Goodstart Early Learning Kelso - Gilmour Street

Yesterday, we were excited to welcome WOW Reptile Encounters for a special incursion! 🦎🐍

The children had an amazing hands-on experience meeting a variety of fascinating Australian animals, including a monitor lizard, a shingleback lizard, a blue-tongue lizard, a bearded dragon and a beautiful green tree frog.

The highlights of the visit were two incredible snakes—a carpet python and an woma python! The children had the opportunity to interact with and gently touch each animal while learning about their diets, habitats, and unique features as well as snake safety and first aid.

Did you know we invested $65.5M into our social purpose last year, a 14% increase on the year before? 👏 At Goodstart, we're proud of the impact we have on children, families and communities. As a not‑for‑profit, every dollar we earn is reinvested to improve outcomes – from high‑quality learning and educator development to extra support for children who need it most.
Because when we put children first, the impact goes further 💛

The research is clear 📚 reading aloud is one of the most powerful things we can do for our children.

When we read with a child, we’re doing far more than sharing a story. We’re building the foundations for language, confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Decades of research shows that children who are read to regularly:

💛 Build stronger language skills
Hearing rich varied language in books exposes children to far more words than everyday conversation alone. This growing vocabulary helps them understand, communicate and make sense of the world.

💛 Develop early literacy skills long before they learn to read
Through stories, children learn how books work – that print carries meaning, that pages turn left to right, and that stories have a beginning, middle and end. These early understandings make learning to read feel familiar and exciting.

💛 Strengthen phonological awareness
Rhymes, rhythms and playful sounds help children hear the building blocks of language.

💛 Grow their comprehension and thinking skills
Talking together about a story, predicting what might happen, wondering how a character feels, and connecting events to real life helps children develop memory, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking.

💛 Experience connection, comfort and joy
Shared reading fosters calmness, closeness, and moments of joint attention. These warm interactions support a child's sense of security and belonging.

Most importantly, children who experience positive, engaging reading moments from a young age are more likely to develop a genuine love of books - something that matters even more than early literacy skills alone.

Reading is simple, joyful, and sets children up for success in school and life.

Here is a list of some of our favourites below 👇

🌟 Quality Rating Scale (QRS) 🌟

At our service, the principles of the QRS are embedded in everything we do. We intentionally focus on language and literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and reflective teaching practices. These areas guide how we design our environments, interact with children, and extend learning through play. This ongoing approach ensures every child experiences a rich, inclusive, and engaging learning journey where they feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore and grow.

We're Hiring! – Diploma Qualified Educator
Do you have a passion for early childhood education and a commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for children?
We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Diploma Qualified Educator to join our supportive and professional team.
What we offer:
• A welcoming and collaborative team environment
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• A play-based, child-centred learning approach
• Supportive leadership and mentoring
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference in children's lives every day

If you are a caring, motivated educator who values inclusion, belonging and strong relationships, we would love to hear from you!
https://careers.goodstart.org.au/job/KELSO%2C-BATHURST-Educator-NSW-2795/1362664366/

This week, our children celebrated Reconciliation Week through storytelling, art, and cooking experiences.

We enjoyed reading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, exploring the beautiful artwork within them and creating our own artistic interpretations. Children learnt about Aboriginal symbols through games and creative activities.

Our cultural journey continued as we made Torres Strait Islander scones while learning about the significance of the Dhari (traditional headdress) and viewing Torres Strait Islander artwork. We also cooked Johnny Cakes using lemon myrtle, introducing the children to native bush tucker flavours.

Through these hands-on experiences, children developed a deeper appreciation for the rich cultures, histories, and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Yesterday our Pre Kindy and Preschool children enjoyed a wonderful excursion to the Bathurst Library to take part in National Simultaneous Storytime. Together with thousands of children across Australia, they shared the story Luna Roo in this special nationwide event celebrating the joy of books, literacy, and reading.

Today we celebrated the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea together as a service. The children came together in one classroom to enjoy a special morning tea and spend time connecting with their friends and educators.
Thank you to all our families for your generous donations. So far, we have raised $244.50 for the Cancer Council. If you would like to donate, please visit www.biggestmorningtea.com.au
We appreciate your kindness in helping support such an important cause.