilled and experienced early childhood professionals, to create an environment that is nurturing and stimulating, whilst providing appropriate levels of challenge and risk, to engage the natural curiosity and developmental growth for children at every stage.

Experience & Qualified Team

With over 20 years experience within the Early Childhood Education and Care sector, and a mother to four children, Owner-Operator, Sally, truly understands the needs of families whilst being able to understand and support the needs of staff & educators in providing the highest level of education and care for children throughout their early years.

Our team of educators exceed the National Quality Framework in qualifications and educator to child ratios. We highly value our ability to provide our team with ongoing professional development opportunities to enrich their knowledge and expertise, keep abreast of current research and practice, resulting in long term career growth.

Engaging with our community

An integral part of our philosophy is our engagement and collaboration with our local and wider community. It is our ongoing aim to support children and their families in developing relationships, connections and a real sense of belonging to their community. We work alongside local artists to incorporate our Artist in Residence projects as well as getting out & about for our Beyond the Gate Curriculum, such as regular local walking excursions for our Beach & Bush Programs throughout the year.

Learn to Swim Program

Explore & Develop Freshwater have partnered with Carlile Swimming Freshwater to offer the children & families of our service with a unique opportunity to engage in weekly swimming lessons.
Our small group sessions are on offer for families of our Junior and Senior Preschool Rooms (who chose to participate) on Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

Regular swimming lessons assist in the understanding of water safety, the development of water confidence, gross motor skills, coordination and assists to strengthen the development of both the right and left side of the brain. The practice of swimming on a regular basis encourages children to ‘cross the midline’ which involves both sides of the brain to work collaboratively, this is thought to boost all areas of development – it has also been found to benefit mental health and wellbeing as well.

As parents it warms our hearts to think how wonderful of an experience we and our son have enjoyed since joining E&D Freshwater. Our son’s development has been amazing going from English as a second language to fluent and from dreading daycare to loving it and not wanting to leave! The educators all the way up to owner Sally truly care about the children. We can’t say enough good things about the team; they are truly world class. The facilities and activities are top notch and we are very happy with our choice as daycare now feels like an extended family. Thank you very much for all you have done and continue to do it has made a big difference to our lives.

Will (Jnr Preschool Room Parent)

From the moment you walk into Explore & Develop Freshwater you experience a sense of calm. The beautiful décor, indoor/outdoor environment, exciting toys and smiling faces of the educators only add to this great kindy!! The teachers and all staff are so friendly, interested and engaged in the children but also our family- they remember everybody’s name and any weekend plans and always ask how we are with genuine interest! We are absolutely loving being here- both our children come home talking about having had the best day playing and learning!! We love E&D Freshwater and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Gemma (Toddler & Senior Preschool Parent)

The teams are great and really stand out as incredible individuals who really love the kids. It’s reassuring to know that the kids, have such a fantastic experience every day.

“Mary & Liam (Infant & Toddler Room Parents)

I just wanted to write to say how fantastic the staff in the Explorers Room. Each time I come to kindy either with Oscar and obviously Jack, they are there with such a fantastic presence.
All the children in the Explorers room just adore them and are happy, they are really in amazing hands with Sarah and all the girls upstairs. She always goes out of her way to understand the needs of the kids. I’ve already told her how amazing I think she is, but I wanted to pass it on to you. It’s such a credit to you too Sally, all your staff are truly wonderful and so very engaged in the children and in life. Having children in both the upstairs and downstairs and how fantastic they all are is just a credit to you. So thank you so much for everything you do. You all do an amazing job and it is definitely noticed by our family.

Fiona (Infants & Snr Preschool Room Parent)

Explore & Develop Freshwater is absolutely amazing, the facility, the staff, the menu and the daily programs are above and beyond perfect. I could not speak highly of the centre if I tried.
Yordi has the best menu put together full of healthy foods! The staff are always willing to give you their time.

Abbey (Toddler & Srn Preschool Parent)

We transitioned across just a few months ago from another service and I can honestly say Mila has never been happier. The staff are wonderful, friendly and genuinely caring. Explore & Develop Freshwater is a wonderful community of people, and I cannot be happier with the care their wonderful staff provide.

Philippa (Infant Room Parent)

It’s our last day today and we are all so sad to be leaving, but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and all the staff at Explore & Develop Freshwater. We have had the best time here, the girls have always loved attending and have made some beautiful friends – we always highly recommend you to our friends in the area.
Thank you for everything and well done on your efforts in creating such a wonderful centre.

Ange & James | Preschool Room

Just wanted to send an email to say thank you and what a fantastic ‪afternoon Monday‬ was with the Senior Graduation. I can imagine the work that went into ‪this afternoon‬.
It was so well thought out, the special words you said about each child was so special and heartfelt and the amazing gift the children were given was so special – they all looked so gorgeous too!
Thank you for such a wonderful year, he has enjoyed his time with each of you.
Sally, you have created something so special and your leadership is so respected – we thank you very much.

Fiona | Snr Preschool Room

I have particularly enjoyed the fantastic communication from Explore & Develop sharing with us how our child is going and what he is doing every day he is there as well as reflections on his own personal development in the learning stories. You all do such an incredible job and I am so grateful. I’ve never seen a place like yours and it is such an honour and a privilege to have our child there with you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your care and expertise this year.

Alena | LG Toddler Room

I just wanted to let you know that you have the most amazing staff. They are all so kind, supportive and caring towards our little ones. I can not speak more highly of the staff you have in the upper toddler room. I feel so lucky to have found somewhere so special to attend daycare. They are all so lovely towards us; just now, they took the time to call me to tell me about his day and what a good day he had had, I thought how lovely of them to do that ?
Thank you for creating the most amazing daycare ? Your staff are amazing!

Tasha | UG Toddler Room

Just wanted to shoot another message of appreciation across to the ladies for all they do for the little people they care for every day!

A’s been teething and not eating very well and when I dropped him in on Tuesday I mentioned it to one of the staff in the Nursery Team. She seemed genuinely concerned about A and really took what I was saying on board. When I came to collect A, all of the team knew about our situation and let me know almost everything he had eaten. It’s so great to know that communication is obviously top notch in the nursery room.

I also just love that the girls know A almost as well as Barry and I! They know if he’s having a bad day and they know his quirks – he definitely has a few and they know how to distract him and keep him calm which is so reassuring to know.

He absolutely ADORES all of your staff and I just feel so happy that he’s with such wonderful women every day! I WISH I could spend every single day with him… but as I can’t, I’m just stoked that he’s happy and so well looked after ?

Hailey | Nursery Room

It was B’s last day today at kindy before the holiday and I just wanted to say thank you for everything! I also wanted to say big thank you generally, as we love the kindy and so does B. The staff and what you do with children every day is just amazing. B has made such a huge progress in so many ways, the english vocabulary, her social skills, her confidence and she is now fully potty trained! ?

Also big shout out to lovely Miss S. We think she is a superstar with so much passion and creativity, her drive to make new scenarios for children to play every day. We know it is all hard work and it amazes me how much she and other educators in B’s room put in to make us, parents, informed with all the reports, pictures, scrap book etc, we definitely appreciate it all! So thank you again and see you when we come back!

Andrea | LG Toddler Room

We love Explore & Develop Freshwater. Beautiful caring staff, amazing healthy food and great facilities. A wonderful community.

Kristen | Jnr Preschool Room

We just wanted to send you all the love and a HUGE THANK YOU!!! K & C are missing their days at School and we are all missing your beautiful smiley faces. You have all shown what committed educators you are still supplying the best care to those families who currently require it, we are LOVING the videos and really appreciate you all going above and beyond with keeping in touch with the children and also keeping all of us parents up to date. I can only imagine how tough this has been on the team and what a stressful and crazy time being inundated with emails full of covid questions & enrolment concerns. Stay safe everyone, we cant wait to see you all again after this craziness is over. Big love & positive vibes,

Ash | Infant & Jnr Preschool Room

Hi Sal, I just wanted to say thanks so much, A has had a really great start to his kindy career, he loved it.

Today he was banging on the door to get in and then was far more interested in playing phone calls with Miss L than coming home this afternoon.

We are very grateful for all your wonderful staff and the calm space you’ve set up.

Susan | UG Toddler Room

LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Explore & Develop Freshwater

Nursery Room

8 children, 6 weeks – 12 months

All nutritional meals, bottles, formula, nappies, linen and sunscreen provided
Breastfeeding room available for nursing mothers
Dedicated cot room for nursery children
Personalised and developmentally-appropriate curriculum designed by our qualified and experienced Early Childhood educators
Supportive partnerships to develop nurturing routines that are reflective of home
Qualified and experienced Early Childhood educators
Architecturally designed indoor and outdoor learning environments
Secure online learning portal for families to access daily learning experiences, developmental observations and individual learning assessments

Infant Room

12 children, 12 months – 2 years

All nutritional meals, bottles, formula, nappies, linen, and sunscreen provided
Breastfeeding room available for nursing mothers
Dedicated cot room for infant children
Personalised and developmentally-appropriate curriculum designed by our qualified and experienced Early Childhood educators
Supportive partnerships to assist families as children transition into new routines and develop growing independence
Architecturally designed indoor and outdoor learning environments
Secure online learning portal for families to access daily learning experiences, developmental observations and individual learning assessments

Toddler Rooms

15 children, 2 years – 3 years

All nutritional meals, bottles, formula, nappies, linen, and sunscreen provided
Breastfeeding room available for nursing mothers
Personalised and developmentally-appropriate curriculum designed by our qualified and experienced Early Childhood educators
Partnerships with families to support our toddlers’ growing autonomy, through nurturing the development of self-help skills, assisting the navigation of problem solving, and their increasing levels of communication
Architecturally designed indoor and outdoor learning environments
Secure online learning portal for families to access daily learning experiences, developmental observations and individual learning assessments

Junior Preschool Room

20 children, 3 years – 4 years

All nutritional meals, linen, and sunscreen provided
Personalised and developmentally-appropriate curriculum designed by our qualified and experienced Early Childhood educators
Partnerships with families to support our junior preschoolers in preparing for their transition to primary school
Architecturally designed indoor and outdoor learning environments
Secure online learning portal for families to access daily learning experiences, developmental observations and individual learning assessments

Senior Preschool Room

20 children, 4 years – 5+ years

All nutritional meals, linen, and sunscreen provided
Personalised and developmentally-appropriate curriculum designed by our qualified and experienced Early Childhood educators
Partnerships with families to support our senior preschoolers in preparation for their transition to primary school
Architecturally designed indoor and outdoor learning environments
Secure online learning portal for families to access daily learning experiences, developmental observations and individual learning assessments

TESTIMONIALS

Explore & Develop Freshwater

Jess Frankland 2 days ago

Wonderful, caring and warm educators.

...

Kieren Dight 2 days ago

Absolutely the best day care in the northern beaches. Every educator is kind, caring and empathetic to each kid. There are well resourced and have a great curriculum that they update yearly.

...

Stephanie Spence 3 days ago

Our family has been privileged to be a part of Explore and Develop for the past 6 years. Both our children attended the centre from 1 year of age through to school and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. The educators are incredibly caring, compassionate, patient and supportive. Our children have made quality friendships and have left confident and ready for the next chapter. The quality of service we received throughout our time there has been outstanding. I highly recommend the centre to anyone looking.

...

Susan Barrett 1 year ago

Our son is about to leave Explore and Develop Freshwater and head to school, after 4 fabulous years there.
He could have gone to school this year, but we gifted him another year of play and it was the best decision we've made.
We are so grateful for every thing they have done for him. The staff are fantastic and everyone knows our son (and daughter who is yet to start), whether they have been his specific educator or not. Everyone makes time to chat to us, the centre is clean and calm and the programs excellent. Our son will not forget the whale watching opportunity they had!
Thank you Explore and Develop! We are so very grateful.

...

Milendra Dhakal 1 year ago

Our journey with Explore and Develop Freshwater (E&DF) began when our child was just under 3 years old, and the transformation we've seen since then is nothing short of amazing. Having experienced other childcare centres in the past, it's clear that E&DF sets a remarkably high standard in terms of care, attention, and tailored support, especially for children who may need a bit of extra guidance with behavioural aspects.

The educators in the Banksia class—MJ, Miss Lauren, and Miss Deb—have been instrumental in our child's growth. MJ has formed a special bond with our little one, displaying immense care, compassion, and personal investment in each child's well-being. Their warmth extends beyond our child to all children across different classes, evident during drop-offs and pick-ups. MJ's shared experiences and invaluable strategies have helped us navigate challenging phases, staying one step ahead with our child's development.

Miss Lauren's expertise is unparalleled. She's dedicated to our child's progress, always keeping us informed and recommending strategies and resources. Her support extends beyond the classroom; she goes above and beyond to ensure parents feel empowered and supported, especially when additional assistance is needed. Her efforts in overcoming behavioural challenges have been monumental, and we're endlessly grateful for her commitment.

And then there's Miss Deb, whose vibrant energy and ability to connect with children are exceptional. Her approach strikes a perfect balance between firmness and affection, earning the love of children with her infectious personality. Her constant smile brings joy not only to the kids but also reassurance to us as parents, knowing our child is in caring hands.

These educators go beyond their roles; they've become pillars of support for us as parents. Their dedication, expertise, and genuine care have made a profound impact on our child's development. We're immensely grateful for the exceptional care provided by all the educators at E&DF. Our child has flourished under their guidance, and finding such dedicated and nurturing individuals has been a true blessing.

Sally, the owner, is an exceptional operator. Her commitment to providing top-notch care for the children is evident in the smooth running of this early childhood learning centre. Despite the likely challenges she faces daily, her competence ensures that parents like us are shielded from disruptions, a testament to her remarkable capabilities in managing and maintaining a top-tier establishment.

The array of activities designed for the kids is truly remarkable. From crafting personalized gifts for parents for Mum’s/Dad’s day, to engaging in age-appropriate educational materials and creative endeavours, E&DF ensures a well-rounded developmental experience. The resources provided, the individualised tactics for each child, and the updates via the OWNA app and monthly reports reflect a commitment that surpasses typical childcare services. It's a holistic approach to early childhood education, nurturing social skills, language development, and fostering crucial bonds.

E&DF ticks all the boxes for a top-tier childcare centre. Its dedication to providing age-specific educational materials, strategic and creative teaching methodologies, and efforts to create a supportive learning environment make it stand out.

As our child approaches his final year at the Waratah room, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the growth and readiness for school that this exceptional centre has fostered. We have full confidence that this final stage of his journey at E&DF will equip him with the tools he needs to embark on his academic path confidently.

TL;DR-
We say this every chance we get- E&DF isn't just a childcare centre; it's a sanctuary where our child learns, grows, and flourishes under the exceptional care, dedication, and guidance of a team that truly sets the standard for excellence in early childhood education. We couldn't be happier and more grateful for what they do for our little one on a daily basis.

...

Emily Lister 1 year ago

We wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for the exceptional care and nurturing E&D Freshwater have provided to our daughter in her first year here. The dedication and unwavering support have made her time here truly special. It's heartwarming to see the joy in her eyes when she's with her educators and new friends. The patience, kindness, and commitment the educators have to creating a safe and stimulating environment have played a pivotal role in her growth and development.

We are so fortunate to have you as her educators, and we want you to know how much we appreciate your tireless efforts. The professionalism and genuine love for what you do shine through in every interaction with our daughter.

Thank you for making every day not just educational but also full of love and warmth. Your contributions to her early years will leave a lasting impact on her, and for that, we are truly grateful.

...