At our centre, your child will benefit from our enhanced learning program in Kindergarten, combined with our play-based learning approach. Our program supports your child’s development, emotional wellbeing, and in turn, school readiness

If your child turns 4 years old by June 30, they can attend Kindergarten at our centre. Our program offers the convenience of extended hours year-round, making it easy for families to access quality early education.

Our Enhanced Learning Program for Kindergarten children focuses on:

• Numeracy & Literacy: Developing key skills for lifelong learning.
• Self-Regulation: Fostering emotional control and resilience.
• Social & Emotional Development: Supporting independence and building healthy relationships.
• Creativity & Problem-Solving: Encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

With extended hours and a year-round program (excluding public holidays), our Kindergarten program is delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers committed to supporting your child’s individual development.

Additional Benefits Include:

• Personalised Learning Plans: Tailored to your child’s unique needs.
• Rhythm and Resilience Program: Music and movement to improve emotional regulation.
• School Readiness: Preparing your child for a smooth transition to school.

We also engage with local schools and provide transition statements, ensuring your child feels confident and prepared for the next steps in their education journey. Stay connected with your child’s progress via our Xplor platform, which offers regular updates on their learning and development.

“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.

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.

Hi my name is Tess, and I am the Centre Manager here at Buggles Atwell. I began my career in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector in 2016. I joined the team at Buggles Atwell in 2024. I hold a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) with a major in Professional Education. Over the past 8 years, I have held various roles within the early learning sector, including Early Childhood Teacher, Educational Leader, and Assistant Centre Manager, gaining valuable knowledge and skills along the way.

Being a part of children’s learning is incredibly rewarding for me. Witnessing the magic that happens when a child learns something new, seeing their big smiles, and sharing in the excitement of their newfound knowledge is deeply fulfilling. I believe that children are confident and capable learners, each on a unique journey. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an early childhood curriculum that empowers each child to learn and grow.

I encourage authentic child-led, play-based learning, utilising open-ended resources and scaffolding children to reach their highest potential. My approach to early childhood education and care is holistic, ensuring that all children’s needs are met to support their overall learning and development. I am a strong advocate for all children, ensuring they are seen as individuals and that their voices are heard.

At Buggles Atwell, our purpose-built learning environments provide numerous opportunities for children to play, use their imagination, invent, and experiment alongside their peers as they begin to make connections with their wider world. We have an amazing team of hard-working, diverse, and passionate educators who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Our educators provide a safe, secure, and loving learning environment for all children. We prioritise creating meaningful bonds with children, their families, and the wider community, valuing each educator’s individual strengths and recognising the integral part they play in supporting children’s learning and development.

For me, building strong relationships with families begins from the very first tour. As a mother myself, I understand the significance of enrolling a child into care. I support our families by maintaining open communication, actively listening to their ideas, providing guidance where required, and being approachable at all times to ensure our families feel a strong sense of belonging within our centre.

I believe in building trusting reciprocal relationships with all children, their families, our team members, and our wider community, guided by the philosophy that “it takes a village to raise a child.”