Welcome to the Early Learning Centre

PLC’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) provides an exceptional educational experience of depth and quality for pre-school girls and boys from six months old to school age, and for the older children, innovative kindergarten programs. Set in the beautiful grounds of the PLC campus, the ELC is colourful and spacious, with creative design features that aligns with a child's view of the world.
 
Our unique, enquiry-based approach embraces the many languages of childhood and encourages children to become enthusiastic participants and communicators, actively contributing to their own learning.
 

Children’s natural curiosity is nurtured and stimulated in an environment that owes much to the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. The children are encouraged to make discoveries, develop theories, imagine, explore and interpret. Our indoor and outdoor programs promote a love of learning, independence, co-operation and confidence. Each day is filled with opportunities for sharing, laughing, running, singing, dancing, collaborating, experimenting, creating and expressing ideas.

The staff at our ELC are highly qualified in the early childhood field. They include experienced kindergarten teachers and other early childhood professionals specifically selected for their ability to develop warm, sensitive relationships with the children in their care.

Access to Junior School facilities, resources and specialist staff complement the programs for the three-year-old Kindergarten and four-year-old Pre-Prep children. Music, library, the physical education program, swimming, guest performers and excursions further enhance the learning experience of our pre-schoolers.

Our extensive Transition Program from Pre-Prep to Prep, assists the children’s smooth progression to Junior school.

 

 

Hours of operation

The ELC is open between 7.45am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday for 48 weeks of the year, and closes for approximately four weeks over the Christmas vacation. Children enrolled in the 3 and 4 year-old Kindergarten programs have the option of attending for 48 weeks per year (full-time or part-time) between 7.45am and 6.00pm, or for the duration of the PLC school terms (full-time or part-time) between 8.30am and 3.30pm.

A partnership with parents

Parents and families are always welcome to visit and join in with activities at the ELC. We believe the benefits to children of supportive family relationships cannot be over-estimated and encourage the overlap of positive family relationships in a social context. This inspires the children to respect and recognise individual differences, and enables them to develop confidence and a healthy understanding of themselves and others.

Exceeding national quality standards

Our ELC has been assessed by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) whose standards apply to all Australian early learning centres, pre-schools, kindergartens and childcare centres. PLC is rated as ‘Exceeding’ the National Quality benchmarks for all seven areas of the National Quality Standard. 

Transition to Junior School

Transitioning from the ELC to the Junior School is a smooth process, as we take the girls on regular visits to the Library, Hall and Sports and Aquatic Centres prior to joining. This ensures they are familiar with the surroundings and looking forward to having access to the facilities. 

Transition sessions for girls and parents begin in May and there is always great excitement about starting in the Junior School as the time to move into Prep draws closer. The ELC girls can also see the Junior School as they arrive each morning, which fuels their enthusiasm for joining the older girls in the “big school”.

Rebates

The Federal Government Child Care Subsidy is available for all eligible families.

Enrol Now

Entry into the ELC is offered to boys and girls for childcare from six months to three years of age. Kindergarten and Pre-Prep programs are available from three years of age on either a term-based program or a 48-week extended hours program.

Priority is given firstly to girls who are fully enrolled to enter Prep in the Junior School, and then to those with a family association with PLC.