Woodlands Early Education Centre

Name: Cat Marios

Tell us about your career in early childhood. How long have you been working in the industry?
I started my career in childcare in 2005 through work experience at the Hyperdome Early Education Centre. During my next 7 years at the Hyperdome I moved through many positions from Assistant to Assistant Director. In 2012 I made the big decision to move overseas and spent 2 years living and working as a Nanny in London. Upon my return to Australia in 2014, I was offered a position here at the Woodlands Early Education Centre working alongside Jade and jumped at the chance. I then stepped up as Director when Jade went on maternity leave and continue to love working alongside her in our massive 195 place Centre.

Tell us about the relevant qualifications you hold that assists you in your position?
I started studying my Certificate III in Children’s Services when I was in High School as my elective subject. Completing my certificate when I graduated I began full time work and from there I then went on to study my Diploma and then my Advanced Diploma. I hold my current First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis Certificates. I hold my Food Handling Certificate and have participated in many different additional training seminars including Behaviour Management, Child Protection, Leadership and many more.

When did you first join the QCCS team?
I first joined the QCCS team in 2005.

What do you find most rewarding about your career in early childhood?
The most rewarding part of working in Early Childhood is becoming part of these children’s lives, watching them grow and develop and also creating special bonds with the children and their families. These parents are entrusting us with their most prized possessions and to know they choose us is a special feeling. I still have contact with children I looked after when they were 3 and 4 and are now in high school and to know I helped shape these wonderful little people is AMAZING!!

Why should families choose Woodlands Early Education Centre?
After being in the industry for many years you get a sense of the Centre and its staff when you enter the service. The thing I love about Woodlands is the smiling faces that greet you every day, as well as our wonderful spacious rooms and yards.

Name: Lily Barker

Tell us about your career in Early Childhood. How long have you been working in the industry?
I began working in the industry in year 12 as an assistant in Outside School Hours Care. Once I graduated high school and completed my Diploma, I was moved into an Assistant Director Role/Educational Leader role within the service and during my time in this position, went through the assessment and rating process with a result of Exceeding! In 2017 I wanted to venture out and stepped into a Lead Educator role here at Woodlands. In January 2020, I successfully landed the role of Assistant Director, and in August 2020 took over as Acting Director. In April 2021, I have officially been appointed as Centre Director. I absolutely love my role here at Woodlands, working alongside an outstanding, passionate and dedicated team of Early Childhood Educators.

Tell us about the relevant qualifications you hold that assists you in your position?

I was lucky enough to complete my Certificate III in Children’s Services through year 11 and 12 of high school and scored a job in OSHC. When I graduated high school, I took on studying my Diploma and continued to work in the industry. I hold my current First Aid, Asthma and Anaphylaxis certificates. I have also completed my Food Handling Certificate, 3a Abecedarian Course and have completed a large variety of additional training and professional development over the years including Behaviour Management, Child Protection, Auslan Sign Language and many more.

When did you first join the QCCS team?
I joined the QCCS team in early 2017 as a Lead Educator.

What do you find most rewarding about your career in Early Childhood?
The most rewarding part of working in this industry is supporting these little ones to grow and develop in their early years, along with creating bonds with their wonderful families. Giving children a safe place to play, learn and grow is incredibly fulfilling, along with the love, smiles, giggles and hugs they give are just the best! I am also incredibly passionate about leadership and guiding my amazing team of educators to help them reach their full potential within the early childhood industry.

Why should families choose Woodlands Early Education Centre?
Here at Woodlands, we pride ourselves on our relationships with our Children and their families. We have an amazing building, we have spacious rooms and a beautiful free flowing outdoor environment, great resources and equipment, our curriculum is fun and educational, communication and online portfolios is a blessing, and all the other wonderful things we offer. But for us it’s our Educators that make our Centre special. 

Why do you choose to work for QCCS?
I was drawn to QCCS because of their Philosophy. Our values and what we believe align as I am passionate too about creating environments and programs that foster a sense of security and flexibility to allow all children to play and learn and their own pace, along with inclusion and community engagement.

Welcome to Woodlands Early Education Centre and Preschool. We are located in the centre of the Woodlands Estate.

Our aim is to provide the highest standard of care to you, the families, as well as to the children who are within our care. Our Centre celebrates diversity, welcoming families with different cultures and backgrounds.

Our hours of operation are from 6am to 6pm. We are open Monday through to Friday, 52 weeks a year (excluding public holidays). Our Centre opened in October 2011 and caters for 194 children aged from birth to school age. We provide before and after school care to school age children as well as vacation care in the school holidays.

We offer a free courtesy bus service which transports children to and from the local schools in the area. We also have the option to transport children to and from home for families who have no access to transport or in emergency situations (conditions apply). The schools we currently service are Waterford State School, Edens Landing State School and Canterbury College.

As security is one of our priorities, our Centre has a security door access system which only allows authorised parents/guardians to drop off and collect their child/ren from the Centre via a personal pin code.

At QCCS we understand the importance of building relationships with the Aboriginal Communities by valuing their histories, cultures and their people to help build a more respecting and understanding future for all Australians. Acknowledging Country is a common practice in our services where we respect the continuing connection of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners and Custodians to the land on which our services stands.

Our Team:
Our team are qualified, friendly and caring staff who are committed to continually improving their skills and knowledge by frequently attending in-service training and seminars. All staff are required to have an up to date First Aid, CPR and Blue Card. All new employees of QCCS attend an Induction Session prior to commencing at any of our Child Care Centres; thus, ensuring they will be well equipped to step into their new role. In addition, we provide regular professional opportunities as well as monthly Centre Director and staff meetings to ensure that all our employees are up to date with industry developments.

Our Centre aims to be at the forefront of industry developments and trends. Therefore, at QCCS your child will benefit from an array of experiences:

• Interactive smart boards
• Dynamic Emergent Curriculum based on the Early Years Learning Framework and Kindergarten Guidelines
• Individual child portfolios. QCCS realises how important it is to be kept informed on your child’s progress and daily activities.
• Healthy nutritious meals including breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
• Sun Safety is a priority with a large percentage of the playgrounds covered with artificial and natural shade. Each Centre aims to avoid sun exposure between 9am-3pm to give the children that added level of sun protection.
• Transition to school programs along with transition statements

Sustainability Focus:
Our Centres are passionate about teaching sustainable behaviours, instilling the knowledge and values that help support sustainable environments. Just some of the sustainable practices that you can expect to see in our services include:

• Educating our children in the use of compost systems within their rooms
• Child tended vegetable and herb gardens, sharing our harvest with families and children
• Appointment of our children to monitor the electricity and water use within our Centre
• Use of recycled materials in our art and craft activities
• Use of donated items by our local communities and businesses
• Use of equipment made from recycled materials

Our Centre have our own pet Chickens which enable the children to learn about the environment and how to live an eco-friendly way. The children get involved by collecting the eggs and taking out the scraps. Chickens are a fantastic learning experience that our teachers incorporate into their programs daily.

Vision for Reconciliation:
Our Vision for Reconciliation is to walk with our community to support each other on this journey to be inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. We see a time where closing the gap is valued and doing our bit to get there as a community.

We are committed to actively acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Land as we foster a safe, connected place each day. We strive to learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, to respectfully share these stories and the dreamings with our young little learners as they grow on our Yugambeh Lands today.

Acknowledgement Statement:
Our Service Stands on Yugambeh Land, and our children and educators would like to pay their respect to Yugambeh Elders and Traditional Custodians past, present and future.

Woodland’s Children’s Acknowledgement to Country:
“Here is the land, here is the sky,
here are my friends and here am I.
We thank the Yugambeh people for the Land
on which we learn and play.
Hands up, hands down we’re on Yugambeh ground.”

Jingeri Jimbelung! (Hello friends)

We are committed to the implementation of the National Early Years Learning Framework and operate an Emergent Curriculum. Our program is based on the individual needs of the children in our care. Our program is balanced and developmentally appropriate. It has variations, providing for a wide range of individual experiences. These experiences give the children the opportunity to make choices and take on new challenges. Our centre programs are based on the individual child, thus ensuring it does not exclude any one child. Our goal is to inspire delight, curiosity, and inquiry in the classroom. We are very proud to offer the below to all our families at no additional costs:

Kindergarten Program
Our Centre is pleased to be operating a Queensland Government approved Kindergarten Program with a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. This program is aimed at preparing our pre-prep children for primary school. Our Centre implements the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline and focuses on building upon children’s learning and development including literacy and numeracy skills as well as exploring the foundations of mathematics and science. We are committed to developing and building on community partnerships with local schools, Teachers and families to ensure children are being well prepared for their school years.

Families with eligible children attending an approved Kindergarten Program may be entitled to a QKFS Plus Kindy Support Subsidy to assist with the out of pocket expenses of attending the program. To be eligible, families must either:

• Hold a current Health Care Card, Veterans Affairs Card or Australian Government Pension Concession Card 
• Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 
• Have three or more children enrolled in the same year (must be the same age)

Your Centre Director can provide you with further information regarding this subsidy.

Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA)
Our Centre also boasts a second language program (Hindi) and are proud participants in the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) initiative. ELLA is an Australian Government initiative aimed at reviving the teaching of foreign languages in Australian schools, with the aim of significantly increasing the number of Year 12 students studying a language other than English within a decade.

Veggie Fun Program
Vegie Fun for Everyone is a 12-week food literacy program run in our Kindergarten Room, created by our very own Healthy Cooking Company designed to develop a positive attitude toward vegetables in children. The Kindergarten children will be encouraged to explore vegetables, leading to positive experiences and self-directed tasting.

Perceptual Motor Program
Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) activities form a part of our daily routine as your child’s Educators aim to help them become physically active and promote healthy growth as well as development of bones, muscles, flexibility, balance, posture and cardiovascular fitness. It can also help establish connections between different parts of the brain that develop memory and language.

Swimming Program
Woodlands Early Education Centre has partnered with a local swim centre to provide swimming lessons for children aged 3 to 5 years. The aim of swimming lessons is to teach children how to be safe in and around water. The program runs weekly, all year round, in 10-week blocks and taught by fully qualified swimming instructors.

Intergenerational Program
The Intergenerational Program helps to bridge generational gaps by fostering understanding and building respect between generations. Woodlands Early Education Centre is proudly partnered with the local Bolton Clarke Nursing Home. Once a month the children visit residents at the nursing home, where they participate in a range of activities including singing, arts and crafts and gardening.

Barefoot Nursery
Our Centre runs a ‘Barefoot Nursery’. Upon entry to the Nursery all Educators, guardians and visitors are required to remove their shoes or place a covering over them. Our babies are sensory explorers; therefore, it is important to us to keep our nursery room floors and environment clean and hygienic. The exceptional cleanliness of the ‘Barefoot Nursery’ concept allows our infants to freely investigate their surroundings without being exposed to unnecessary germs and bacteria.

Little Scientists
Our Centre is proud to be a Certified Little Scientists House. This program is run daily by demonstrating our commitment to hands-on, inquiry-based learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. It is designed to recognise services and schools that promote an active learning environment, incorporating best practice elements such as inquiry-based learning, metacognition and co-construction.

Music Beat Kids
Here at Woodlands, we offer each week the Music Beat Kids program. Music Beat Kids (the home of Boppin’ Babies) is a music early learning program designed to help babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers grow into happy, confident children! During these sessions, the children have fun through musical play, using each child’s musical expression as the central to their program. Want to know more?  Visit https://www.musicbeat.com.au/

We believe food ingredients should come from the kitchen, not from a lab. From this belief came the inspiration to open our own production kitchen, the Healthy Cooking Company. We aim to create and promote natural and wholesome food with a number of health benefits:

• Organic baby food
• Preservative Free
• No artificial flavours
• Low in sodium & refined sugar
• Naturally sweetened with honey

We promise that our nutrition labels will be free of numbers, so there will be no need to decipher nasty food additives. We are dedicated to providing delicious food that your children will love. Parents can rest assured that their little ones are being provided with a good start with healthy, nutritious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea meals provided.

As Educators, we believe in teaching children that physical activity can be fun as well as good for our bodies and minds. As a result we coordinate exciting exercise programs within our centres that have been developed by our Sports Dietitian in consultation with Primary School Physical Education Teachers. We want the children in our care to experience the numerous health benefits that regular physical activity can provide such as:

• Stronger muscles and bones
• Long term positive attitude towards exercise
• Reduction in the likelihood of becoming overweight
• Reduction in the likelihood of developing illnesses and diseases

Through this we aim to incorporate at least three hours of physical activity each day into our room routines and programs with:

• Morning physical activity routine
• General indoor physical activity
• Outdoor experiences