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Armadillo Childcare

Armadillo Childcare

1 Ainslie Place, Smithfield, QLD, 4878 view map
Verified
5.0
(07) 3522 3352

Care Type:

Long Day Care, Pre-school

Hours:

6:30AM to 6:30PM

Vacancies

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Your enquiry will be sent directly to the Armadillo Childcare.

Address:

1 Ainslie Place, Smithfield, QLD, 4878

5.0

Rating Score

Read our 20 Reviews

About Armadillo Childcare

We are conveniently located for families in or commuting through Smithfield or nearby suburbs Caravonica, Clifton Beach, Holloways Beach, Kewarra Beach, Kuranda, Trinity Beach, and Trinity Park. 

We offer nurturing care and quality early education for children from 6 weeks to 5 years, with flexible hours (9, 10, 11, and 12-hour sessions) to suit busy families.

Our Learning Environments

Our children benefit from familiar faces as they grow, creating a sense of continuity:

  • Nursery (0-2 years): A safe, nurturing environment for babies to explore with tailored sensory and social experiences.
  • Toddler (2-3 years): Play-based learning encourages curiosity, confidence, and social skills.
  • Kindergarten (3-6 years): A stimulating learning environment that prepares our children for school through our Enhanced Learning Program.

We’re proud to have qualified teachers and educators, supported by a team of national education experts, ensuring the highest quality childcare and early education.

Innovative Early Learning Programs

Our teachers deliver the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF or the national curriculum) through play-based learning that covers language, literacy, numeracy, STEM, social, and emotional development. Our program also includes:

  • Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR), an evidence-based program developed by Queensland University of Technology to support children’s executive function and self-regulation.
  • Environmental and social sustainability learning experiences.
  • Personalised learning plans for each child.
  • Local school connections.

We focus on strong family partnerships through regular learning and development conversations with your child’s lead educator, learning showcases, and in-centre family events. Our Xplor app provides real-time updates and learning summaries daily to keep you informed on your child’s journey.

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Services Provided by Armadillo Childcare

Get To Know Us

Kindergarten/Preschool Programs

Kindergarten/Preschool Programs

Our centre offers the QLD Government-approved ‘Free Kindy’ Program.​

At Armadilo, your child will benefit from the QLD ‘Free Kindy’ Government-approved program as part of our
enhanced learning program. Our Kindergarten program will support your child’s learning, development, and well-
being for now, at school and beyond. We tailor our Kindergarten program across:​

- Numeracy​

- Literacy​

- Emotional and Social Development​

- Self regulation​

- Healthy minds and bodies​



The added benefits of our Kindergarten program include:​

- QLD ‘Free Kindy’ Government-approved program​

- Extended 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 Read Less

About the Curriculum

About the Curriculum

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space: 6 weeks – 2 years

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication and cues (body language, facial expression and sounds) and through experimentation. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play including sensory play, music time, story time and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

Toddler Space: 2 - 3 years

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, role playing and reading experiences.

On any given day the Toddlers can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns and participating in counting songs and games.

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as, turn-taking, developing self-confidence and emotional self-regulation. Our skilled team helps children through talking, planning and role modelling.

Kindergarten Space: 3 – 6 years

Kindergarten is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program has school readiness at its core, encouraging active engagement in learning and supporting a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.

The oral language supports literacy learning and a child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our Kindergarten children's literacy development by engaging in rich discussions, reading, storytelling, dramatic play and experimentation all of which introduce new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations.

Throughout the Kindergarten year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning experiences. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Our goal in the Kindergarten year is to prepare children and families for a smooth transition to primary school.

Health and Nutrition

Health and Nutrition

Our centre chef prepares and cooks nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating across a wide variety of food.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters.

Programs

Programs

Morning

Kate is 11 months old and enjoys sensory play outside in the sandpit with her friends. She sits near her educator who helps teach her how to scoop the sand into the bucket. Kate is learning how to dig, carry, and move the sand. She is also exploring texture and learning what happens to the sand when she adds water!

Lunch

Kate has finished her lunch and is preparing to take a nap. Her educator changes her nappy, prepares a bottle and reads Kate a story before her afternoon sleep.

Afternoon

Kate and some of her nursery friends enjoy some story time and songs outside in the shaded garden. They read ‘Peepo’ which is Kate’s favourite book.

In Person Tour

Want to see the centre first hand? Book a tour with Armadillo Childcare below.

Fees & Vacancies

Infant

0-1 years

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Friday

Toddler

1-2 years

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Pre-Kindy

2-3 years

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Kindy

3-5 years

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Friday

Your enquiry will be sent directly to the Armadillo Childcare.

Armadillo Childcare Reviews (20)

5.0

Rating Score

Kurt Bradshaw image

Kurt Bradshaw

Aug, 2025

Team here have always been so lovely to my daughter and i, always have a smile on their face and genuinely kind.

Olivia Whittaker image

Olivia Whittaker

Feb, 2025

Absolutely love this daycare! Was so daunting moving to a new state and trying to find a good daycare but the second I walked through this one I felt welcomed and it’s so clean and modern. The staff are amazing and my little 6 month old gets so excited when I drop him off which makes mum anxiety so much better knowing he loves his carers.

Response from the owner 02 Mar 2025

Hello Olivia, We’re so grateful for your 5-star review! It’s fantastic to hear that you felt welcomed and our centre is so clean and modern. Thank you for being a part of our early learning community and for sharing your positive experience with us. Best regards, The Early Learning Services Team

It’s Me Jose image

It’s Me Jose

Oct, 2024

The worst information on payment system It says we have 15 hour kindy Free from QLD Government. But no one can explain how does this even work

How Armadillo Childcare Compares

with Smithfield, 4878

Reviews

Armadillo Childcare

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5/5

Suburb Average

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5/5

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Price

Armadillo Childcare

Contact Centre

Suburb Average

$146

NQS

The National Quality Standard is an industry benchmark defined by the government.

Armadillo Childcare

Meeting

Suburb Average

Meeting

NQS Rating Breakdown

Overall

Meeting

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Educational Program and Practice Meeting
Children's Health and Safety Meeting
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Staffing Arrangements Meeting
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Governance and leadership Meeting
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