Goodstart Early Learning Barton, ACT

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 💛

⭐Immediate vacancies available ⭐

We understand that finding immediate childcare can be an emotional and challenging experience and we are here to help.

Our tour slots are open all week, you are welcome to book online or call our friendly family support team on 1800 222 543. We look forward to welcoming you and your family into our happy centre 😀

It's time to get cosy! Join us on 24 July (Friday) as we celebrate Pyjama Day at Goodstart Barton.

Children are invited to come dressed in their favourite pyjamas for a fun-filled day of play, stories, songs, and special learning experiences with their friends. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxed day while creating wonderful memories together.

We can't wait to see everyone's cosiest pyjamas!

Throughout NAIDOC Week, our children explored and celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through a range of meaningful learning experiences.

They created their own Indigenous-inspired artworks, completed Indigenous art puzzles, sang traditional songs including Taba Naba and Inanay, and worked together to create a collaborative Aboriginal Flag collage while learning about the meaning behind its colours.

These experiences encouraged creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and a deeper appreciation of Australia's First Nations peoples, cultures, and histories.

Extending this learning at home:
Families can read books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, listening to Indigenous music, visiting local cultural sites, or having conversations about the importance of respect, belonging, and caring for Country.

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 👇

Our team is made up of passionate educators, each bringing their own unique personality and interests to Goodstart Barton.

Today we're introducing Emily, one of our wonderful Assistant Educators in Nursery 1. Take a look at the photo to discover what brings her joy outside of work.

From creating meaningful learning experiences to sharing smiles with our youngest learners, Emily is a valued member of our Goodstart Barton family. We're so grateful to have her on our team!

Stay tuned as we continue introducing the amazing people behind Goodstart Barton.

The children enjoyed exploring muddy puddles, pushing trucks around the yard, and building sandcastles together. They laughed as they splashed through puddles, discovering how their movements created different-sized splashes and learning about cause and effect through play.

Outdoor experiences like these support gross motor development, curiosity, and imaginative exploration.

Extending this learning at home:
Families can explore puddles after the rain or build with sand together, encouraging children to observe what happens when they splash, pour, and dig.

Get to Know Our Team

You know us as educators, but who are we outside of Goodstart Barton?

Today we're introducing our Centre Director, Angela! Have a read through the photo to learn a little more about them and what they enjoy when they're away from the centre.

Stay tuned as we introduce more of our wonderful team!

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

At our centre, we value creating meaningful opportunities for children to learn about Australia's First Nations peoples through stories, art, music, and conversations that encourage respect, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.

Extending this learning at home:
By reading books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, exploring local culture, or talking together about the importance of caring for Country and respecting one another.

As part of our learning about seasonal changes, the children discussed the different types of clothing we wear during cold weather. Many children confidently identified items such as jackets, beanies, sweaters, shoes, and winter pants.

Using boy and girl templates, the children carefully matched and glued the clothing items into the correct places. This hands-on experience encouraged problem-solving, decision-making, and fine motor development while strengthening their understanding of seasonal changes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Extending this learning at home:
Families can talk about the clothing they choose each day and encourage children to help select weather-appropriate outfits before heading out.