Goodstart Early Learning St Leonards Christie Street

11/09/2026

Looking for a warm and welcoming childcare centre where your child can learn, grow and feel right at home?

Our caring educators create engaging, play-based learning experiences that support every child’s development, confidence and sense of belonging.

We currently have vacancies available and would love to welcome new families to our community.

Come and see what makes our centre special. Book a tour today or contact our Family Support Team on 1800 222 543 to find out more about current availability.

10/09/2026

💛 R U OK? Day at Goodstart St Leonards 💛

Today at Goodstart St Leonards, we took some time to check in, connect and remind one another that wellbeing matters.

☕ Each of our educators received a coffee card as a small gesture of appreciation and a reminder to take a moment, grab a coffee and have a meaningful conversation with someone.

💛 We also asked our children, “What makes you feel better when you’re feeling sad or worried?” Their responses sparked some beautiful conversations about emotions, relationships and the things that help us feel safe, happy and supported.

We also invited our families to be part of the conversation. Families were encouraged to grab a sticky note, share what makes them feel better when they’re having a difficult day, and add their response to our yellow R U OK? display in the foyer.

By bringing together the voices of our children, families and educators, we are continuing to build a community where everyone feels heard, supported and connected.

Sometimes a simple “Are you OK?” can make a big difference. 💛

09/09/2026

Whether your child is already attending early learning, getting ready to start, or you're still exploring your options, it's natural to have questions.

💭 Will my child feel safe and supported? 💭 How will they cope with new experiences and changes? 💭 What can I do to help them feel confident and settled?

Listen to Episode 1 of What I Wish I Knew... The Early Learning Guide podcast, with child development expert Dr Billy Garvey as he explains why transitions are such an important part of childhood and how strong, supportive relationships help children navigate change with confidence.

From starting early learning to moving rooms, making new friends or tackling other big milestones, transitions are a normal part of growing up. When children feel safe, supported and connected, they're more likely to embrace new experiences, build confidence and develop the resilience they need to thrive.

🎧 Tune in to hear Dr Billy's expert insights and explore more episodes of What I Wish I Knew... The Early Learning Guide podcast: https://brnw.ch/21x5zwI

💛 Because every child deserves to feel safe, supported and a true sense of belonging as they grow, learn and discover the world around them.

09/09/2026

Today our children enjoyed an imaginative “Out in the Garden” yoga journey. We began by talking about feelings and using colours to describe how we felt, followed by calming breathing with mesh squeeze balls. The children then became tiny seeds, slowly stretching and growing into tall trees swaying in the breeze.

We added fun movement through our Newspaper Sharks game and finished with an Inner Smile relaxation, helping the children slow their bodies, breathe gently and notice a sense of calm. To reflect on the session, children explored facial expressions and their feelings, and we ended by sharing feelings respectfully, giving ourselves a big self-hug and saying Namaste.
Through play, movement and mindfulness, we practised body awareness, emotional expression, kindness and calm.

07/09/2026

📚 Come and Join Us for Story Time at the Park! 🌿

Goodstart St Leonards invites local families to join us every Monday at 10:30am for a special Story Time at the Park.

As part of our commitment to giving back and connecting with our local community, we love creating opportunities for children and families to come together, connect and enjoy the magic of stories.

Reading with children supports so much more than early literacy. It helps build language and communication skills, imagination, concentration and a lifelong love of learning. Sharing stories together also creates a wonderful sense of connection, belonging and joy.

Bring your little one, find a comfy spot and enjoy a beautiful morning of stories, connection and community with us.

📍 Story Time at the Park
🗓 Every Monday
⏰ 10:30am
Hosted by Goodstart St Leonards

We’d love to see you there!

03/09/2026

🌿 Stronger Together – Team Bonding Through Creativity 🌿

This weekend, our team enjoyed a wonderful pottery session together as part of our team-bonding activities. It was a lovely opportunity to step outside our everyday routines, get creative, relax, laugh and spend meaningful time together.

In early childhood education, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Strong, respectful and trusting relationships between educators contribute to a positive team culture and create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and connected.

When educators have strong relationships with one another, they are better able to communicate, collaborate and support each other. This sense of connection flows into our work with children and families, helping us create a warm, secure and welcoming environment where children can develop their own sense of belonging.

Just as we intentionally nurture relationships with our children, we believe it is equally important to invest in the relationships within our team.

A beautiful weekend of creativity, connection and plenty of laughter — and some very unique pottery pieces to remember it by! 🏺🤎

02/09/2026

Today, we proudly celebrated Early Childhood Educators’ Day and recognised the incredible educators who bring so much care, dedication, knowledge and passion to our Goodstart St Leonards community every day.

Early childhood educators play such an important role in the lives of young children. They create safe and nurturing environments where children feel a strong sense of belonging, build confidence, develop relationships, explore their curiosity and establish the foundations for lifelong learning. The impact of a dedicated educator reaches far beyond the classroom and can stay with a child for many years to come. ❤️

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful families who took the time to share such beautiful messages and words of appreciation for our educators. Reading your thoughtful notes made the celebration even more meaningful and reminded our team just how valued their work is.

To our amazing Goodstart St Leonards educators — thank you for everything you do, every single day. Your patience, kindness, commitment and genuine love for children make a difference. We are incredibly proud to celebrate you today! 🌷

Happy Early Childhood Educators’ Day! 💐

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

As part of our regular preschool excursions, our preschoolers visit our local Return and Earn station, where they recycle the bottles and containers collected at our service.

These excursions provide a wonderful opportunity for children to explore their local neighbourhood and develop a stronger sense of connection and belonging within their community. Along the way, children learn about sustainability, recycling and caring for our environment, while seeing firsthand how their everyday actions can make a difference.

The experience also supports early numeracy and financial literacy as children count the containers, explore the value of money and watch how their recycling turns into funds.

Most importantly, the money collected through Return and Earn is donated to The Smith Family to support children with educational resources, including school books and learning materials. This creates meaningful conversations with our preschoolers about kindness, generosity and helping others in our wider community.

Through these regular excursions, children are learning that recycling is not only about caring for our planet—it can also be a way of giving back, supporting others and making a positive contribution to their community. ♻️

26/08/2026

Ever had one of those "What should I be doing with my child?" moments? You might already have the answer at home.

Earlier this year, every Goodstart family received a What & When for Families guide for each child. If it's been tucked away in a drawer since then, now might be the perfect time to pull it back out.

The guide is packed with simple, play-based activities that support your child's learning and development at home. Best of all, it's written in your child's voice, with ideas tailored to their age and developmental stage.

From singing songs with babies and playing peek-a-boo, to "I Spy" games, storytelling and treasure hunts with older children, the activities are designed to fit naturally into everyday moments you already share together.

We know learning doesn't only happen in the classroom. Those small moments at home can help build big communication, language and literacy skills.

Take another look through your What & When for Families guide to explore age-appropriate activities and learning ideas you can try together.

💛 Sometimes the best learning resource is the one you already have at home.