Chermside Early Education Centre

Chermside Early Education Centre
24 Kuran Street
Chermside Queensland 4032
Australia
Phone: (07) 3359 1899
Email: chermside@qccs.com.au
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/YNoDbXCnXmFPUiDR7
  • Our Director
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     Name: Angela Robertson

    Tell us about your career in Early Childhood. How long have you been working in the industry?
    I began my Early Childhood career here at the Chermside Early Education Centre as a Group Leader in the Kindergarten Room. I moved into the Kindy Room and became the Assistant Director a year later. I thoroughly enjoyed being the Assistant Director and also being able to educate the children in my room with my passion for science and sustainability being at the core of my teaching. Moving into the Director position is a new challenge for me and allows me to oversee the Centre as a whole and create more respecting relationships with all our wonderful families.

    Tell us about the relevant qualifications you hold that assists you in your position?
    My life experiences, especially being a Mum myself and my Diploma in Children’s Services assist me to perform my duties as a Director, to the best of my abilities. I spent 11 years prior to this working as the Assistant Coordinator in before and after school care, where I gained many skills including programming for school aged children, office duties and meeting the needs of families. I also hold a current First Aid Certificate including CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis and a current Blue Card.

    When did you first join the QCCS team?
    I started with QCCS in November 2009 as a Group Leader, I then became the Assistant Director a year later. I was accepted into the Director position in September 2020 and I am excited to take the new challenges this role will bring me.

    What do you find most rewarding about your career in Early Childhood?
    What I find most rewarding is educating the children in my care and forming respectful relationships with families. Watching the children learn, grow, and develop is also rewarding – knowing that I help to make a difference in their lives. I also enjoy creating beautiful spaces for the children to learn and thrive in with a focus on sustainability. I love gardens and natural spaces and believe that children thrive in these environments. Families also enjoy and appreciate the wonderful benefits of natural and sustainable play spaces. I enjoy working alongside like-minded and dedicated staff who do the best job they can every day.

    Why should families choose Chermside Early Education Centre and preschool?
    Our Centre is warm and welcoming as are our wonderful staff, who go out of their way to ensure our families and children feel as though they are part of our Centre family. Our staff have many cumulative years of experience and knowledge in the child-care industry.

    Our Centre is rated Exceeding and we pride ourselves on having an open-door policy and working with families to make certain their needs are always met.

    Why do you choose to work for QCCS?
    QCCS encourages their staff to be the best person they can be. QCCS challenges me to be a better person, as a Mum and a Director! QCCS allows for the opportunity to grow personally, professionally and supports me where necessary along the way.  

  • Our Centre
  • Welcome to Chermside Early Education Centre and Preschool. Our Centre is located in a quiet street off Gympie Road. We are one block away from Westfield Chermside and a short 650m walk from the Wavell Primary School.

    We have been rated as an Exceeding Centre by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)!

    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 6:30am to 6pm. We are open Monday through to Friday, 52 weeks a year (excluding public holidays). Our Centre opened in June 1994 and caters for 75 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 school we currently service is Wavell Heights State School.

    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 Program
  • 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 Island
    • 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.

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    Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA)
    Our Centre also boasts a second language program (French), we 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.

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    Hey Dee Ho Music Program
    Our professional Music Program is facilitated by ‘Hey Dee Ho Educational Services’. Hey Dee Ho visits our Centre fortnightly. The program is an educational music experience where children learn the concepts of beat, rhythm, tempo, pitch and dynamics in a play-based environment. https://heydeeho.com.au/ourprograms/#music

    Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words and is known to accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self-expression.

    Hey Dee Ho understands that each child has their own unique set of needs and interests. They have developed a range of activities to address the varied developmental needs of all children from birth. From relaxation and mindfulness to playing musical instruments to high energy dances, Hey Dee Ho programs engage and enhance children’s learning and fine motor development while giving them plenty of opportunity for fun.

    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.

    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.

    Veggie Fun Program
    Veggie 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
    Chermside 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 5-week blocks and taught by fully qualified swimming instructors.

  • Healthy Eating
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    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
  • Awards
  • Promoting Children’s Health & Wellbeing Award 2021

    Most Sustainable Service Award 2023

    Promoting Children’s Health & Wellbeing Award 2022

    Fiona HegartyFiona Hegarty
    21:31 12 Oct 22
    We couldn’t be more pleased with our experience here. Our daughter has been so well cared for and we always feel so welcomed in the Centre. The staff are all so lovely and caring.
    elieheleliehel
    10:03 20 Sep 22
    My two boys have been here for almost 4 months and they both love it. It's not as fancy looking as some other childcare centres on the outside, but that's not important. What matters is that the educators are all so caring and bond beautifully with the children (and there's not new staff constantly coming through), there's a nice structure to the days there, and the outdoor play area is lovely. I particularly like that there's a connection to nature, with a small garden and fish pond/bath. I recommend the centre to everyone I know who is looking for care. Even my 3 year old, who used to tell me every morning he didn't want to go, now says "I'm so excited to play at childcare".
    Luisa Antunes CamposLuisa Antunes Campos
    11:43 16 Sep 22
    I just moved interstate from South Australia and was looking for a childcare for my 3 yrs old and the Chermside Early education centre initially called my attention as it was very close to my new home.I visited the centre and the staff were amazing!!! Ms Angie and Maddy were very supportive and welcomed my son Lucas since day one! My son has developed his communication skill significantly since he started attending the centre. In particular because he is bilingual, he speaks Portuguese at home and is learning English at childcare.Lucas has progressed 100% in the toilet training! He just loves going to school: I come to pick him up and I always have to insist to go home, as he loves it there. Ms Sylvia and the whole staff team are amazing, and because of my experience, I have been recommending the centre to the few friends i have made since we moved and we are all very happy! 🙂
    Danielle AppoDanielle Appo
    04:40 30 Aug 22
    Very family orientated centre. Reconciliation is at the centre of the staff here, very diverse of all cultures and always willingly open to educating themselves along with their young future leaders. The staff celebrate all holidays and making children and their families feel respected, valued and safe. I personally value how Ange and her staff create strengthened and respectful relationships between community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community. Being an Aboriginal person myself I have never felt more safe with an early education centre where my children don’t scream before before attending and wanting to come home with me, I struggled for years to find somewhere for the kids to go to as Aboriginal owned kindergartens and centres aren’t close by to where we’ve resided and coming to the Chermside Early Education Centre in with the huge Indigenous Mural painted on the outside of the Centre is where I gave myself a chance to give it a shot and we’ve never looked back. Me and my children have been attending this Centre for 6yrs now. Ange is really understanding of all struggles and always willing to help. The response we got from the centre from being affected by the floods was so warming as they gathered and donated clothes and food for affected families, they not only worried about their childrens and staffs families, the community and wider community. Very thankful of this centre and staff. & knowing my youngest son can be a typical difficult boy at times, the staff are devoted to making all parties feel understood. My children have loved each of their Teachers in their rooms. Couldn’t be anymore happy with this centre 🙂 They are Deadly!
    Leo HoganLeo Hogan
    10:58 13 Aug 22
    We've been sending our little ones here for the best part of 3 years. The ultimate measure of the centre is that we have not once had any concerns about the well-being of our children in their care. Ange and co are caring and supportive, the environment nurtures children and prepares them well for the challenges that lie ahead. We'd not hesitate to recommend the centre to our nearest and dearest.
    Lisarah BorowiczLisarah Borowicz
    06:35 09 Aug 22
    My daughter currently attends Chermside early education centre in the pre-kindy room and has been there since the nursery. I have always found that the teachers have made it easy for her to form a bond and connect with them upon building their relationships. She enjoys many things from story time, to play time, learning and group activities, to singing and dancing plus much more. I find it very helpful the ongoing updates I receive in relation to my child’s progression, the foods she eats, anything taking place in the centre whether it be educational programs, learning activities or even the immediate notice of any illness that may come about throughout the centre. The educators have always been able to assist me in helpful advice and discussions about my daughter, her progression and helping to achieve any milestones including developmental ones. Along with being able to provide my daughter with a loving, warm and educational atmosphere, I adore how the centre are always willing to come together and help the families of the children that attend the centre when it comes to how they have been affected by tragic events such as the floods, Covid and more. Not just helping our own but also doing fundraisers (such as food collections) for others.
    Fatima KamaliFatima Kamali
    02:08 24 Dec 20
    I am very impressed with the staff (Miss Kelly and Jo ) and management of this childcare centre, very friendly and supportive. The outdoor space and the learning resources are great.
    Sarahmay JonesSarahmay Jones
    22:51 02 Jun 18
    My family have been attending Chermside Early Education & Pre School since 2010 and I can not find any faults. The staff are amazing and no question is too hard. The Centre is great, from the food they provide to the activities for the children and the overall homely environment. I am updated daily on what my child has eaten, how much water they have drunk, any toilet training/accidents and also contacted if they are unwell or if there has been an injury. They are also very good at letting the parents know if there is a current illness going around the Centre and what symptoms to look for. I could not have asked for a better bunch of staff & we appreciate the time and effort you put in to assisting us to raise our children.
    Margaret Leumaga-ChanMargaret Leumaga-Chan
    23:47 21 May 18
    My little one attends afterschool care at this facility and shes always very happy and slow to leave when I pick her up. All the educators are so lovely and kind, are very supportive with homework, and show complete care in their duties to teaching and taking great care of my little one as well as all the other children. Miss Jess (the Director) is always happy to help when it comes to booking availability, financial circumstances and transparent with all things to do with the children, staff, and centre. Extremely friendly - definitely a Childcare facility to recommend.
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