Great Beginnings Applecross

Meeting
5.0 /5
22 reviews

Childcare and kindergarten in Applecross, WA

Welcome to Great Beginnings Applecross. Our daycare and early learning centre is a convenient choice for local families living in Applecross, Ardross, Melville, Attadale and Mount Pleasant. Great Beginnings Applecross offers long day care and a kindergarten program for children aged 18 months to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.

Our purpose-built child care and kindergarten centre in Applecross offers innovative early learning programs in a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment. Our outdoor environments provide ample space for children to explore, featuring a mud kitchen, covered deck, sun-protected area, playground and vegetable garden. Inside, our boutique centre features a Toddler Room and a Kindy Room, catering to children from 18 months to school age. Children also have access to a café for meals and an art room. Our team of longstanding educators includes a Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher who delivers a kindergarten program that prepares children for school. We also offer Junior Goal Soccer classes every Thursday and educational excursions. We have great connections with local schools, with our kindergarten children visiting our nearby primary school regularly. Additionally, we host quarterly “date nights” for families, providing two hours of free after-hours care.

Why you’ll love Great Beginnings Applecross

Spacious outdoor environments

Passionate, qualified educators

Chef-prepared meals

Kindergarten program

Family communication app

Extended/flexible hours

Sports program

Incursions/excursions

Vegetable garden

Close to public transport

Meet our Centre Manager

Christine

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
“My approach is to get down to the children’s level, learn their interests, listen to them, ask questions, and offer choices to extend their learning.”

I began my journey in early learning in 2018 as an assistant educator. I have experience working with all age groups, including working as an Educational Leader and Assistant Centre Manager before stepping up to the role of Centre Manager.

I’m deeply passionate about working with children, believing in the importance of developing trusted and secure relationships with them and providing a safe and nurturing environment for their growth. I strive to offer children encouragement and provide them with the time and space to explore at their own pace, stepping in to scaffold their learning when needed. My approach is to get down to the children’s level, learn their interests, listen to them, ask questions, and offer choices to extend their learning.

I believe in the importance of a nurturing environment for children to develop, learn, and grow, making a positive impact on their lives from a young age. I often explain to families that attending a dedicated early childhood education and care centre offers children opportunities to develop social skills, problem-solving abilities, and independence through structured routines, helping them get ready for school and life.

We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful early education centre in Applecross.

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Our innovative early learning programs

At our early learning centre in Applecross, our experienced educators and teachers continually seek innovative ways to enrich your child’s education. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, we offer a variety of engaging and diverse learning experiences, including:

Sustainability

Sustainability is a key part of our philosophy, reflected in our monthly sustainability collection, book library, use of natural resources, compost bin, and herb garden. We incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition, teaching children to care for the land.

Community engagement

We organise regular excursions to local businesses, as well as monthly nursing home visits and community walks, to support children’s education through community involvement. We often visits to local primary schools in Applecross to help children familiarise with a school setting.

STEM

We encourage your child to ask questions, experiment, and problem-solve, all while engaging their natural curiosity. By fostering this inquisitive mindset, we help them develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

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Age-appropriate Early Learning

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(16 months – 2.5 years)

Toddler

Our toddler room is set up with intentional play-based learning in mind. Within the curriculum framework, play enables your toddler to develop fundamental skills for life-long learning. It also creates the perfect environment to socialise and form friendships. Our activities enhance language skills and promote collaborative group play, laying a strong foundation for their future learning experiences.

  Next: Kindergarten
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(2.5 – 5 years)

Kindergarten

Guided by WA’s kindergarten guidelines, our curriculum is tailored to accommodate your child’s individual learning and development needs, which helps boost their enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to learn. Our bachelor-qualified early childhood teacher, Ingrid, designs structured learning experiences every day to support your child in gaining the necessary skills for a successful transition into school and beyond.

Previous: Toddler  
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Kindergarten and school-readiness program

At our early learning centre, your child will benefit from our enhanced learning program in kindergarten combined with our play-based learning program. With the added convenience of long daycare hours, our kindergarten program runs all year round, perfect for busy families.

The added benefits of our kindergarten program include:

  • Extended long day care opening hours
  • Open all year round (excl. public holidays)
  • Programs developed and delivered by our qualified educators and teachers
  • Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation
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We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating

Thanks to the chef at our Applecross child care centre, your child can expect healthy, nutritious, and yummy meals. We offer a four-week rotating menu audited against Australian Dietary Guidelines, with progressive mealtimes to encourage a relaxed dining experience. Our Café International features diverse items to promote cultural discussions. Children are encouraged to self-serve and develop self-help skills by scraping their own bowls and wiping their own faces after their meal. We cater catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child.

What a typical day looks like for your child

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Arrival at the centre

Your child will be welcomed by our team of educators, who will ensure the morning transition from home to centre goes as smoothly as possible. On arrival, share information about your child’s specific needs for the day.

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Mealtimes

Our centre chefs prepare a nutritious menu for your child to sit down and eat. This is a great time for everyone to share stories from the day. Educators model healthy eating practices, social behaviours and support children’s growing independence with mealtime routines.

Previous: Arrival at the centre Next: Infant care
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Infant care

If you have an infant, we spend one-on-one time with them to establish a connection. Educators talk gently and respond to babies’ cues. We use songs, games, and conversations to strengthen relationships and build language skills.

Previous: Mealtimes Next: Play-based learning
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Play-based learning

Your child is naturally curious. They want to learn and explore, which is why we teach through play-based learning. It supports language, motor skills, memory, emotions and social relationships. Educators plan play-based learning experiences based on children’s interests and goals.

Previous: Infant care Next: Sleep, rest and relaxation
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Sleep, rest and relaxation

We match routines to your child’s individual needs. Opportunities for rest and relaxation help make them feel safe. Play-based learning experiences are provided for older children who no longer don’t sleep in centre.

Previous: Play-based learning Next: Heading home
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Heading home

As your child prepares to head home, this is your opportunity to speak with our friendly educators about your child’s day and everything they learnt. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow.

Previous: Sleep, rest and relaxation  

Communicating with families

We prioritise clear and consistent communication with families to foster a strong partnership in supporting each child’s development. We ensure families feel informed, involved, and confident in their child’s early learning journey.

Our families love hearing about their child’s progress and the experiences they’re having day to day. We share these moments through centre newsletters, our Xplor App, one-on-one meetings, and at various centre events.

Fees

The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.

  • Nursery0 – 2 years

    $187.50
  • Toddler2 – 3 years

    $187.50
  • Kindergarten3 – 5 years

    $187.50

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*

1-4 days = full day session; 5 days = 10 hour per day sessions

CCS Estimator results

  • Estimated subsidy

    $0.00
  • Total fees

    $0.00
  • Out-of-pocket cost

    $0.00

*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:

  • Accuracy and currency of family income information entered.
  • Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
  • Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres).
  • Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight).
  • Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.

For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.

Calculate my subsidy

Explore nearby G8 Education centres

Looking for other great childcare, kindergarten or preschool options? Discover more G8 Education centres near you!

Frequently asked questions

A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.

On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.

Our Family Support team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Great Beginnings centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.

Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.

Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.

For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits and spare socks.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits and spare socks.

Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.

It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.

Great Beginnings uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.

After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.

If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Great Beginnings is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.

Contact us

We look forward to welcoming your family.