Glass House Mountains Queensland 4518
Australia
Name: Allison Baynham
Tell us about your career in Early Childhood. How long have you been working in the industry?
With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, my journey began in the kitchen before progressing through various roles, ultimately leading me to the position of Centre Director. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with children ranging from six weeks to 12 years old. My passion lies in the foundational early years, where I find immense joy in fostering growth, development, and a lifelong love of learning.
What qualifications do you hold that support you in your role?
I hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care as well as a Diploma in School-Aged Care. These qualifications have provided me with the essential knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality education and care, tailored to meet the developmental needs of children at different stages.
When did you first join the QCCS team?
I became part of the QCCS family in February 2023 at the Glasshouse location, where I immediately felt a deep connection with the children, families, and my fellow educators. In October 2024, I briefly stepped away but soon realised how much I missed the joy, laughter, and rewarding experiences that come with shaping young minds. My passion for early childhood education drew me back, and in November 2024, I eagerly returned, excited to continue making a difference and supporting young learners on their developmental journey.
What do you find most rewarding about your career in Early Childhood?
The most rewarding aspect of my career is the opportunity to positively influence a child’s development during their crucial early years. Helping children grow, nurturing their curiosity, and supporting them as they build social and emotional skills is incredibly fulfilling. Witnessing their milestones, newfound confidence, and enthusiasm for learning serves as a constant reminder of the lasting impact early childhood educators have on their future.
Why should families choose Glasshouse Early Education Centre?
Glasshouse Early Education Centre is an outstanding choice for families seeking a nurturing, enriching, and high-quality learning environment for their children. Our passionate and experienced team is dedicated to fostering a strong foundation for lifelong learning, ensuring that every child feels supported, valued, and encouraged to explore their unique interests. With a focus on holistic development, creativity, and emotional well-being, we provide a safe, engaging, and inspiring space where children can truly thrive.
Why do you choose to work for QCCS?
I choose to work for QCCS because of their unwavering commitment to excellence in early childhood education and their dedication to creating a supportive environment for both children and educators. Their values align with my passion for child development, and I appreciate the opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and innovation. Being part of an organisation that prioritises both the well-being of children and the success of its educators allows me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the families we serve.
Welcome to Glasshouse Early Education Centre and Preschool! Our Centre is centrally located in the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains. We are on the main road just 450m from the Glasshouse Mountains State School, in close proximity to local shops (950m away) and 550m to our local railway station.
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 6:30pm. We are open Monday through to Friday, 52 weeks a year (excluding public holidays). Our Centre opened in October 2006 and caters for 151 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 Glasshouse State School, Beerburrum State School and Glasshouse Christian 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
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 (Indonesian), 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.
Bush Kindy Program
Our children eagerly anticipate their fortnightly Bush Kindy Sessions. Each session runs for approximately two hours and begins with a short walk to the Page Street Nature Reserve.
As part of our Bush Kindy Program we learn all about the world around us and connect with nature whilst always acknowledging the traditional landowners – the Kabi Kabi people. Children are given the chance to explore and learn new things, climbing, running and inadvertently expanding upon their gross motor skills. Exploring the plants, trees, rocks and water creates spontaneous conversation, interactions and valuable risk-taking opportunities. The sessions are unstructured and initiated by the children, to inspire problem solving and promote self-confidence.
Observing insects/animals in their natural habitat is often a highlight for the children, their excitement and intrigue is always evident in their laughter and smiles. The Educators encourage their inquisitive instincts and questions.
There are many known physical and social benefits to exploring nature and evidence shows that exposure to nature can reduce stress and increase academic performance. This is especially important in the technology driven world we live in where screen time is ever increasing for adults and children alike.
Swimming Program
Glasshouse 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.
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.
Vegie 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.
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

Monday | |
Tuesday | |
Wednesday | |
Thursday | |
Friday | |
Saturday | Closed |
Sunday | Closed |