Explore & Develop Waitara implements a play-based curriculum based on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
This curriculum sees our educators regularly observing the children to establish their interests, strengths, and skills. These observations are then used within our online documenting system (Kinderloop) as the basis of our weekly program. Kinderloop is accessible to families via an app to allow them to participate in their child’s learning at the service.
Our weekly program allows for a range of experiences that are based on the interests of the group, with an emphasis on play-based learning recognizing the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) social and emotional development, as well as physical development and coordination. This can be seen in all our environments, both inside and outside.
We also incorporate a “Transition to School” program into our long day care service. This program is designed to develop the necessary social and emotional skills within the children to allow them to function independently when they commence school. We do this through play-based learning experiences focusing on self-help skills, extending children’s ability to participate in structured small group experiences and supporting the development of early language, literacy and numeracy skills.
Explore & Develop Waitara is a purpose built Early Childhood Education and Care service that is privately owned and operated by Jo Iles, an Early Childhood professional, who is also a mum.
Our experienced educators hold Bachelor degrees, Diplomas or Certificate III in Early Childhood Education. They undergo Working With Children Checks, have current First Aid training and regularly participate in ongoing professional development. We have a very stable team – more than half of our people have been with us for over five years, and a quarter of our team for more than a decade. Aside from English, languages spoken by our educators include Mandarin, Cantonese, Hungarian, Korean, Sinhalese and Nepalese, and the children enjoy the opportunity to learn words and phrases in different languages.
Our program incorporates a wide range of learning opportunities for the children, including our daily Fundamental Movement program and monthly incursions where children enjoy learning about science, the natural world, and building important skills like resilience and self-confidence. The children also enjoy caring for our service pets: our bearded dragon, cockatiel and tropical fish.
We have ongoing community partnerships with Macquarie University, TAFE, Newcastle University, The Cancer Council and the ‘Moove’n’Groove’ healthy lifestyle program.
Our large outdoor learning environment is divided into two separate areas to cater for the 0-2 year and 2-5 year age groups. It features beautiful established gardens including citrus trees, strawberry patch, bush tucker garden and seasonal vegetables.
Our in-house chef prepares the children’s meals and snacks onsite daily with fresh ingredients to ensure that a minimum of 50% of a child’s recommended daily intake of all nutrients is provided for each day in care.
Jo Iles has been the owner and director of Explore & Develop Waitara since 2009. She holds a Diploma of Children’s Services and has been educating children since 1994.
Jo believes that children have the right to be educated in a stimulating environment that provides opportunities for lots of play-based learning.
Collaboration between families and educators bridge the gap between home and the service, to ensure that children receive consistent care.
Children then develop a strong sense of self, and feel confident and secure to reach their full potential as they leave the service for further education.
12 children, 6 weeks – 18 months
16 children, 18 months – 2.5 years
20 children, 2.5 years – 3.5 years
16 children, 3 years – 4 years
26 children, 4 years – 5+ years
41-43 Balmoral Street
Waitara
NSW 2077
7:00am to 6:00pm
Monday to Friday
