OPEN DAYS 2023
See what our parents have to say
"Sparkways to us was light bright and open, the outdoor are was quite vast and lots of areas for Halley to explore.
We've had lots of updates with Storypark system here about what the educators have been doing with Halley. We know that they've been prompting her to really develop and push her skills, we've really noticed an improvement in her language and actually in her ability to interact with other children her age."
"I want my kid to have the best education, the best care. I really trust in Jess, trust in every educator at Sparkways, they are like my family now."
"On our recent tour, myself and my daughter were so warmly welcomed by Jess that I instantly felt comfortable with the prospect of Isobel starting daycare there. The rooms are very spacious and there are so many beautiful toys to play with and ignite the children's imagination. The centre also has a wonderful outdoor space with lots to explore."
Our Philosophy
Sparkways Carrum Downs facility offers a safe and engaging learning and care environment for all children in Carrum Downs.
We’re committed to supporting each child so they can grow and thrive together with their community. Our diverse and experienced education and care team focuses on children’s strengths, ideas and abilities, offering play-based opportunities to enhance each child’s identity, confidence and wellbeing.
By nurturing a holistic approach to educational foundations children can build confidence and resilience to support making friends, developing their problem-solving skills and managing their emotions.
We are most proud of the strong sense of community and wellbeing that bonds families and staff at our service
Our Spaces / Environment
Children learn best when they’re allowed to play and use their imagination, which is why our brand new centre is surrounded by large play areas to support all sorts of open-ended play experiences.
Inside, you’ll find our rooms are set up to provide a wide range of stimulating learning experiences in an environment that feels like home. Making it the perfect place for children to make new friends, develop their problem-solving skills, and (most importantly) have fun.
We offer the following rooms:
Wattle and Salt Bush Rooms, 0 months - 2 years
Our focus is on building trusting relationships and secure attachments between children and our educators. For children to be able to explore and grow it is essential that they feel safe and nurtured to thrive. Routines are tailored around individual children’s needs and developed in collaboration with each child’s families. We recognise the importance of having regular communication with families each day during the hand over at the start and end of the day.
Children in the Wattle and Salt bush rooms will engage in a range of experiences that will support their development. Sensory activities, outdoor play with natural materials that provide opportunity to discover new textures and sensations. Many experiences are set up on the floor with activities that give infants plenty of time to build up their core muscles. Stories and singing play a big part in this room introducing early literacy concepts such as rhythm, beat and a love of reading.
Banksia Room, 2 years - 3 years
The focus for this room is beginning to socialise and develop friendships. This age group is learning about sharing so we provide many resources to support this as well as opportunities to take turns and develop independence. Children are encouraged to do more for themselves such as putting away their bags, learning how to put on our socks and coats and assisting to set the table for meal times and scrape our bowls when we are finished. This provides children with a sense of accomplishment and confidence to try new things.
We will provide lots of opportunities for outdoor play to develop and refine important physical development as well as to develop an appreciation of nature and sustainability. We will introduce caring for our veggie patch and water conservation by discussing the importance of saving water in different ways. There will be lots of opportunity for construction such as block building, train sets and construction and imaginative play through home corner, dress ups and other dramatic play themed experiences relevant to the children’s interests.
Snow Gum Room, 3 years - 5 years
Our focus for children in this room is social and emotional development, practicing and learning skills to make friends, resolve conflict, develop resilience and empathy and respect for others. We gradually build up children’s concentration spans by providing small group work that increases over time and provide plenty of opportunities to develop pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills through a range of resources and equipment. These will provide the foundational skills required for a strong and confident start to school.
Some of the experiences you will see will include dramatic play, block building and construction equipment, art experiences using a variety of art and craft resources and recycled materials. Children are encouraged to use and explore different materials to make their own creations without the use of stencils or pre-cut templates that can stifle creativity. You may see some interesting inquiry projects occurring, where children and educators research topics of interest together to learn more about the world around them.
Begin the Adventure at Carrum Downs Childcare & Early Learning Centre
Inclusions
There is no substitute for quality education and our programs are designed specifically to spark curious, creative, and confident children!
At Sparkways Early Learning Carrum Downs, we understand that children learn best through play and through using their own imagination, which is why all our programs and facilities have been designed to support and encourage play-based learning.
With our team of highly qualified and experienced educators, you can expect:
- High-quality long daycare
- Integrated 3-year-old and 4-year-old (funded) kindergarten program delivered by qualified and experienced Early Childhood Teachers
- Play-based early learning programs to stimulate lifelong learning
- Personalised and individual support through our Family Support Facilitators
- Resident cook providing nutritiously-balanced, seasonal meals, using ingredients sourced from our very own kitchen garden
- Large outdoor play area to encourage open-ended play experiences and to let your child’s imagination run wild!
- StoryPark account to help parents keep in touch with staff and keep track of their child’s development
- Community rooms
- Ample parking
- No hidden costs or fees
Meet the team
We do a lot of learning programs here such as our paddock-to-plate. The children get to go out and water their seeds and watch them grow, and then when they grow, they get to pick them and bring them back into the kitchen to cook with our chef who'll go into the rooms with them.
Sparkways' philosophy is based off the children's interests and needs, and we also get a lot of parent feedback as well. Everything that a parent tells us, we like to try to incorporate into all of our programs
We are full of passion that we want to give the best to the children, we want to work the best with our families. Everybody here, we are amazing educators, I'm pretty proud of that.
What would be special about the team here is the relationships really. That they can communicate with parents, that they have the same philosophies, the same ideals, the same things that they want to achieve. And I think they pretty much have it here.
Led by our Centre Director Jessica Hill, Sparkways offers families a diverse and experienced education and care team who welcome and integrate children’s strengths, ideas and abilities to offer play-based opportunities to enhance each child’s identity, confidence and wellbeing.
Timetables & Fees
Opening Hours
7:00am – 6:00pm, Monday to Friday
| Age | Daily Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 3 Year Olds | $140 |
| Over 3 Year Olds | $135 |
| 3 Year old kindergarten | Free from 2023 - see below |
| 4 year old kindergarten | Free from 2023 - see below |
From 2023, the Victorian Government is making kindergarten programs free for three and four-year-old children – saving you up to $2,000 per year for each year of a kindergarten program your child attends in an integrated long daycare setting. Free Kinder is a critical component of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reform.
The Victorian Government’s Free Kinder payments will be deducted from the childcare fees that you pay, up to a value of $2,000 for a 15-hour program. If your child is enrolled in an Integrated Three-Year-Old Kindergarten at program for less than 600 hours per year, Free Kinder will be applied on a pro-rata basis.
Note: Our daily fees are all-inclusive and include freshly prepared meals, bottles, nappies, bedding, incursions, and excursions.
FAQs
How do you communicate with parents and guardians?
All families have access to Story Park. Storypark is communication tool that has been designed to help record and allow you to share in your child’s milestones and activities. You can also connect other members of your family to see your child’s photos and videos.
Are meals and snacks provided, or do children bring a lunchbox?
All food is prepared on-site by our resident chef who takes great care to provide nutritiously balanced, seasonal meals, using ingredients sourced from our very own kitchen garden. Our chef works in the kitchen every day to deliver nutritionally balanced meals catering to all dietary requirements. Chef also tailors afternoon and morning teas to celebrate birthdays and events such as Book Week.
How is food used to teach the children about healthy eating and nutrition?
We have a one-of-a-kind kitchen garden that is the core of our Veggie Patch-to-Plate nutritional program. Not only are children taught about where their food comes from and the benefits of healthy eating, but our resident chef also holds and supervises cooking classes with the children teaching them child-friendly recipes like Home-Made Pizza and Pancakes!
Get the recipes yourself by clicking the links below:
What special rooms or activities do you have inside?
Reading nooks are a favorite with children and families as well as art and craft corners - set up with easels, paints, paper and smocks and not to mention other art and craft materials.
What kind of activities do you offer?
We are committed to providing a stimulating and caring environment for all infants and children in our care. Through collaboration with our local community, we encourage exploration while embracing diversity and community inclusion in our play-based programs and activities:
- Arts and crafts
- Music and movement
- Gardening
- Dramatic play
- Cooking and healthy eating
- Recycling and sustainability
- Sensory-motor activities
- Science and mathematics
- Incursions and excursions
- Indigenous and multicultural practices
What equipment is outside for the children to play with?
Our outdoor environment supports a range of diverse learning experiences and sensory play.
- Bikes
- Walking frame
- Water play
- Large sunshade protected sandpits with outdoor toys and tools
- Ball games
- Monkey bars
- Outdoor activity tables with rotating set-ups
What types of incursions and excursions do you have for the children?
Incursions:
- Gardening
- Learning about building - as the Early Learning Centre is still new and developing, children enjoy watching builders from a safe distance while asking questions and observing our maintenance teams
- Future incursion plans with the Police and local Fire Brigade
- Future incursions with Paramedics – some of our parents are Paramedics
Excursions:
- Future Bunnings trips
- Park/nature reserve visits
Current Shop-a-docket offer: T&C's
For full Shop-a-docket Terms and Conditions, click here.
