I noticed my previous review was removed, so I’ve decided to reword it for those who may be reading through the reviews, particularly parents who might be looking for additional support or who are still navigating what is expected within an early learning environment.<br><br>I was honestly quite surprised by some of the lower-star reviews, simply because my experience with Story House has been so different. I’ve also seen so many happy families and children within the centre. Some of the concerns raised in other reviews just don’t reflect what I have experienced, and I do wonder whether perhaps some expectations may be better addressed with additional professional support rather than placed entirely on an early learning centre.<br><br>As parents, we all have our own expectations for our children, and that’s completely okay. I certainly have plenty of my own! But what we expect at home doesn’t always translate into an early learning environment. My child refuses to wear pants at home, but I can assure you he is expected to wear them at school 😂. There have to be reasonable boundaries when educators are caring for a whole group of children.<br><br>Story House has always done what I believe is best for all of the children in their care. Sometimes that has even included calling me out on my own behaviour or expectations as a parent. It’s not always easy to hear, but I actually appreciate that. They aren’t there simply to agree with everything I want — they are there to care for, support and educate my child alongside all of the other children in their care.<br><br>Sometimes as parents we forget that our child is one of many. Educators have to balance individual needs while also helping children develop independence, resilience, social skills and confidence.<br><br>When our babies learn to walk, they are going to fall over. Story House lets them learn. They supervise them, support them and step in when needed, rather than trying to prevent every single little bump or challenge. And if our children do get hurt, they comfort them, make sure they’re okay and, importantly, reassure us parents too — especially us new ones who sometimes need just as much comforting 😂.<br><br>I genuinely believe Story House follows the appropriate guidelines and frameworks while also using common sense and allowing children to develop at their own pace.<br><br>If you want your child to develop skills, reach their milestones, build independence and grow as an individual, I would absolutely recommend Story House Early Learning.<br><br>If you are expecting your child to have constant one-on-one attention, never experience frustration or never get a little bump or injury, then perhaps mainstream early learning simply isn’t the right environment for your family. And if certain experiences are causing a level of concern or distress beyond what an early learning centre can reasonably address, there is absolutely no shame in seeking additional support from an appropriate professional. Sometimes that extra support can be really beneficial for both the parent and the child.<br><br>For our family, Story House has been wonderful, and I’m very grateful for the care they have given our child. ❤️

My daughter has been here for 6+ months and loves it so much! She always says a happy "Bye-bye" at drop-off. Despite her being so young, they do so many fun activities with her. All the educators are amazing, especially Shiren and Ruth, who are so loving and patient. We are incredibly happy with our choice! 🥰

Our experience left us feeling that genuine parent concerns about children’s safety and wellbeing were not properly addressed.<br>It was also difficult to see several new 5-star reviews appear within a short period after a parent review raised serious safety concerns. We cannot speculate about the reason, but it left us feeling that parents’ concerns were being overshadowed rather than transparently and professionally addressed.

Story House Forest Hill has a truly lovely team. My child started only a few months ago, but I can already feel how experienced and caring the educators are. Many of them have been working there for years, and as mums themselves, they show such genuine love and understanding toward the children. Every time I chat with them, I can feel their passion, their knowledge of child development, and the thoughtful learning experiences they plan based on each child’s interests and needs.<br><br>I especially like the nursery. Families need to take their shoes off before entering the room, which creates a clean, calm environment for the babies. I’ve visited many centres, and not many have this practice.<br><br>I also love that we can taste the food our children eat. When we pick up, the chef Holly places the afternoon tea at the front door so families can try it. It makes me feel connected to my child’s day and reassured about the quality of the meals.

We absolutely love this childcare centre! The environment is warm, welcoming, and full of fun and engaging activities that our child looks forward to every day. The educators are caring, responsible, and genuinely dedicated to helping each child learn, grow, and feel supported.<br><br>The team is always friendly, professional, and communicates well with families. It's clear they put a lot of thought and care into creating a safe, nurturing, and positive environment for the children.<br><br>We're so grateful to have found such a wonderful childcare centre and highly recommend it to any family looking for quality care for their child.

We have joined full time 2 weeks ago in the funded kinder program.The manager was lovely and very responsive to our inquiry, and the food is great along with being nutritious.There’s lots of activities,my son loved the bush kinder❤️

As a student on placement, all the staff were kind, supportive, and happy to help. They were great role models and build good relationships between the staff, children, and families. It's a lovely place for children to learn and grow.

My child has been enrolled for almost three months now. It’s a lovely centre with lovely educators, and there are activities happening all the time. They offer many different themed experiences, and the educators are both professional and friendly. Ruth is the best!

As we say goodbye to Story House, I would like to sincerely thank the wonderful educators who genuinely cared for my daughter and made a positive difference in her early years. We are also grateful for the support and leadership of the previous Service Manager, Pam, who always made us feel heard and supported.<br><br>Unfortunately, our experience over the past few months has led us to make the difficult decision to leave.<br>Our daughter (~2.5 yo) was repeatedly injured by the same child, including a scratch under her eye that left a permanent scar, a bite to her arm, and multiple facial scratches while the previous scar was still healing. Despite raising our concerns after each incident and discussing preventative strategies, the pattern continued.<br><br>We also experienced the loss of our daughter’s comfort toy, which had been with her since infancy and was essential in helping her settle, sleep and cope with separation anxiety. The toy had been discontinued and could not be replaced, making its loss particularly distressing for both our daughter and our family. As the relevant CCTV footage from that day became unavailable, there was no meaningful investigation into what happened.<br><br>What disappointed us most was that, rather than restoring our confidence that our daughter would be safe, our conversations with the service manager were leaning more toward our withdrawal being the easiest option, rather than providing a clear and practical plan to ensure our daughter’s safety.<br><br>We also noticed an increasing reliance on casual educators in recent months, which we felt affected continuity of care and consistency for the children.<br><br>We have therefore requested that these repeated incidents be formally reviewed and considered by the appropriate regulatory authority so that the adequacy of supervision and risk management can be independently assessed.<br><br>We have attached photos of our daughter’s facial injuries because they form part of our family’s experience and explain why we made this decision.<br><br>Given the repeated nature of these incidents, we are concerned that this reflects a failure in supervision and risk management. The situation has caused significant stress and hardship for our family, so we encourage you to ask detailed questions about supervision, incident management, and how ongoing risks are addressed!

Zaki is loved by all his educators, including the casual team members who know him well and understand his preferences. In the nursery room, he is fully supported through a wide orange of learning program that focuses on exploration, sensory play, and building strong relationships. Zaki loves coming here everyday.