Underwood Early Learning & Kindergarten

Our early learning centre in Underwood 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.”

— Krystle Ambler, Underwood Service Director

 

What Parents are Saying…

“Play and learn have since day one welcomed my little girl into the centre and treated her as family. Which is what everyone wants, we all want a daycare who care for our kids like their own and that is what they do.

My little girl has learnt so much from being at daycare and made some friends that she is always excited to see every week.

The staff / teachers are amazing, and it is a daycare my little girl will be at until it is school time. “

— Kimberley Hamnett

 

“Our daughter has been at Play & Learn Underwood for about a year now and she has come along leaps and bounds. She goes 2 days a week and every week she is learning something new and constantly surprising us with what she knows.

The educators have been wonderful with her and are constantly keeping me informed as to how she is doing, I can’t speak highly enough of them.

She loves all the outdoor play, creative activities, crafts and the special themed days when she gets to dress up.

We look forward to our daily email with photos and telling what exciting things she got up to.

Thank you Play & Learn Underwood for helping shape our daughter into a smart, caring & beautiful girl.”

— Beth G.

 

“My son joined Underwood Play & Learn in March and had a very hard time settling in at first. Tempany and all the other staff did such a wonderful job in making his transition smooth, making him feel comfortable and the quality of care is excellent. The centre has provided him with all the resources he needs to learn and thrive. Since he started attending Play & Learn he has acquired so much skills that he uses both at the Centre and at home and I couldn’t be more grateful for Play & Learn staff for their help and support with helping my son learn and grow. The centre is very good at acknowledging different children’s culture and special needs and makes sure to provide the best for their day to day needs. My son wouldn’t have gotten this far without attending this wonderful Centre.”

— Sheena R.

 

“Since my daughter started almost 6 months ago, I have been absolutely blown away by the standards at Underwood Play and Learn. The vibe given when we first visited was so amazing that I knew this would be our chosen centre – the staff are so attentive to every child; the rooms are clean, and all the information required is easily and readily available to parents. Zadie settled in super quick to the kindy room thanks to the staff and has made so many friends. Zadie boasts about her days and is learning and making new things every day. I love that every teacher knows every child by name and are all so helpful at drop off and pick-up time. I am so impressed with the service and highly recommend to any family.”

— Jen T.

 

“At Underwood Play and Learn I am greeted every morning by the centre director upon entering the reception. The educators are friendly and always happy to answer any questions in regards to my child.

My son tells me all the different things he has done at daycare on the drive home. I often find myself amazed at the new skills he has learnt such as applying sunscreen, putting on his socks and shoes, cleaning up after eating and unlocking toilet cubicle just to list a few.

There is always children’s artwork on display and they even educate on how to be environmentally friendly!

There is plenty of onsite large parking spaces and their has never been a day I haven’t been able to get a park!

I would highly recommend this centre to anyone in the Underwood and surrounding suburbs.”

— Tiffany D.

Our Team

Cassie-Blair
Cassie Blair
Area Manager
Krystle Ambler
Krystle Ambler
Service Director

Facilities

Infants (6 weeks – 18 months)

Play and Learn Child Care Underwood’s infant room is licensed for 12 children with 3 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)

Play and Learn Child Care Underwood’s Toddler care 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)

Play and Learn Underwood Kindy program cater for children 2-4 yrs, we have two Kindy rooms.

Jnr Kindy which is licensed for 15 children aged approx. 2-3 yrs with 2 permanently employed educators and Senior Kindy for children aged 3-4 yrs.

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 Pre-prep program at Underwood Play and Learn Child Care 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 Play and Learn Child Care Underwood!! 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 Child Care Underwood 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.

Fee Schedule

(Subject to change without prior notice)

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

What you need to bring

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Wide Brim Hat

Your first sun smart hat is supplied by Play and Learn
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Water Bottle

To keep children hydrated throughout the day
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Footwear

So little feet get used to wearing shoes
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Linen & Blankets

Play and Learn will supply all linen.
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Spare Clothes

For after water play or lunch time adventures
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Preferred Formula

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

That special item your child find comfort in
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A Bag

To put everything into morning and afternoon

Upcoming Events

Jan

International Kite Festival activities in the centre

January 13, 2023

International Kite Festival activities in the centre

Jan

Chinese New Year

January 22, 2023

Chinese New Year

Jan

Australia Day

January 26, 2023

Australia Day

Feb

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2023

Valentine’s Day

Feb

Random Acts of Kindness

February 17, 2023

Random Acts of Kindness

Mar

International Woman's Day

March 8, 2023

International Woman's Day

Mar

World Story Telling Day

March 20, 2023

World Story Telling Day

Apr

Easter Bonnet Parade

April 6, 2023

Easter Bonnet Parade

Apr

Anzac Day

April 25, 2023

Anzac Day

Apr

Superhero Day- Raising money for Muscular Dystrophy

April 28, 2023

Superhero Day- Raising money for Muscular Dystrophy

May

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

May 12, 2023

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

May

International Day of Families

May 15, 2023

International Day of Families

May

Pyjama Day

May 31, 2023

Pyjama Day

Jun

World Environment Day

June 5, 2023

World Environment Day

Jun

World Ocean Day

June 8, 2023

World Ocean Day

Jun

Father's Day Afternoon Tea

June 16, 2023

Father's Day Afternoon Tea

Jun

International Mud Day

June 29, 2023

International Mud Day

Jul

Naidoc Week (2nd - 7th)

July 2, 2023

Naidoc Week (2nd - 7th)

Jul

Matariki

July 14, 2023

Matariki

Jul

Pyjama Day

July 27, 2023

Pyjama Day

Aug

Ekka Starts

August 16, 2023

Ekka Starts

Aug

Grandparents Day

August 21, 2023

Grandparents Day

Aug

Centre Photos (TBA)

Event Date

Centre Photos (TBA)

Sep

International Day of Charity

September 5, 2023

International Day of Charity

Sep

Educators Day

September 6, 2023

Educators Day

Sep

International Literacy Day

September 8, 2023

International Literacy Day

Sep

National Pancake Day

September 26, 2023

National Pancake Day

Oct

Space Week

October 2, 2023

Space Week

Oct

World Teachers Day

October 5, 2023

World Teachers Day

Oct

World Mental Health Day

October 10, 2023

World Mental Health Day

Oct

Day for Daniel

October 27, 2023

Come dressed in red

Oct

Halloween

October 31, 2023

Halloween

Nov

Diwali Day Activities

November 10, 2023

Diwali Day Activities

Nov

World Kindness Day

November 13, 2023

World Kindness Day

Dec

Pre-Prep Graduation (TBA)

Event Date

Pre-Prep Graduation (TBA)

Dec

Children’s Christmas Party (TBA)

Event Date

Children’s Christmas Party (TBA)

Contact Details

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