Early Learners Hub

Animal sensory play in the outdoor space at the Hub. 🌿

Jungle backdrops, playdough, soil, grass and a collection of animals to explore. Our children bring real imaginative thinking to setups like these, creating habitats, telling stories and asking questions about the creatures in their hands. This kind of play builds language, creativity and early science thinking in the most natural way.

Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All. That is the theme for National Science Week 2026 running this week to 23 August and we think it says everything. 🌿

At Early Learners Hub our Teepee Approach is rooted in the same belief. Children grow when they are given the right conditions. Curiosity, connection and care from educators who are inspired, families who are genuinely involved and a community where everyone belongs.

Scientific thinking starts here, in the questions our children ask, the experiments they run and the discoveries they make every single day at the Hub.

When we think about school readiness, most of us picture letters and numbers. A lot of it is quieter than that. 🌿

Waiting for a turn. Following a few steps in order. Trying something new without giving up. Our latest blog looks at why cooking builds all of these skills and why it has a permanent place in our early learning program across the Illawarra.

Head to the link here: https://www.earlylearnershub.com.au/latest-news/cooking-and-school-readiness

Know an experienced early childhood leader on the South Coast? We are searching for a Centre Director for our new Ulladulla Hub opening November 2026. 🌿

This is a wonderful opportunity for someone who wants to lead a brand new centre with the support of a family owned team that genuinely invests in its people. If that sounds like you or someone in your network, head to Seek for the full details.

https://au.seek.com/job/93942625?ref=cm-ui

Choosing a childcare centre is one of the biggest decisions a family makes and safety sits at the top of the list for most parents. 🌿

Australia's childcare safety rules have strengthened over the past year. Since January 2026 any allegation or incident must now be reported to regulators within 24 hours, centres must have clear policies on how photos of children are taken and stored, and child safety is now named directly in the National Quality Standard.

When you visit a centre, a few simple questions tell you a lot. Ask how they handle photos and consent, what their policy is on staff using personal phones, and how quickly they would contact you if something happened during the day. A centre that welcomes these questions and answers them plainly has usually done the work.

At Early Learners Hub our full Child Safety Commitment is published on our website for any family to read before they visit.

Real experiences build real skills and our Cooking Hub is proof of that every single day.

Our children work alongside educators to prepare simple recipes, explore where food comes from and develop the kind of confidence and independence that families notice at home too. The maths, the communication and the life skills that come out of cooking together are ones children carry with them long after they leave the Hub.

This week is Early Learning Matters Week and this year we are celebrating Learning Through Play. 🌿

We see it every day in our rooms. A child working through a puzzle, negotiating with a friend, mixing colours and asking why, tending to the garden or creating something from loose parts. All of it is learning and all of it matters. This week is a wonderful reminder to celebrate that.

Our Macleay Place Garden Hub has a new guardian and our children could not be prouder.

Our scarescrow has sparked some wonderful conversations about gardens, growing seasons and what it takes to care for living things. This is the kind of real, hands on experience that children remember and talk about at home for days.

This week we celebrate Early Learning Matters Week and at Early Learners Hub we feel this one deeply.

What happens in the early years is not preparation for real life. It is real life. The friendships, the discoveries, the big feelings, the small wins and the relationships with educators who show up every day with genuine care and commitment. It all counts and it all stays with children long after they leave our doors.

Today is the International Day of Friendship and it feels like a fitting one to celebrate at the Hub. 🌿

Friendships formed in the early years are some of the most important a child will ever make. Learning to share, take turns, include others, show kindness and repair a relationship when things go sideways — these are the social and emotional foundations our educators nurture every single day.

To every friendship that started at Early Learners Hub, this one is for you.