Early learning happens everywhere – at home, in centres, parks and shops. Young children are developing at an extremely fast pace and everything they encounter offers a new learning experience.
Research shows us that children who start ahead tend to stay ahead. Significant differences in children's development are evident by age two and have a tendency not to close over time. The early years provide the foundation for the rest of a child's life.
Children are born ready to learn and the best learning happens in nurturing, positive, stimulating environments. That's why high-quality early learning experiences are so important. By creating these environments, we're providing the best opportunities for children to fulfil their potential
Age groups can vary from room to room, at our Long Day Care service we cater for children 6 weeks to 5 years. At our Out of School Hours Care service we cater for children in Kindy to Year Six.
Operating hours are the same across both services we are open from 7.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. We’re not open on weekends or public holidays.
We provide morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack at our Long Day Care service. At our Out of School Hours Care service we provide breakfast, afternoon tea and a late snack. We have our own cook creating fresh, healthy meals for the children. A nutritious diet is vital for children’s development, so we make sure to provide meals that give children all the nutrients and energy they need. Children love to eat together, so the meal times at a centre are always fun!
After you have submitted your enquiry form, we will:
When you enrol at Goldfields Child Care Centre, we support you every step of the way. We will invite you to take a tour of the centre first so you can see where your child will be cared for and to ensure you are comfortable with your decision. We will then provide you with an enrolment pack that contains everything you need to know about our centre, information we need from you about your child for example their daily routine. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you like, we are here to support your family every step of the way.
If there are no vacancies at the centre you may want to join their waiting list. The waitlist are regularly reviewed and families are contacted once a place becomes available. If you wish to no longer be on a particular centre's waitlist then you can remove yourself by contacting the centre on 08 9021 4035 or email admin@goldfieldschildcare.com.au
Fees vary from centre to centre and are also dependent on things such as the number of days in care, the age of your child as well as your eligibility for any government subsidies. We recommend contacting us to discuss further.
Goldfields Child Care, along with many other providers in the sector, closes for public holidays. If your scheduled booked day falls on public holidays, fees will still apply as staff and operating costs still need to be covered. The Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS) covers up to 42 absence days a year, which includes public holidays. So unless you exceed this quota, you will be eligible for the CCS discount on public holidays.
Yes, fees still apply for sick days. The Child Care Subsidy will cover up to 42 absence days a year with no documentation and unlimited sick days if you're able to provide a medical certificate or similar.
Normal fees apply for all absences (including Public Holidays) that fall on a usual day of attendance.
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a payment offered by the Australian Government for which you may be eligible. To find out if you are eligible for CSS visit the Department of Human Services website humanservices.gov.au. Depending on your personal circumstances, there may also be other government funding available.
On 2 July 2018, the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate was replaced by a single Child Care Subsidy.
The Child Care Subsidy is means tested based on the combined family income, the fortnightly activity of families – such as work, study or volunteering – and the type of service a child attends.
As part of the Child Care Subsidy, the number of hours of subsidised care you’ll be entitled to will be based on your level of recognised activity. Understanding the different types of activity that will be recognised is key to maximising your Child Care Subsidy.
We have a play-based learning approach which supports young children to make sense of their world and learn foundational skills through developing and practising language and physical skills and experimenting with new ideas. Children build confidence, express themselves creatively, and develop their sense of self and identity. Besides individual expression, they also learn socialisation skills including how to build relationships and engage in a group.
Children will be supported to play independently, in small groups, in large groups, indoors and outdoors. Activities range from gross motor skill by playing with playdough or blocks, to honing fine motor skills and knowledge of colours and shapes with drawing and painting.
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes the principles, practices and outcomes essential to young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. It's part of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care.
The framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. There are five learning outcomes defined by the EYLF:
The National Quality Framework (NQF) was the result of an agreement between all Australian governments to work together to provide better educational and developmental outcomes for children.
The National Quality Standards (NQS) are a key aspect of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and sets a national benchmark for early childhood education and care.
The NQS brings together 7 key quality areas that are important to outcomes for children:
More information can be found on the ACECQA website.
When you first enrol at a Goldfields Child Care, we will provide you with a Parent Handbook that will cover everything you need to know about starting care, including a detailed list of what to bring each day. This includes;
As a sun-safe services we provide child-friendly sunscreen, however if your child has sensitive skin please feel free to provide your preferred brand.