Welcome to Explore & Develop Waitara.
Enquire here Waitlist here
Welcome to Explore & Develop Waitara.
Enquire here Waitlist hereExplore & Develop Waitara is conveniently located within walking distance of Waitara Public School, Waitara Train Station, Hornsby Hospital, and Westfield Hornsby, our family-owned and operated early learning service provides high-quality education and care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.
At Explore & Develop Waitara, we create a nurturing, home-like environment where children are encouraged to imagine, explore, and learn through meaningful experiences.
Our educational program is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), fostering a love for play-based learning while supporting early literacy, numeracy, communication, social-emotional growth, and physical development. We also embrace sustainable practices, ensuring children learn in a way that respects and values natural resources.
We believe in strong partnerships with families, working together to build on each child’s unique interests and developmental needs. We respect and celebrate the expertise, culture, values, and beliefs of every family, ensuring that each child’s learning and well-being remain at the heart of everything we do.
We warmly invite you and your family to join us at Explore & Develop Waitara—where curiosity is nurtured, and lifelong learning begins.
Our spacious outdoor learning areas are thoughtfully designed to embrace nature, providing children with engaging sensory experiences and stimulating challenges. Lush, established gardens feature citrus trees, strawberry patches, bush tucker gardens, and seasonal vegetable beds, creating a rich environment for exploration and discovery.
Together with the children, we nurture and care for the land, fostering a deep connection to nature while encouraging hands-on learning and sustainable practices.
Our transition to school program helps children build confidence and familiarity with the school environment before they begin kindergarten. We have strong connections with local primary schools, including Waitara Public School, where children have the opportunity to visit classrooms, explore playgrounds, and meet teachers.
To support families, we also host information evenings, providing guidance and resources to help parents prepare for this important milestone in their child’s learning journey.
We are dedicated to building strong, supportive relationships within our service and the wider community. Our ‘Exploring Our Community’ excursion program allows children to engage with local spaces and places of interest, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.
We also promote a healthy lifestyle through partnerships with local providers, offering activities such as soccer skills and music & movement, encouraging physical development and overall well-being.
Our team brings a wealth of experience, with long-standing educators who are deeply connected to our community. We’ve supported children and their families for years, building strong and trusting relationships. With a dedicated and consistent team, we create a familiar and nurturing environment where children feel secure. Additionally, our educators speak a variety of languages, enriching the learning experience and celebrating cultural diversity every day.
We prepare fresh, nutritionally balanced meals and snacks onsite each day, using high-quality ingredients. Our menu is thoughtfully designed to support children’s growth and development, ensuring they receive the nourishment they need while in our care.
Sustainability is embedded in everything we do, both indoors and outdoors. We incorporate natural, eco-friendly resources throughout our learning environments and programs, fostering a deep appreciation for nature.
Children play an active role in caring for our large edible garden, where they grow vegetables and learn about sustainability, while also developing healthy eating habits. We also take excursions to local parks, allowing children to explore different landscapes, engage in nature play, and build a lifelong connection to the environment.
Owner Operator Chantal lives in the local area and is a mother to two young children of her own.
As a highly skilled Educator with more than 13 years experience in Early Childhood, Chantal is passionate about encouraging children to imagine, explore, discover and create.
Chantal’s aim is to create a warm and positive environment within the service that supports all families, helping the children to feel secure and supported, which in turn allows them to learn and develop.
She has set extremely high standards for her service and works onsite to ensure the environment is an extension of the children’s homes, providing a fluid transition from their family home to the service. She is committed to the environment and ensures sustainability is at the forefront of her daily practice, whilst creating engaging natural environments.
Chantal aims to exceed the needs of the community, by building nurturing and trusting relationships where children, families and educators alike feel a sense of belonging.
Chantal believes in giving all children security, support and respect, allowing them to progress from early childhood as confident learners who are ready to engage in formal schooling.
For many children, our service is their first experience in an education and care environment. With this in mind, we create a warm, welcoming, and home-like atmosphere where both children and families feel secure and supported.
We work closely with families to establish a personalised daily routine for their child, ensuring their child’s rights, dignity, and well-being are at the heart of our practices. Our nurturing approach helps children develop a strong sense of belonging as they begin their early learning journey.
Our toddler environments provide the opportunity for meaningful interactions with educators, creating a space where children feel supported as they explore, discover, create, and imagine through play-based learning.
With a vibrant, flexible, and responsive program tailored to children’s interests and abilities, we offer foundation literacy and numeracy, construction, creative arts, music, and pretend play—all thoughtfully designed to nurture active and curious minds.
The preschool years are a critical and exciting stage of development, where children build the emotional, social, and cognitive skills they need for a successful transition to school. Through play-based learning, we focus on nurturing the whole child, fostering confidence, independence, and a love for learning.
We recognise that school readiness is about more than just a child’s age. A smooth and positive transition to school requires a strong foundation in language, motor coordination, social-emotional development, and early literacy and numeracy skills. Our educators thoughtfully guide this process using the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) as the foundation of our preschool curriculum, ensuring children feel prepared, capable, and excited for their next learning adventure.
41-43 Balmoral Street
Waitara
NSW 2077
7:00am to 6:00pm
Monday to Friday
