Explore & Develop Greater Penrith Region

🏉 Jersey Day – Raising Awareness, One Jersey at a Time! 🏀

What is Jersey Day?
Jersey Day is a national initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Inspired by the legacy of Nathan Gremmo, this day encourages us all to start important conversations with our loved ones about becoming a registered organ donor.

There is no fundraising involved—just a simple and powerful way to show support through the jersey you wear.

Check out some of our educators wearing their jersey's.

This month, we are delighted to celebrate two of our amazing educators as they reach special anniversaries with Explore & Develop Emu Plains.

These milestones reflect more than just time—they represent years of dedication, care, and connection. Our educators are the heart of our service, and their commitment continues to shape the strong relationships, learning experiences, and nurturing environments that our children and families value every day.

Please join us in congratulating Stephanie and Steph on their anniversaries. Your contribution to our team and community is truly appreciated. Thank you for all that you do!

Here’s to many more meaningful moments ahead 🌿

Celebrating a Decade of Dedication

Over the weekend, we proudly celebrated a very special milestone—honouring our incredible educators who have been part of the Explore & Develop Greater Penrith Region family for 10 years or more.

These educators are the heartbeat of our service. Their unwavering commitment, passion, and deep-rooted relationships with children, families, and colleagues have shaped the warm, nurturing environment we are so proud of.

A decade in early childhood education is a testament to resilience, love, and purpose. These team members have guided countless children through their early years, supported families through joys and challenges, and inspired their peers with consistency and care.

We thank and celebrate these educators for their loyalty, knowledge, and the legacy they continue to build each day. Your dedication doesn’t just make a difference—it is the difference.

Here’s to the incredible work you’ve done—and the many beautiful moments still to come ✨

At Explore & Develop, our Educational Leaders across all services regularly come together to network, collaborate, and engage in professional development.

These gatherings provide a valuable opportunity to:

Share knowledge and best practice

Reflect on current research and pedagogy

Strengthen leadership capacity across our services

Build consistent, high-quality practices for children and families

By investing in our leaders, we are ensuring that every Explore & Develop service continues to provide excellence in early childhood education and care.

That's a wrap on another inspiring collaboration meeting for the Educational Leaders across our group of independently owned and operated services.

Today's catch up included a focus on slow pedagogy and its transformative impact on early childhood practice.

Ella De La Motte shared her expertise around how slowing down fosters deeper thinking, authentic connections, and meaningful learning experiences for both children and educators.

The ELs then discussed practical ways to embed the concept into their daily rhythms, routines, and interactions to create calm, intentional and deeply engaging environments that honour the childrens' right to time, space and presence.

A very inspiring day. Thank you Ella de la Motte - Early Childhood Consultant for your insights.

Did You Know - At Explore & Develop Emu Plains, we are proud to connect with our local CathWest Innovation College – Trade School by employing a student through a School-Based Traineeship in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Our trainee works with us one day a week, completes block placements, and also joins our team during parts of the school holidays—all while completing Years 11 and 12.

This incredible opportunity allows the student to graduate from high school with:
🎓 Their Higher School Certificate (HSC)
📜 A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

We love supporting the next generation of educators and providing real-world learning experiences that set them up for success in the sector. 💛

Tahlia has been a valued part of the Explore & Develop Emu Plains team since the day we opened our doors. 💛

A soft, caring, and dedicated educator, Tahlia always puts the children first—creating a warm, safe, and nurturing environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Her calm presence and genuine care make her a favourite among children, families, and colleagues alike.

We are so lucky to have Tahlia as part of our team!

👖💙 Jeans for Genes Day – Thursday, August 7th, 2025 💙👖

Jeans for Genes Day is a special day where Australians come together by wearing jeans to raise awareness about genetic conditions affecting children.

By simply wearing denim, we help shine a light on the importance of genetic research and the impact it can have on improving the lives of kids living with birth defects and rare diseases.

It’s a fun and meaningful way to start conversations, celebrate science, and show support for children and families affected by these conditions.

So grab your favourite pair of jeans and join us in raising awareness! 👖

🚓👮‍♂️ Special Visitors at Preschool! 👮‍♀️🚓

Today we had an exciting visit from our local Police Station! The children were thrilled to meet the friendly officer who took the time to share all about the important work they do in our community.

Through engaging conversations, the children learned about how police help keep people safe, the different tools they use, and what it means to be a community helper. The highlight of the day? Getting to hop inside a real police car! 🚔 The flashing lights, sirens, and a peek at the equipment inside sparked lots of curiosity and questions.

It was a fun and educational experience that helped our little learners feel more connected to the people who keep our community safe. A big thank you to our local officers for their time, kindness, and dedication! 💙

Each term at Explore & Develop Emu Plains, we focus on a different Child Safe Standard to ensure our practices and environments continue to reflect the highest standards of child protection.

This term, we’re highlighting Child Safe Standard 8 – ensuring our physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur.

Across all learning environments, we embed this standard by:
✔️ Designing spaces that allow for clear visibility and active supervision
✔️ Ensuring no personal devices are used in children’s areas
✔️ Following transparent documentation and communication practices
✔️ Maintaining safe and respectful routines, like nappy changes and toileting
✔️ Keeping our digital platforms secure and accessible only by authorised staff

Creating safe, open, and respectful environments helps all children feel secure, valued, and ready to explore. It’s not just best practice—it’s our promise.

🌟 Meet Maddie – Our Preschool Room Coordinator 🌟

Maddie has been part of the Explore & Develop Penrith South family for 3 years — and we think we are so lucky to have her! 🍀

Maddie brings warmth, a caring nature, a passion for learning, and of course, her overwhelming dedication to the children. Maddie has a way of turning any interest into a project and really bringing the children's ideas to life ✨.

Our Junior Preschool Room wouldn’t be the same without Maddie 💖🥰