St Mary’s Children Centre Kensington VIC

Families are children’s first and most important teachers.

At St Mary’s Children’s Centre, we value open communication and meaningful partnerships with families. We share updates, discuss goals, and welcome your insights, because when educators and families work together, children benefit most.

Your voice matters here. 🤝

Parent-friendly reference:
• ACECQA – Partnerships with families
https://www.acecqa.gov.au⁠�

ACECQA We're supporting governments to implement the National Quality Framework. The Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority offers resources and information to improve quality outcomes for children.

Healthy development goes hand-in-hand with good nutrition and movement.

At St Mary’s, mealtimes are relaxed and positive, encouraging children to listen to their hunger cues and explore food without pressure. Physical play, e.g. running, climbing, balancing...etc. supports strength, coordination, and confidence.

We support healthy habits that last well beyond early childhood. 🍎🌿

Parent-friendly reference:
• Australian Government – Healthy eating for children
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthy-eating-for-children

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Better health and wellbeing for all Australians, now and for future generations.

Children thrive when their days feel predictable, calm, and balanced.

A typical day at St Mary’s includes play, learning experiences, nutritious meals, rest time, outdoor exploration, and quiet moments to recharge. Familiar routines help children feel secure and confident in their environment.

It’s not rushed.
It’s not chaotic.
It’s thoughtfully designed around children’s needs and interests.

Parent-friendly reference:
Routines: Extraordinary learning in
everyday opportunities
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/providers/edcare/Three-Year-Old-Kindergarten-Teaching-Toolkit/Tip-Sheet-9-Routines-V4.pdf

ACECQA We're supporting governments to implement the National Quality Framework. The Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority offers resources and information to improve quality outcomes for children.

Starting childcare or returning after a break can bring big feelings for children and parents alike.

At St Mary’s, we support gentle transitions by building trust, maintaining consistent routines, and offering reassurance during drop-off times. Educators remain emotionally available, helping children settle at their own pace.

We walk alongside families during these moments, because feeling supported matters.

You’re never alone in this journey. 🤍

Parent-friendly reference:
Transitions for Babies and Toddlers
https://beyou.edu.au/resources/fact-sheets/child-and-adolescent-development/transitions-for-babies-and-toddlers

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Big emotions are a normal part of early childhood, and children need guidance, not punishment.

At St Mary’s Children Centre, educators support children to recognise, express, and manage their feelings in respectful ways. Through calm conversations, consistent routines, and positive guidance, children learn empathy, self-control, and confidence.

These early emotional skills support lifelong wellbeing.

We’re nurturing hearts as well as minds. 💬💛

Parent-friendly reference:
• Raising Children Network – Helping children manage emotions
https://raisingchildren.net.au⁠�

Preparing children for school is about much more than letters and numbers.

At St Mary’s, school readiness also focuses on building:
✔ Confidence and independence
✔ Emotional regulation
✔ Social skills and cooperation
✔ Curiosity and a love of learning

These skills are developed gradually through routines, relationships, and intentional teaching and play, helping children feel capable and ready for their next chapter.

Children who feel emotionally ready are best prepared to succeed. 🎒

Parent-friendly reference:
Getting Ready to Start Schoolhttps://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/professionals/learning/translations/English_Transition_to_School_Factsheet.pdf

Find, connect, shape your Victorian Government Access grants and services, find out what’s on in Victoria and have your say on government decisions.

When children play, their brains are working hard.

At St Mary’s Children Centre, play is how children learn to communicate, problem-solve, build resilience, and make sense of the world around them. Our educators carefully observe children’s interests and extend learning through meaningful experiences that feel natural and joyful.

There is no pressure, just thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and space to grow.

Play isn’t time away from learning.
It is learning. 🌱

Parent-friendly reference:
• Australian Government – Belonging, Being & Becoming: The EYLF
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-01/EYLF-2022-V2.0.pdf

Behind every confident child is a caring, attentive adult who truly knows them.

At St Mary’s, our educators build strong, respectful relationships with each child and family. We take time to understand each child’s personality, interests, routines, and emotional needs, because no two children are the same.

Research shows that children learn best when they feel securely connected to the adults who care for them. That’s why relationships sit at the heart of everything we do.

You’re not just choosing a centre, you’re choosing people. 🤍

Parent-friendly reference:
• Raising Children Network – Why relationships matter in early childhood

Raising Children Network Get expert-backed parenting advice for every stage of childhood. Raising Children Network offers trusted tips on health, development and wellbeing.

At St Mary’s Children Centre, safety is not just a checklist; it’s a way of working, every single day.

Our educators practise active supervision, meaning they are always positioned, observing, and engaging to anticipate risks before they occur. Our learning environments are thoughtfully designed to support exploration without compromising safety, and daily routines are intentionally calm and predictable.

For young children, feeling safe is the foundation for everything: learning, confidence, relationships, and wellbeing.

When children feel secure, they flourish. 💛

📞 We welcome families to tour St Mary’s and see how safety is embedded into our daily practice.

Parent-friendly reference:
• Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) – Supervision and safety
https://www.acecqa.gov.au⁠�

🌺 Honouring ANZAC Day at St Mary’s Children Centre 🌺

Today, our children engaged in a meaningful and hands-on experience as they learned about the importance of ANZAC Day.

Through a creative craft activity, the children explored Symbols of Remembrance, including:

• The Red Poppy – representing remembrance of those who served
• “Lest We Forget” – a phrase reminding us to honour sacrifice
• The ANZAC Badge – worn by Gallipoli veterans from 1917

Using poppy art, recycled materials, and palm leaves to symbolise peace, the children expressed their understanding in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way.

This experience supported children in developing respect, empathy, and an early understanding of community and history, while encouraging creativity and sustainability through the use of recycled materials.

🌿 Lest We Forget 🌿