North Lakes

North Lakes Play and Learn Centre includes infants from 6wks – 3yrs and a Kindergarten program for our 4yr-5yr olds.

“Our programs are play based aimed with knowledge that children learn best when provided with opportunities and environments to freely engage with the world around them in pursuit of their own interests and curiosities.  The classroom environments are full of innovative and original activities that allow children time and space to explore and learn.  Early Childhood Services are a platform in which children can practice the skills required for their futures such as friendships, exploring and understanding emotions and ultimately discovering their own footprint within the broader community.”

— Christine Ballangarry, North Lakes Service Director

 

What Parents are Saying…

“On our journey to find the perfect daycare we came across this little gem Play and Learn.  The very first day we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm, the vibe of the place just felt so right we knew we had found our place.  The daycare itself is beautiful, full of colour, has a mini garden, a brilliant new water play feature which is a hit on these hot sunny days.  The kids get delicious home cooked meals which my little girl just loves.  The staff I cannot fault, each one we love and adore.  They are passionate and so caring about what they do everyday.  My little girl is safe, happy and cared for and I couldn’t ask for any more.  It’s like a second home and family for us, I would recommend Play and Learn as the best daycare in North Lakes.  We are looking forward to our next member of our family joining our Play and Learn family.”

— Angela Gardner

 

“From the moment we entered North Lakes Play and Learn they made us feel at home.  Their kindness and love they have for the children is exceptional.  We love the focus they have on educating our children on all cultures, as we feel it’s very important.”

— Marlee Nesham

 

“North Lakes Play and Learn is the most amazing centre we have ever been a part of.  Elkie absolutely loves going to care every single day and her educators and Play and Learn staff is nothing short of amazing.  Elkie has learnt so much from being in care at North Lakes Play and Learn and I wouldn’t want her anywhere else.  As parents it’s so comforting to know that our child is so loved and so cared for each and every day.  Anyone looking at North Lakes Play and Learn for care of their child, I wouldn’t recommend it enough.”

— Brooke Alexandra

 

“We highly recommend North Lakes Play and Learn, they are such a friendly and caring team. As first time parents we put our trust in a team of people who will look after our child as if he was their own. We have seen first hand that they meet all the children’s needs and are willing to go the extra mile. You can see by the smiles on all the kids faces how happy they are and love their daycare. Such a wonderful team of teachers.”

— Stevie Beard

 

” I cannot recommend this centre enough. The girls did an amazing job settling our youngest. Both of our children absolutely love coming to daycare. Their friendly, professional attitude and regular updates give us peace of mind knowing that they are well looked after.”

— Tracey Clive

Our Team

Loi Brownsey
Loi Brownsey
Area Manager
Christine-Ballangarry
Christine Ballangarry
Service Director

Facilities

Infants (6 weeks – 18 months)

Our North Lakes Infants room is licensed for 8 infants with 2 permanently employed educators.

Experience with infants over the years has taught us that sometimes babies are not predictable and a third educator may be employed to assist with the room.

Several factors will be considered in determining when three educators will work in this group they include;

  • How many bookings there is on each day – no point having three educators with one baby.
  • If a new infant is to start at the service – extra help is often needed while settling and bonding with children.
  • The ages within the group.
  • The individual needs of each infant.

Experiences

Our main focus in the room is forming secure attachments with your baby. Secure attachments and trust develop when we respond consistently, sensitively and confidently. Our attachment however will not affect your babies’ attachment to you – it helps them be close to people.

Current research very clearly tells us that babies who experience any care that is unresponsive, unpredictable or threatening may develop problems developing trust and attachment, this often affects a child’s overall development.

What we will do to establish Infant connections

  • Connect with parents so you feel relaxed and confident in using the service.
  • Smile at your baby – so simple but so powerful
  • Cuddle
  • Sing
  • Baby massage or bath
  • Read Stories
  • Have tummy time and encourage your child to reach their infant milestones.
Toddlers (18 months – 2.5 years)

North Lakes Toddler room is licensed for 12 children with 3 permanently employed educators.

Settling children is again our main focus in this age grouping as now children are very aware when their primary caregivers have left.

Anxious and stressed children find it difficult to learn anything so bonding and establishing relationships with your child is vitally important.

Experiences

Our Toddlers have many opportunities to join in fun and educational experiences throughout the day. Informing us about what your Toddler loves to do helps us to plan for the transition from home to the centre.

Toddlers are developmentally egocentric. So helping Toddlers understand that there are other children in the group who may want to play with the same trucks is really tricky!! In helping this we deliberately set up our environments with multiple equipment that is the same or similar. Having one off pieces of equipment sets children up for challenges. However not everything can be avoided and nor should it, our educators are skilled in helping Toddlers learn life’s social skills.

Similarly, your child’s sensory motor development is vitally important. The Toddlers years see rapid growth in your child’s sensory motor systems and it is these systems that provide your child with the foundations for academic learning.

To continue developing the sensory motor systems we will

  • Crawl / Spin / Creep / Climb / Jump
  • Dance
  • Explore messy play – please supply old clothes
  • Skip / hop / throw / catch
  • Sing / play music
Junior Kindy & Kindy (2 years – 4 years)

North Lakes Kindy rooms cater for children 2-4 yrs, we have two Kindy rooms.

Our two Junior Kindy rooms are each licensed for 15 children aged approx. 2.5 yrs – 3 yrs with 3 permanently employed educators per room and one Senior Kindy room which is licensed for 22 children aged approx. 3 yrs – 4 yrs with 2 permanently employed staff.

The service will be flexible with age groupings to meet the needs of our children our families and the community.

Remaining flexible with age grouping allows for children of the same family to be together or children who are friends to remain together while settling.

Experiences

Within this age group our educators are planning activities that develop the integrations of two brain hemispheres, fine hand co-ordination, sense of direction, awareness of time and many other really important areas of development.

So often we hear parents say “When will they learn their colours, their numbers and letters” and although this is somewhat important they ARE NOT the markers for a child’s ongoing success and later learning. What I mean is a child may be able to recite the alphabet but unable to sit for a story or problem solve with peers.

Our service looks at children holistically across many areas of development some that cannot be seen nor measured nor sent home on a piece of paper but please note we are always thinking planning and evaluating all that we do.

In our Kindy groups we will be

  • Running
  • Playing ball
  • Drawing
  • Painting and some days it will be messy.
  • Water play
  • Listening to story / music
  • Playdough and clay
  • Climbing…….parents look away if you have to….! But small risky play is vital and if we deny children of risk taking in Early Childhood they will take greater risks as adolescents and these risks will have far graver consequences. So please allow us to be at the top of the fort…
Pre-Prep (4 years – 5 years)

Our North Lakes Pre-prep room is our Approved Kindergarten program led by our Early Childhood Teacher.

The room is licenced for 22 children with 1 Teacher and 1 Assistant and children in this room who are then moving to Prep will be 4yrs old by June 30th.

Let’s get ready for Prep …….not really at North Lakes!! What??? What is being ready anyway? It will be so different for each child and each family. So often parents rely on markers such as knowing colours and letters as being school ready and that could not be further than the truth.

Prep teachers often tell us that if a child can look after their own belongings at school they will be eternally grateful…. But that doesn’t sound as glamorous at the end of the day does it…. “Oh...by the way your Billy put his pencil in the pencil holder today” said NO Teacher ever…..but at Play and Learn North Lakes those life skills are just as important as learning our colours.

Our kindergarten program is based on the Queensland Curriculum guidelines and a copy can be found at

www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/kindergarten/curriculum

Experiences

We look at children holistically and our programs are play centered – (hence our name) Block play, games, puzzles, arts and crafts, dress ups, dancing, stories and singing are just a few things your child will enjoy.

Fun environments ensure that children learn best. When children are pressured to rote learn, recite and spend long periods of being directed and lectured by adults learning actually becomes far more difficult. When it happens naturally driven by children interests it has greater meaning and therefore retained more easily.

Getting ready for prep is:

  • Using language to communicate ideas and feelings.
  • Co-operating with peers without hitting /pushing and biting.
  • Adjust to separating from their primary caregiver
  • Working independently
  • Expressing ideas and thoughts though the arts
  • Developing language for problem solving i.e. Words like “lets negotiate”
  • Mastering fine and gross motor skills – I cannot write if I don’t know where my body is in time and space.
Kindy Science (STEM)

We have engaged Kindy Science to enrich and extend early childhood aged children in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) using engaging activities in an everyday environment. Early exposure to STEM concepts encourages children to question the world around them and look for solutions to problems. Hypothesising and following scientific and design methods to create new and interesting ideas. The curriculum has been developed by Camille Newlands, a STEM teacher with 20 + years of experience in Science and Mathematics.

Fee Schedule

(Subject to change without prior notice)

Group Name Age Daily Fee
Infants 1 & Infants 2 6wks - 2yrs $131/day
Junior Kindy & Kindy 2yrs - 3yrs $131/day
Pre-Prep 4yrs - 5yrs $131/day

What you need to bring

icon_hat

Wide Brim Hat

Your first sun smart hat is supplied by Play and Learn
icon_drink

Water Bottle

To keep children hydrated throughout the day
icon_shoes

Footwear

So little feet get used to wearing shoes
icon_sleep

Linen & Blankets

Play and Learn North Lakes will supply all linen.
icon_clothes

Spare Clothes

For after water play or lunch time adventures
icon_bottle

Preferred Formula

If your child can’t have the S26 we provide
icon_pacifier

Comforter

That special item your child find comfort in
icon_bag

A Bag

To put everything into morning and afternoon

Upcoming Events

Jan

Centre re-opens as normal operational hours

January 3, 2023

Centre re-opens as normal operational hours

Jan

Farewell to the last of our prep children

January 20, 2023

Farewell to the last of our prep children

Jan

Water play day!

January 23, 2023

Water play day!

Jan

Centre closed for Australia Day

January 26, 2023

Centre closed for Australia Day

Feb

Waitangi Day Celebrations

February 6, 2023

Waitangi Day Celebrations

Feb

Pre-Prep Parent Info Night

February 7, 2023

Pre-Prep Parent Info Night

Feb

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2023

Valentine’s Day

Feb

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)

February 21, 2023

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)

Mar

Clean up School Day

March 3, 2023

Clean up School Day

Mar

Clean up Australia Day

March 5, 2023

Clean up Australia Day

Mar

Holi Celebration

March 8, 2023

Holi Celebration

Mar

St. Patrick's Day

March 17, 2023

St. Patrick's Day

Mar

Harmony Day

March 21, 2023

Harmony Day

Mar

Ramadan begins

March 22, 2023

Ramadan begins

Mar

Earth Hour

March 25, 2023

Earth Hour

Apr

International Children’s Book Day

April 2, 2023

International Children’s Book Day

Apr

Easter Parade

April 6, 2023

Easter Parade

Apr

Good Friday (Centre will be closed)

April 7, 2023

Good Friday (Centre will be closed)

Apr

Easter Monday (Centre will be closed)

April 10, 2023

Easter Monday (Centre will be closed)

Apr

Ramadan ends

April 20, 2023

Ramadan ends

Apr

Anzac Day (Centre will be closed)

April 25, 2023

Anzac Day (Centre will be closed)

May

New Zealand Music Month

May 1, 2023

New Zealand Music Month

May

Labour Day (Centre closed for public holiday)

May 1, 2023

Labour Day (Centre closed for public holiday)

May

International Compost Awareness Week

May 7, 2023

International Compost Awareness Week

May

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

May 12, 2023

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

May

National Simultaneous Storytime - The Speedy Sloth

May 24, 2023

National Simultaneous Storytime - The Speedy Sloth

May

National Sorry Day

May 26, 2023

National Sorry Day

May

Reconciliation Week

May 27, 2023

Reconciliation Week

Jun

Mabo Day

June 3, 2023

Mabo Day

Jun

World Environment Day

June 5, 2023

World Environment Day

Jun

World Ocean Day

June 8, 2023

World Ocean Day

Jun

Art Expo

June 15, 2023
5:30pm

Art Expo from 5:30pm

Jun

World Refugee Day

June 20, 2023

World Refugee Day

Jul

NAIDOC WEEK celebrations (2nd - 9th)

July 2, 2023

NAIDOC WEEK celebrations (2nd - 9th)

Jul

Teddy Bears Picnic

July 10, 2023

Teddy Bears Picnic

Jul

National Pyjama Day

July 21, 2023

National Pyjama Day

Jul

National Schools Tree Day

July 28, 2023

National Schools Tree Day

Aug

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

August 4, 2023

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

Aug

Jeans for Genes Day

August 4, 2023

Jeans for Genes Day

Aug

Dental Health Week (7th - 13th)

August 7, 2023

Dental Health Week (7th - 13th)

Aug

Photo Week (7th - 11th)

August 7, 2023

Photo Week (7th - 11th)

Aug

Red Nose Day

August 11, 2023

Red Nose Day

Aug

Science Week (14th - 18th)

August 14, 2023

Science Week (14th - 18th)

Aug

Book Week (19th - 25th)

August 19, 2023

Book Week (19th - 25th)

Aug

Dental 2 You Visit

August 24, 2023

Dental 2 You Visit

Sep

Father’s Day Afternoon Tea

September 1, 2023

Father’s Day Afternoon Tea

Sep

Child Protection Week (4th – 8th)

September 4, 2023

Child Protection Week (4th – 8th)

Sep

Early Childhood Educators Day

September 6, 2023

Early Childhood Educators Day

Sep

Ocean Life Show

September 12, 2023

Ocean Life Show

Sep

Talk Like A Pirate Day

September 19, 2023

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Oct

World Space Week (4th - 10th)

October 4, 2023

World Space Week (4th - 10th)

Oct

World's Children’s Week (22nd - 30th)

October 22, 2023

World's Children’s Week (22nd - 30th)

Oct

Grandparents Day Afternoon Tea

October 27, 2023

Grandparents Day Afternoon Tea

Oct

Day for Daniel

October 27, 2023

Day for Daniel

Oct

Halloween Disco Party

October 31, 2023

Halloween Disco Party

Nov

Melbourne Cup

November 7, 2023

Dress to Impress

Nov

National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)

November 6, 2023

National Recycling Week (6th - 10th)

Nov

Diwali – Hindu Festival of Lights

November 10, 2023

Diwali – Hindu Festival of Lights

Nov

Remembrance Day

November 11, 2023

Remembrance Day

Nov

November Crazy Hair Day

November 21, 2023

November Crazy Hair Day

Dec

Pre-Prep Graduation

December 8, 2023
4.30pm

Pre-Prep Graduation from 4:30pm

Dec

Children’s Christmas Party (TBA)

Event Date

Children’s Christmas Party (TBA)

Dec

Christmas Pyjama Week (18th - 22nd)

December 18, 2023

Christmas Pyjama Week (18th - 22nd)

Dec

Centre closed 22nd from 6:30pm

December 22, 2023
6:30pm

Centre closed 22nd from 6:30pm (will reopen on 2nd January 2024)

Contact Details

Send Message