The Learning Nook Early Education and Childcare

Welcome to the Learning Nook Early Education and Childcare

The Learning Nook is a quaint little Queenslander cottage, set on a quiet leafy street in Southport.  This unique and small boutique centre boasts a truly natural environment, with a layout of gardens and plants that include fruit trees, herb gardens and flower beds.  An abundance of wild birds, mammals, reptiles and insects are enticed to visit our environment by our careful planning and planting of trees and shrubs. The playground is a stimulating and engaging environment, where the children can extend their indoor play to outside.  They can create, dig, and plant in the gardens; run, jump, skip and swing in the yard; or quietly explore the magical nooks and crannies of the grounds. 

This beautiful Centre has been a part of Southport history, providing early childhood education to many children over the last 20 years.  Each family that has operated the centre have put their hearts into it, creating this beautiful place for children.  Under new ownership it remains a privately owned, family operated centre as The Learning Nook.

As owners of the Learning Nook, we aim to use our many years of industry knowledge and experiences to achieve the following goal

• Deliver an educational program that will enhance the foundations for successful learning for every child
• Build partnerships with families to achieve the best possible outcomes for the child and family
• To provide affordable, quality care. (Ask about our fee package)

We are proud of our old-fashioned individualized touch, but are regularly embracing and introducing innovative ideas and methods into our curriculum.

We offer education and care to children aged 15 months to 5 years.  We are open from 7:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays) for 52 weeks per year.

The original rooms of the Queenslander have been left in place, enabling each room to be utilised as a separate learning area and a space for active, passive, noisy and quiet activities.  Small sections of walls have been removed to allow for adequate visual access.  The centre is full of tiny nooks to explore, a treasure trove in every corner.  We are a truly unique Centre designed to encourage creativity and inspiration in a cosy homelike atmospher  We have two rooms licenced to provide care and education for 24 children aged 15 months to 3 years, and 3 to 5 years.  Our small open classrooms enhance individualized attention to each child’s learning and progress. Small combined groupings allow siblings and family members to interact with each other throughout the day.

Our play based curriculum provides opportunities for children to explore and extend their knowledge, to inquire and create, and to develop a sense of belonging and connection to their world.   Our holistic approach to setting the environment provides opportunities for the children to extend their knowledge in all learning including:

•  Visual arts
• Creative arts
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices
• Language and Literacy

Our educators embrace the EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK and QUEENSLAND KINDERGARTEN LEARNING GUIDELINES when planning our educational programs.

EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK  (EYLF) is a guide which consists of Principle, Practices and 5 main Learning Outcomes along with each of their sub-outcomes, based on identity, community, wellbeing, learning and communication.  The Learning Outcomes are used to reflect on children’s learning and focus on what a child can achieve rather than what they can’t.  Achievements are celebrated and goals set for further learning outcomes.

QUEENSLAND KINDERGARTEN LEARNING GUIDELINE (QKLG) supports kindergarten teachers’ professional practice in a range of contexts.  The guide is based on the EYLF and embraces the inclusive vison that “all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life”. The learning and development areas are identity, connectedness, wellbeing, active learning and communicating. We aim to promote continuity between curriculums in our Kindergarten and Preparatory year to promote successful transitions into the early phase of schooling.

When visiting our Centre your child will meet our teachers.  Your child will be invited to participate in the program, while you take the opportunity to chat with our Centre Manager.  She will want to learn about your child and your expectations for his/her care and education.  We will have the opportunity to share information about The Learning Nook and how we will enhance your child’s desire for lifelong learning.