Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Heathcote

Meeting
NSW preschool
5.0 /5
24 reviews

Childcare and preschool in Heathcote, NSW

Welcome to Creative Garden Heathcote. Our daycare and early learning centre is a convenient choice for local families Heathcote, Engadine, Yarrawarrah and Woronora Heights in Sydney. Creative Garden Heathcote offers long day care and a preschool program for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.

Our purpose-built daycare and preschool centre in Heathcote offers innovative early learning programs in a safe and nurturing environment. Our Heathcote childcare centre features a vibrant outdoor space with a veggie garden, mud kitchen, large sandpit, shaded yard, veranda, and bike track, providing ample space for exploration and play. Indoors, our purpose-built, spacious environments include interactive whiteboards and natural resources designed to foster exploration and learning. Our long-standing team of early childhood educators is dedicated to creating a calm, comfortable environment where every child feels safe and supported. Our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher delivers a Government-approved Preschool program to prepare children for school. We enjoy venturing out on community walks and excursions and regularly welcome special guests such as librarians, emergency services, and dancers. Our Bush Kinder Program further enriches the children’s connection with nature and their local environment.

Why you’ll love Creative Garden Heathcote

Spacious outdoor environments

Passionate, qualified educators

Nappies and wipes provided

Chef-prepared meals

Government-approved Preschool program

Family communication app

Close to public transport

Extended/flexible hours

Incursions/excursions

Allergy and anaphylaxis aware

Sun protection aware

Bush Kinder program

g8_kindicareawards_webbanners_dec20242.png

Meet our Centre Manager

Jaclyn

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
“I believe children learn best through peer interaction, and I strive to create a fun, engaging, and inclusive learning environment.”

I began my career in Early Education in 2015 and joined Creative Garden Heathcote in February 2023. Since entering the sector, I’ve found great joy watching children learn and develop across all areas. When a child achieves a goal they’ve been working towards, I feel proud to have contributed to their growth.

In early education, I quickly learned that children thrive when they feel a strong attachment to someone who makes their playtime enjoyable. I often incorporate playful pedagogy and the Circle of Security in my teaching approach, creating a playful learning environment where children are guided through play by educators. Building social and emotional well-being through play-based learning is crucial for developing foundational life skills.

Our passionate team of educators is dedicated to helping every child discover their identity and become confident, happy, and resilient learners. We see each child as an individual, ensuring they receive equal opportunities and feel included in all learning experiences. Being a small service allows us to achieve this daily. I take the time to get to know each child to ensure their needs are met.

After a family tour, I send a thank you email and provide clear steps for enrolment. I maintain an open-door policy for any questions or assistance with enrolment forms. We hold family events for occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, and Christmas, fostering a strong community connection.

We also offer information nights for families and include a ‘Tips & Tricks’ section in our newsletter, covering topics from transitioning away from dummies to teaching children how to tie their shoelaces. Building a strong partnership with families is essential to the enrolment process. As the Centre Manager, I schedule myself on open and close shifts to connect with all families weekly and attend all centre events, including excursions, whenever possible, inviting families to join us.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Heathcote early education centre.

Read moreless

Our innovative early learning programs

At our early learning centre in Heathcote, our experienced educators and teachers continually seek innovative ways to enrich your child’s education. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, we offer a variety of engaging and diverse learning experiences, including:

Sustainability

We promote sustainability through initiatives like our “Table to Earth” compost program, where food scraps are transformed into nutrient-rich soil for our veggie garden. We also encourage family involvement by accepting donations of recyclable materials for arts and crafts, fostering a community-wide effort to reduce waste and promote creative reuse.

Community engagement

We actively embrace community involvement, regularly taking the children on walks and excursions to local venues to enrich their experiences and broaden their horizons. These activities help our children connect with their surroundings and learn through real-world interactions.

STEM

We encourage your child to ask questions, experiment, and problem-solve, all while engaging their natural curiosity. By fostering this inquisitive mindset, we help them develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Music and movement

Our evidence-based Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR) program is designed to develop fundamental skills that help support children’s self-regulation, memory, and concentration. It is an innovative approach to holistic learning, development and well-being in early childhood.

summerholidayprogram_webbanner_nov2024.png

Age-appropriate early learning

CG-nursery-1

(0-2 years)

Nursery

Our nursery room is purposely designed to make every baby feel safe exploring and discovering new things. Our spaces are filled with sensory experiences and activities to encourage intentional and responsive play-based learning. We focus on building secure relationships between children and educators, closely following home routines, and supporting each child in meeting their developmental milestones.

  Next: Toddlers
CG-toddler-2

(2-3 years)

Toddlers

Our toddler room is set up with intentional play-based learning in mind. Within the curriculum framework, play enables your toddler to develop fundamental skills for life-long learning. It also creates the perfect environment to socialise and form friendships. Our activities enhance language skills and promote collaborative group play, laying a strong foundation for their future learning experiences.

Previous: Nursery Next: Preschool
CG-kindergarten

Preschool

In our preschool room, our curriculum is tailored to accommodate your child’s individual learning and development needs, which helps boost their enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to learn. Through structured learning experiences, our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers and educators are committed to helping your child gain the necessary skills for a successful transition into school and beyond.

Previous: Toddlers  
CG-kindergarten-program

NSW Government-approved Preschool program

At our early learning centre, your child will benefit from the NSW “Start Strong” program as part of our enhanced learning program. We tailor our preschool program across numeracy, literacy, emotional and social development, and self-regulation. Led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, our preschool program will support your child’s learning, development, and well-being for now, at school and beyond.

The added benefits of our preschool program include:

  • Extended long day care opening hours
  • Open all year round (excl. public holidays)
  • Programs developed and delivered by our Early Childhood Teachers
  • Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation

Communicating with families

We prioritise clear and consistent communication with families to foster a strong partnership in supporting each child’s development. We ensure families feel informed, involved, and confident in their child’s early learning journey.

Our families love hearing about their child’s progress and the experiences they’re having day to day. We share these moments through centre newsletters, our Xplor App, one-on-one meetings, and at various centre events.

Fees

The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.

  • Nursery0 – 2 years

    $163.00
  • Toddler2 – 3 years

    $163.00
  • Preschool3 – 5 years

    $152.00

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*

1-4 days = full day session; 5 days = 10 hour per day sessions

CCS Estimator results

  • Estimated subsidy

    $0.00
  • Total fees

    $0.00
  • Out-of-pocket cost

    $0.00

*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:

  • Accuracy and currency of family income information entered.
  • Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
  • Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres).
  • Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight).
  • Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.

For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.

Calculate my subsidy

Explore nearby G8 Education centres

Looking for other great childcare, kindergarten or preschool options? Discover more G8 Education centres near you!

Frequently asked questions

A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.

On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.

Our Family Support Team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Creative Garden centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.

Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.

Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.

For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.

It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.

Creative Garden uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.

After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.

If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Creative Garden is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.

Contact us

We look forward to welcoming your family.