About us

Hours of Operation

Viewbank Early Childhood Centre is opened Monday to Friday from 6:30am until 6:30pm

Fee Structure

Viewbank Early Childhood Centre offers the highest level of care and our fees are inclusive of meals, snacks, nappies, incursions, excursions and suncare for all children attending the Centre.

For our policies and information regarding Fees and Payments please contact us.

Facilities

Our open plan building and playground design gives the children room to move and to engage freely in their activities. Our outside area includes a vegetable garden, worm farm, free ranging chooks, rocks and climbing ropes, Swing Bridge and water pump.

With over 10 square metres per child our spacious playgrounds offer a variety of equipment and activities in open and sun-sheltered areas, which can be used by children of all ages.

Ample off street parking makes access to the Centre safe and easy. Regular bus services provide public transport to and from local railway stations and shopping centres.

Your Child's Wellbeing

Parting with your child for any given time of the day can often be a stressful experience for both parents and children.

Viewbank Early Childhood Centre aims to ease the transition of care from your home to the Centre by providing a 'home like', Family Grouped environment, where the grouping of children more closely resembles that of a family structure. Our family grouping environment encourages children of all ages and abilities to support, help and learn from each other, and ensures each child feels welcomed and nurtured. Your children will have the same educators for their duration in the family grouping room.

Our aim is to provide high quality early childhood education and care that meets the needs of children and parents through excellence in service, innovation and leadership.

Babies and children up to 6 years of age are catered for on a full-time, part-time, and occasional basis depending on availability.

Our philosophy.

Emergent Curriculums

Through our 'emergent curriculums', based around children's interests in each grouping environment, a range of activities and experiences are offered for each child, which are designed to foster the development of the "whole child" throughout all stages of their development.

Kindergarten

We run a state funded, 4 year old kinder program, which is planned for, and run by a qualified kindergarten teacher. Play is vital to a pre-school child's development. Our kindergarten program has an emphasis on a play based approach to learning to develop the individual child and build success for life. Children play an active role in their own learning and the learning of others through our indoor and outdoor programs.

We also run a 3 year old program which is run by a qualified educator, in conjunction with our qualified pre-school Educational Leader. While the 3 and 4 year old kinder programs run independently, the 2 lead educators work together as our 'pre-school team', to align the goals of the programs, and to assist the 3 year olds with transition into 4 year old kinder the following year.

Family Grouping

Family grouping is the name given in an education and care setting to groups of children of mixed ages, and is so named as its composition more closely resembles that of a family, than the more popular choice of grouping children in care by age.

The idea is neither novel nor rare, and indeed it may be an idea whose time has come, given trends in childrearing and family size, the increasing lengths of time children spend in child care outside of the home, and the increasing academic demands on younger children in pre-schools and kindergartens.
(Lilian Katz et al - The case for mixed-age groupings in early education)

The benefits to the children are:

That language development occurs very well in mixed age groups where children act as role models for others with fewer language skills. Toddlers grouped with only babies and other toddlers in an education and care setting are exposed to a limited range of language skills. In family groups, the younger child is surrounded with language interactions of various levels and complexity, and as a result, may often develop language skills more rapidly than their peers in age group care.
That social and emotional development occurs appropriately in a family grouped setting. New children settle more easily and feel secure with help from siblings, and older children. The settled children help guide children who are new to the setting to learn what happens during the day, and in the process develop their own self-esteem and self-confidence. They model sharing and turn-taking for new or younger children.
That fewer behavioural problems occur. Children of varying ages do not have to compete for the same play equipment as their play interests are often very different, and they tend to interact in more positive social ways.
That physical and intellectual development is also well provided for in a family grouped setting, since each child is able to play and learn at their own pace. Children learn to accept and respect others' abilities and can themselves attempt any experience without embarrassment or a sense of failure. Older children are able to model appropriate play and problem solving to younger children while mastering and extending their own development.

Another feature of family grouping that benefits all concerned is that there is no beginning or ending to each year. The evolving nature of family grouping and the continuous booking system that we have in place will ensure that our programs operate smoothly all year round.

Food and Nutrition

Viewbank Early Childhood Centre promotes a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

We have a six week cyclical menu which is designed to meet the Australian dietary guidelines.

Cultural and/or allergy meals are also prepared for children with special dietary requirements.

Our meals also introduce the children to recipes derived from many different countries. (See a sample of one week's menu).