Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and cared for.

This week is National Child Protection Week—an important reminder that the safety and wellbeing of children is everyone’s responsibility.

At our Grow Early Education centres, protecting children isn’t just a priority—it’s at the heart of everything we do. From the way we design our learning environments to the trusting relationships we build with families, we are committed to creating safe, nurturing spaces where every child can thrive.

This Year’s Theme: Putting Children First

The 2025 theme for Child Protection Week is “Children Come First.” When children feel heard, valued, and respected, they have the best chance to grow up safe, strong, and supported. Listening to children’s voices and working together as a community ensures that their rights, needs, and wellbeing are always at the centre of decision-making.

How We Keep Children Safe at Our Centres

At the heart of everything we do is the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of every child in our care. We are proud of the strong systems and culture we have in place to support a safe, nurturing, and respectful environment for children, families, and Educators alike.

As part of our ongoing commitment to child safety, we have a range of robust measures in place, including:

We are also proactively strengthening our approach by:

Child Protection is Everyone’s Business

Child safety doesn’t stop at the doors of our long daycare centres. It’s a shared responsibility across families, schools, communities, and society as a whole. By standing together, listening to children, and valuing their experiences, we can create a world where every child feels safe and supported.

This Child Protection Week, let’s all commit to protecting, respecting, and caring for every child. Together, we can build a stronger, safer future.

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On Wednesday, 3rd September, our Grow Early Education centres proudly joined services across Australia in celebrating Early Childhood Educators’ Day — a national event dedicated to recognising the extraordinary work Educators do every single day.

At our Grow Early Education centres, we are lucky to have an incredible team of Educators who bring passion, patience, creativity, and love into every moment they share with children. Their role goes far beyond teaching—it’s about creating safe, supportive environments where children feel valued, encouraged, and inspired to grow.

Why Educators’ Day Matters

Early Childhood Educators’ Day is an initiative of the Australian Childcare Alliance, shining a spotlight on the vital contribution early learning professionals make to children, families, and communities.

This year’s theme, “Together We All Shine!”, reflects the way Educators, families, and children work hand in hand to create bright, nurturing, and connected communities. It’s a beautiful reminder that when we support and celebrate one another, children truly flourish.

Celebrating at Our Centres

Across our centres, we took time to celebrate our amazing Educators. Families and children joined in by sharing drawings, thoughtful messages, and small tokens of appreciation. Our teams enjoyed morning teas, personalised treats, and heartfelt moments that highlighted just how valued they are within our community.

It was wonderful to see the smiles, laughter, and gratitude as our Educators were recognised for the heart they bring to their roles each and every day.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To our incredible Educators: thank you. Your commitment, creativity, and care make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families. You make our centres such special places to learn, grow, and belong—and we are proud to celebrate you not only on Educators’ Day, but every day.

Follow us on Facebook to see more photos from how our Grow Early Education centres celebrated our amazing Educators yesterday.

Playtime from 0–5 is one of the most important ways children learn, grow, and make sense of the world. Through play, children develop social skills, emotional understanding, problem-solving abilities, language, and creativity.

During the early years, children naturally move through six stages of play. Knowing what to expect and how to encourage your child during each stage can help you feel more confident in supporting their development.

At Grow Early Education, we nurture and encourage these developmental play milestones every day. Our play-based environments are thoughtfully designed to support each stage, helping children explore, experiment, and engage at their own pace.

In this blog, we are unpacking the six stages and how you can guide your little one’s play journey.

  1. Unoccupied Play (Birth – 3 months)

At this very first stage, babies are not yet “playing” in the way we might imagine. Instead, you’ll notice them making small movements, watching the world around them, or kicking their legs. This may seem simple, but it’s how they begin to explore their environment.

How to encourage it:

  1. Solitary Play (Birth – 2 years)

Children play alone and focus on exploring toys or activities by themselves. They are not yet interested in interacting with other children and that’s perfectly normal and expected at this age.

How to encourage it:

  1. Onlooker Play (2 years)

At this stage, children begin watching others play without joining in. They’re learning by observing, noticing social interactions, body language, and new ways to play.

How to encourage it:

  1. Parallel Play (2 – 3 years)

Children now play alongside others but don’t directly interact. They may use the same toys or sit close together, but their play remains separate. This is a vital step toward social play.

How to encourage it:

  1. Associative Play (3 – 4 years)

At this point, children are beginning to interact with others, sharing toys and ideas, but the play may not yet be fully organised. For example, two children may build towers side by side and occasionally exchange blocks.

How to encourage it:

  1. Cooperative Play (4 – 5 years)

This is the most advanced stage of play in the early years. Children now play together with shared goals and rules whether it be building cities with blocks, playing pretend, or inventing group games. Cooperative play builds teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving.

How to encourage it:

Each stage of play is a building block for learning. Even if your child prefers to play alone or just observe, they are still developing important skills. By recognising and supporting each stage, you’re helping your child gain confidence, independence, and social awareness.

Don’t rush your child through the stages, each one is valuable. With your support, encouragement, and the right environment, your child will naturally move forward in their play journey.

At Grow Early Education, we carefully design play-based environments and interactions to nurture every stage of development, helping children grow, explore, and thrive.

Follow us on Facebook to see how we incorporate these milestones into our everyday learning environments!

 

At Grow Early Education, we believe that reading with children is one of the richest learning experiences you can have. It’s because of this that the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s National Book Week is one of our favourite weeks on the calendar.

This year, Book Week is celebrating 80 years with the theme “Book an Adventure.” To honour the occasion, we’re discussing the importance of reading for children aged 0-5 and sharing some of the ways you can turn your bedtime routine into a rich learning and story-led adventure.

From birth to five years, reading with children is an important part of their developmental journey, helping to foster language skills and cognitive abilities while building a life-long love of reading and learning. Reading with children also encourages language development, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and boosts children’s imaginations.

Research has found that the disparity between children’s vocabularies could be upwards of 1.4 million words, depending on how frequently they are read to. It is estimated that children who:

For children under five, every rhyme, story, or picture book adds up, helping your little one build a richer, stronger vocabulary that they can carry through school and life.

One of the easiest ways you can introduce regular reading to your child’s day is through bedtime routines, but a bedtime story doesn’t have to be all about “winding down”. Reading to children creates magical moments where imagination and language thrive. Here are some ways you can turn bedtime routine into story-led learning adventure.

Just as stories can spark adventure at bedtime, Book Week allows children to bring these adventures to life across our childcare centres.

One of the most exciting parts of Book Week at our centres is seeing the children bring their favourite characters to life! From pirates and princesses to astronauts and dragons, dressing up gives children a chance to step into the world of their story and make the adventure their own. It’s a joyful, imaginative way to connect with books and characters while building confidence, creativity, and a love of storytelling. At Grow Early Education, our Educators love to join in the fun too! Dressing up alongside the children allows us to celebrate stories together and model creativity and imagination. Whether it’s becoming a fairy, a brave knight, or a quirky storybook character, our Educators help turn Book Week into a shared adventure, showing that reading and play can be magical at any age.

Book Week is a special time for children and families to celebrate the magic of reading. At Grow Early Education, we love creating adventures through stories, dress-ups, and imaginative play, helping every child discover the joy of reading and the worlds that await in every book.

Follow us on Facebook to see how our Grow Early Education centres are embracing this year's Book Week theme, “Book an Adventure”!

At Grow Early Education, we believe science is a way for children to explore, question, and discover the world around them every day.

This National Science Week, we’re sharing a collection of simple, age-appropriate science experiments you can try at home with your little one. These activities fun and engaging, plus they also help build important skills such as problem-solving, observation, and prediction. Skills we nurture in our own science-based learning experiences across our centres.

Babies (0–1 years)

Rainbow Ice
Create colourful ice cubes using water and a few drops of food colouring. Place them in a large container or sensory tray and let your baby explore the melting ice. You can add a small container of warm water for them to experiment with melting the ice faster.

This activity encourages sensory exploration through temperature, texture, and colour while helping babies develop early observation skills. They begin to understand cause and effect as they notice the ice melting more quickly in warm water, and their language skills grow as you introduce new words like “cold,” “melting,” “blue,” and “mixing.”

Sound Bottles

Fill a clear, empty plastic bottle with items such as beads, rice, or bells. Let your baby shake the bottle to explore the different sounds each filling makes.

Shaking the bottle helps babies discover cause and effect while developing their listening skills as they hear the different sounds. It also promotes fine motor development through grasping and shaking, as well as visual tracking, as they watch the items move inside the bottle.

Toddlers (1–3 years)

Fizzing Colours

Add baking soda to a tray. Mix vinegar and food colouring in small cups, then use droppers to release the coloured vinegar onto the baking soda. Watch the fizzy reaction unfold right in front of your eyes!

This experiment introduces Toddlers to basic chemistry as they watch the acid and base reaction create fizz. They strengthen colour recognition and begin exploring colour mixing, while using droppers supports fine motor skills. Asking them to guess what will happen next also encourages curiosity and early prediction skills.

Sink or Float

Fill a large tub with water. Collect natural materials from around the home. Before dropping each item in, ask your child to guess: “Will this sink or float?”

This hands-on activity helps Toddlers begin to think like scientists by making predictions and testing their ideas. They practise categorisation skills and start to understand buoyancy, while also expanding their vocabulary with words such as “heavy,” “light,” “float,” and “sink.”

Pre-Kindy (3–4 years)

Walking Rainbow

Arrange jars of water coloured with food dye and blank water in a circle, alternating blank water with coloured water. Place a strip of paper towel between each jar, making sure the ends dip into the water. Watch the colours travel and mix over time.

Children strengthen their observation skills as they watch the colours slowly move, mix, and blend over time. This experiment introduces them to absorption and capillary action in a visual way, supports their understanding of colour mixing, and encourages them to talk through the sequence of events they see.

Shadow Tracing

Lay paper or card next to an object’s shadow and have your child trace its outline. Return throughout the day to see how the shadow has changed.

Shadow tracing helps children understand how the position of the sun changes shadows throughout the day. It also develops early measurement and comparison skills, supports fine motor control through drawing, and sparks curiosity about nature and the passing of time.

Kindergarten & Preschool (4–5 years)

Colour Changing Flowers or Celery

Place white flowers or celery stalks in a jar of coloured water. Over time, the stems will draw up the coloured water and change colour.

This activity introduces children to plant biology by showing how plants absorb water through their stems. It encourages them to observe and record changes over time, developing patience, attention to detail, and early scientific thinking.

Blowing Up a Balloon With Gas

Use a funnel to insert baking soda into a deflated balloon. Fill a bottle with vinegar, then carefully attach the balloon to the bottle’s neck without spilling the baking soda. Lift the balloon so the baking soda falls in. This will create a fizzy reaction, causing gas to inflate the balloon.

This experiment demonstrates chemical reactions and gas formation in a way children can see and enjoy. It promotes problem-solving and sequencing as they follow the steps, encourages them to make predictions, and gives them a memorable “wow” moment that builds excitement for science.

At Grow Early Education, science is a part of our everyday learning. From sensory exploration with our youngest babies to hands-on STEM projects with our older children, we create opportunities for children to investigate, experiment, and discover.

By trying these activities at home, you’re extending your child’s learning and giving them the chance to see science as something fun, exciting, and part of the world around them. Together, we can help inspire the next generation of curious thinkers and problem-solvers.

To further enrich these activities, you can use the Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a) Language Priority by talking your child through each reaction and change they observe during the experiment. This ongoing conversation helps build their communication skills and introduces them to a wider range of new words.

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with our Grow Early Education centres and see how we have acknowledged and celebrated National Science Week this week:

The first five years of life are often described as the most important for a child’s growth, and for a good reason. During this time, children’s brains develop faster than at any other stage, creating the building blocks for lifelong learning, health, and wellbeing. From their very first smile to their first day of school, every milestone is a sign of progress in areas such as communication, movement, problem-solving, social skills, and emotional understanding.

At Grow Early Education, we see these milestones as moments to celebrate and opportunities to nurture. Our Educators are trained to recognise and support each stage of development, tailoring experiences that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and encourage independence. Through play-based learning, sensory-rich environments, and warm, consistent relationships, we create a safe and stimulating space where children can thrive.

We also know that no two children develop at exactly the same pace. That’s why our approach is flexible, responsive, and centred around the needs of each individual child. Whether it’s building neck strength through tummy time in the Nursery, encouraging a Toddler’s first words through story time, or helping a Pre-Kindy child navigate friendships, we’re here to guide, support, and celebrate every step of the journey.

In this week’s blog, we are exploring the key milestones children typically reach from birth to age five, why they matter, and how families can support their child’s development every step of the way.

Birth to 6 Months: Building Bonds and Early Awareness

The first six months are all about bonding and sensory exploration. Babies are learning to trust the world around them through consistent care, cuddles, and communication.

Their brains are developing rapidly as they respond to your voice, facial expressions, and touch. During this time, babies begin to discover their bodies, their environment, and how to express their needs, usually through crying, cooing, and movement. These early months are foundational for emotional security and future learning.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

6 to 12 Months: Exploring and Engaging

From six months onward, babies become more physically active and socially curious. They begin to move with more control, rolling, sitting, and eventually crawling, allowing them to explore their world in new ways. Language development picks up speed as they babble and experiment with sounds.

This is also a stage where separation anxiety may emerge, showing that your baby has formed strong attachments. Their growing independence is a sign of healthy development, even as they still rely on your guidance and reassurance.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

12 to 18 Months: First Steps Toward Independence

Between 12 and 18 months, Toddlers begin to express their independence in exciting (and sometimes messy!) ways. This is a stage of rapid physical development, many children take their first steps around their first birthday, and their curiosity about the world increases as their mobility improves.

At the same time, their communication skills are emerging, with first words, gestures, and emotional expressions becoming more intentional. It’s a time of big emotions, trial and error, and learning through play, exploration, and connection.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

18 to 24 Months: Communication and Curiosity

Between 18 and 24 months, Toddlers begin to show more personality, independence, and determination. They’re learning that they are separate from others and may start testing boundaries, an important part of social-emotional development.

Language begins to develop rapidly during this time, with Toddlers going from using a handful of words to combining two or more into short phrases. Their curiosity is constant, and they learn best through hands-on play, repetition, and exploration of the world around them.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

2 to 3 Years: Confidence, Curiosity, and Communication

Between the ages of 2 and 3, Toddlers become more confident in their physical abilities, language, and self-expression. This stage is often called the “Toddler Explosion” because of the rapid growth in vocabulary and social understanding.

Children begin to speak in short sentences, engage more in imaginative play, and show a desire to do things on their own. While emotions can still run high, Toddlers are starting to understand basic rules, routines, and how to express themselves in more complex ways. This is also when many children begin showing interest in toilet learning and self-help skills.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

3 to 4 Years: Imagination, Social Skills, and Growing Confidence

The 3- and 4-year-olds are full of imagination, big ideas, and growing social awareness. Between ages 3 and 4, children begin to form stronger friendships, understand routines, and engage in more cooperative play. Their communication becomes clearer and more complex, allowing them to ask questions, tell stories, and express emotions in words.

At this stage, children often enjoy creative activities like drawing, painting, and role play, and they start to develop early numeracy and literacy skills through everyday experiences. This is also a key time for building emotional resilience, problem-solving, and a sense of self.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

4 to 5 Years: Confident Learners Preparing for School

Between the ages of 4 and 5, children step into a new level of confidence, curiosity, and capability. They’re developing stronger memory, problem-solving skills, and emotional awareness, and many begin showing an eagerness to learn about the world around them. Socially, they’re more cooperative, empathetic, and able to engage in group activities.

This stage often includes the transition into a more structured learning environment, such as a kindergarten program, where they build the foundational skills needed for a positive start to school. While they’re becoming more independent, they still rely on secure relationships and supportive routines to thrive.

Key Milestones:

How You Can Support Them:

Seek Advice if:

While all children develop at their own pace, milestones offer a helpful guide for what to expect and when. Tracking these developmental stages can help identify areas where your child may need extra support and celebrate the amazing progress they’re making.

In Australia, your child’s health and development are monitored through regular child health checks. You can use your child’s Personal Health Record to keep track of milestones and speak with your child health nurse or GP if you ever have concerns.

At Grow Early Education, we know the first five years are critical in laying the foundation for future learning and success. Our Early Childhood Educators are trained to support each child’s unique journey, with play-based learning, nurturing routines, and strong relationships at the heart of everything we do.

We’re here to support you, too. If you have questions about your child’s development, our team is always happy to help.

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Starting Kindergarten or Preschool is a big milestone not just for your child, but for your whole family. Especially if it is your first time sending your child to an early education centre. Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or just want to learn more about what to expect, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions from parents to help you feel confident and prepared.

What age does my child need to be to start Kindergarten or Preschool?

In Queensland, your child must turn 4 by June 30th in the year they attend an approved Kindergarten program. Kindergarten is typically a one-year program that runs the year before Prep.

In Victoria, both 3-Year-Old and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten programs are on offer. The Victorian Government provides two years of funded Kindergarten for children to maximise the benefits of early childhood education, which has been shown to improve a child’s learning, development, health, andGrow Early Education wellbeing. This investment aims to give children a strong foundation for future learning and life success. For 3-year-old Kinder, children are eligible if they are attending the program the year they turn 3. In the 4-year-old Kinder, children must turn 4 before April 30th that year to participate in the approved Kindergarten Program.

In New South Wales, Preschool Programs are offered to children who are turning 4 years old before July 31st and attending an approved Preschool Program.

What does a typical Kindergarten or Preschool day look like at Grow Early Education?

Each day is thoughtfully structured to support your child’s development. A Kindergarten or Preschool day usually includes:

These routines help children feel secure and give them a sense of belonging in the classroom.

Is the Kindergarten or Preschool Program play-based at Grow Early Education?

Yes! Our Kindergarten and Preschool Programs are proudly play-based. Our Teachers adopt a stimulating play-based approach to their curriculum delivery, as well as tailoring the program to each child’s individual development needs.

Learning through play is one of the most important ways children learn and develop. You may have realised that as a parent, you don’t generally have to make children play or provide incentives to play. This is because children have a natural urge to play and playing brings a level of pleasure and interest which means it can be maintained without external rewards.

We also believe children learn best through hands-on, meaningful experiences. Through play, children build essential skills in:

We follow the Early Years Learning Framework and guidance from the Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a), which supports school readiness through fun, rich, and engaging learning. We also focus on providing a variety of extra-curriculars, incursions and excursions to ensure your child has a well-rounded early childhood education with us.

Will my child be ready for traditional schooling after Kindergarten or Preschool at Grow Early Education?

Yes! Our program is designed to prepare children for a smooth and confident transition to school. We focus on developing:

Our Kindergarten or Preschool Teacher will also coordinate several visits to local schools across the year as part of your child’s transition to school process. By the end of their Kindergarten or Preschool year, children are well equipped to take on the routines and expectations of traditional schooling.

Do you provide a Transition Statement?

Yes! A formal discussion towards the end of the Kindergarten Year is scheduled to share information with parents and Teachers and support each child’s transition to school. This discussion provides an opportunity for parents and other partners to collaboratively create a summary of a child’s learning in the form of a Transition Statement.

This is a helpful summary of your child’s learning progress, strengths, and interests and it is shared with your child’s future school to help their new teachers support them from day one.

Do you offer Free Kindergarten or Preschool Fee Relief?

Yes, we do! Our established early education centres provide Government-approved Kindergarten or Preschool Programs, which means that families may be eligible for Free Kindergarten or Preschool Fee Relief (depending on your location and circumstances).

In Queensland, the state Government offers ‘Free Kindy’ for eligible children attending a Government-approved Kindergarten Program for up to 15 hours per week, 40 hours per year. For more information and eligibility criteria, head to the Queensland Government website.

In New South Wales, all our centres currently participate in the NSW Government’s ‘Start Strong’ program by providing a Government-approved Preschool Program. This means families may be eligible for Fee Relief, which provides up to $2,110 per year in fee subsidies for children enrolled in eligible community or long daycare settings. For more information and eligibility criteria, head to the New South Wales Government website.

In Victoria, the Victorian Government offers two years of ‘Free Kinder’ for eligible families who attend an approved 3-year-old and 4-year-old Kindergarten Programs. Funding will save Victorian families up to $2,627 per year per child. For more information and eligibility criteria, head to the Victorian Government website.

What does my child need to bring?

Our all-inclusive daily fee offers families a stress-free experience by providing children with all hats, sunscreen, meals, and snacks. This means all you need to pack is your child’s water bottle and hat (which we provide you as part of our ‘Enrolment Pack’) and a spare change of clothes!

Our Centre Chefs prepare nutritious meals and snacks fresh, daily in our in-house kitchen. Have peace of mind knowing your child is getting the nutrition they need to learn and grow with our seasonal menus providing over 50% of your child’s recommended daily nutritional intake.

Do you have qualified Teachers at your long daycare centres?

Yes! Our Teachers are University-qualified Teachers!

They have achieved a Bachelor of Early Childhood or equivalent qualification as approved by ACECQA (or are actively working towards their Bachelor qualification). In addition to being degree qualified, they must also have:

Why Choose Grow Early Education's Kindergarten or Preschool Program?

At Grow Early Education, our Kindergarten or Preschool Programs offer more to families than just preparation for school. It offers a nurturing, play-based environment where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn. With qualified Early Childhood Teachers; a variety of rich learning opportunities and experiences; nutritious chef-prepared meals; convenient long daycare hours; and our evidence-based Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a) approach to teaching, your child will thrive in every way.

How and when can we enrol for 2026?

Enrolments for our 2026 Kindergarten and Preschool Programs are opening very soon! To get a head start to securing your child’s place for next year, you can Register Your Interest now and Book a Tour of our inspiring centres today!

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At Grow Early Education, teaching hygiene and self-care skills is an essential part of our early childhood education program. These everyday routines may seem simple, but they play a big role in supporting children’s health, independence, and confidence.

Children aged 0–6 are still developing their immune systems and are more vulnerable to germs and illnesses. Teaching hygiene for children in these early years not only helps prevent the spread of disease, but also lays the foundation for lifelong habits.

In group settings such as childcare centres, hygiene practices like handwashing for children become even more important. With shared toys, meals, and learning spaces, it’s vital that children understand when and how to clean their hands and care for their bodies.

Handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. At Grow Early Education, we make handwashing fun and easy to understand for children through songs, stories, and visual cues.

Grow Early Education Tarneit children washing their hands and keeping up with good hygiene skills

We teach children to:

Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating, after using the toilet, after outdoor play, and any time they sneeze or cough. By turning handwashing into a routine part of their day, children quickly build healthy hygiene habits.

Download our handwashing poster to help your children nail their handwashing technique

Beyond hygiene, general self-care skills are an important part of every child’s development. These include:

Another important part of our daily routine is teaching children to be SunSmart. At Grow Early Education, children are encouraged to apply their own sunscreen each morning and before going outside to play. We set up Sun Safety Stations across our childcare centres to make this easy, fun, and accessible. Educators supervise and guide the process, helping children learn how to protect their skin while developing a sense of responsibility.

Children at Grow Early Education putting on their sunscreen before playing outside each day

We also introduce the children to self-care in the form of regular check-ups for healthy teeth and eyes. That’s why we’re proud to host regular Dental and Optics visits, offering families convenient access to professional dental and eye screenings at the centres.

By introducing children to dental and vision checks in a familiar environment, we reduce anxiety and normalise these important health habits from a young age. It’s just one more way we help support every aspect of your child’s wellbeing.

Grow Early Education Gunnedah getting their 6-monthly dental checkup

These everyday moments support independence, fine motor skills, and healthy habits that will last a lifetime. At Grow Early Education, Educators support children through gentle guidance, role-modelling, and age-appropriate encouragement. We provide opportunities throughout the day for children to practise and master these self-help skills at their own pace.

Teaching children to care for themselves helps them develop independence and confidence, build fine motor and cognitive skills, understand routines and responsibility, and feel a sense of pride in their achievements.

When children are empowered to take care of themselves, they begin to feel more in control of their world, a key part of emotional development in early childhood education.

At Grow Early Education, our goal is to create a safe, nurturing environment where children thrive. By embedding hygiene routines and self-care practices into our daily program, we support children in becoming capable, confident, and healthy individuals.

We partner with families to ensure these habits are reinforced at home, creating consistency and routine between the childcare centre and home life.

Follow us on Facebook to see how our Grow Early Education centres incorporate self-care and hygiene to their daily curriculums.

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It’s also an opportunity to educate future generations about the importance of cultural respect and reconciliation. At Grow Early Education, NAIDOC Week holds special significance as we strive to embed cultural understanding into our programs and daily practices.

This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy", inspired meaningful experiences across our centres that honoured traditions, promoted learning, and connected children to the stories and practices of First Nations People.

Connecting to Culture and Country

At Grow Early Education Toowoomba, children participated in a range of experiences that celebrated the rich history and traditions of First Nations Peoples. Activities included collaborative art inspired by Indigenous artists, Dreamtime storytelling sessions, and music and movement with traditional instruments and songs. Educators also supported discussions about the deep connection between people and Country, helping children understand the importance of caring for the land they live on.

Traditional Face Painting

Grow Early Education Bundaberg North explored culture with the children through face painting using markings created with traditional dots and colours. This activity sparked conversations about the meaning behind these markings and their cultural significance, providing children with a hands-on learning experience.

Natural Ochre Painting

At Grow Early Education Darling Heights, children and Educators engaged in a variety of NAIDOC-themed activities such as puzzles and hand flag painting. A highlight of the week was creating natural paint using ochre, a type of rock traditionally crushed into powder and mixed with water to form a vibrant natural pigment. This hands-on process gave children a tactile understanding of traditional art-making techniques and the cultural importance of natural resources.

Exploring Indigenous Symbols 

Grow Early Education Heathmont focused on teaching children about Indigenous symbols and their meanings. Using flashcards for reference, children practised replicating these symbols through mark-making activities, supporting both fine motor skill development and cultural learning.

Community Showcase and Bush Tucker 

To close out NAIDOC Week, Grow Early Education Hervey Bay hosted a showcase event for families. This celebration featured a display of NAIDOC-themed artwork created throughout the week and included an array of Aboriginal-inspired food incorporating traditional flavours such as native berries and lemon myrtle. It was a wonderful way to bring families together to reflect on culture, history, and the children’s learning.

Collaborative Aboriginal Flag 

At Grow Early Education Kelso, children worked together to create a large-scale Aboriginal flag using cut pieces of red, black, and yellow paper. This collaborative project not only celebrated NAIDOC Week but also promoted teamwork and pride in cultural expression.

We are proud to create an environment that encourages and nurtures the next generation to be culturally aware, respectful, and inclusive. Celebrating NAIDOC Week is one of the many ways we strengthen these values in our programs and ensure children grow up with an appreciation for the rich history and ongoing contributions of First Nations peoples.

At Grow Early Education, cultural learning is embedded into everyday practice, not just during NAIDOC Week. We believe that education plays a powerful role in reconciliation and building a brighter, more inclusive future.

Find out more about our approach to early childhood education and book a tour at your nearest centre here.

Stay up to date with our centres to see how they celebrate and acknowledge Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander cultures throughout the year.

Your go to guide for making care more affordable this financial year.

Starting childcare is exciting, but navigating fees and government subsidies can feel overwhelming and confusing. To make your transition to childcare as easy and stress-free as possible, we’ve updated our popular CCS cheat sheet with all the key information that will apply from 7 July 2025 through 30 June 2026.

What is CCS?

The Child Care Subsidy is a payment the Australian Government sends straight to your childcare provider. It reduces your out of pocket fees so quality early education is within reach for every family.

Who can get it?

You or your partner must:

Your child must:

How much CCS will I receive?

The amount of CCS you are entitled to is based on a few key areas, such as your combined household income and the results of the CCS Activity Test.

  1. Family Income

Services Australia determines a family’s CCS percentage based on their estimated family income.

A family’s CCS subsidy rate is the percentage of the hourly rate that the government will subsidise. It will apply to the hourly fee or the relevant hourly rate cap, whichever is lower.

Standard subsidy rates for the first child, 0-5 years of age.

Number of Children in Care

Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care may receive a higher subsidy for their second child and younger children. Siblings do not need to attend the same service to get a higher subsidy.

The rates for each child are worked out using two separate income tests.

Higher subsidy rates for second and younger siblings

  1. Activity Test

The hours of subsidised care a family can get each fortnight depends on their activity level. The higher the level of activity, the more hours of subsidised care families can get.

Services Australia looks at both parents’ activity levels. They use the parent with the lower activity level to determine a family’s hours of subsidised care.

Families need to do a recognised activity to get CCS. Exemptions apply for parents who cannot meet activity test requirements.

Activity hours according to the Services Australia website for the 2025-2026 financial year

There are certain circumstances that you may meet, where you will be exempt from the activity test, and be eligible for 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. These include: if you have a disability or impairment or if you are a grandparent who is the principal carer for your grandchild, and you do not receive income support payments (see our section on Additional Child Care Subsidy if you do). There are many other reasons you may be exempt.

Visit the Services Australia website to find out if you are within the guidelines for an exemption.

What’s changes are coming in 2026?

The Government’s proposed 3 day guarantee would give every CCS eligible child 72 hours (~3 days) per fortnight, and 100 hours for First Nations children, regardless of activity.

Legislation is before parliament, watch this space for a 2026 start date.

Payments, withholding & reconciliation

Your CCS is paid directly to your childcare provider. This means you’ll only ever pay your childcare provider the difference between your subsidy amount and the full fee.

That’s why it’s essential to apply for the Child Care Subsidy well before your child begins care. We recommend submitting your application at least two months in advance to allow time for approval and ensure your subsidy is in place from day one.

While your child can start care before your CCS is approved, please note that you will be responsible for paying full fees during this time. If you’re a new applicant, CCS can only be backdated up to 28 days from the date your application is submitted, and any back payments will be reimbursed to you directly, not to the centre.

The Australian Government will withhold 5% of your CCS entitlement before it is paid to your childcare provider. This is to reduce the likelihood of you incurring a debt by being overpaid your CCS entitlement.

Absences

You can claim CCS for up to 42 paid absence days per child, per financial year (public holidays, sickness, family reasons). Additional absences may be covered in special circumstances and require further evidence. Find out more on absences here.

Additional absence days can be paid by Centrelink, provided the circumstances meet those defined by the Family Assistance Law. Some of these include if the service is closed due to an emergency.

Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS)

ACCS tops up CCS for families:

Find the full list of circumstances for eligible ACCS here.

New to CCS?  Here's a final checklist for you:

✔ Apply at least two months before the start date
✔ Update MyGov quickly if your income or activity changes
✔ Keep immunisations current and up to date

Need a hand?

Our Grow Early Education Enrolments Team is here to guide you through the CCS maze. Book a centre tour or call us anytime. Let’s make quality early education affordable for your family in 2025-2026!

Please note, this is only a simplified guide to CCS. For a more detailed overview and more information, head to the Australian Government Services Australia website at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy

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