Goodstart Waurn Ponds

Goodstart Early Learning Waurn Ponds is located in a convenient spot for easy daily drop-offs and pick-ups, close to schools, shops and residential areas.

The centre provides places for up to 122 children per day, and provides early education and care programs including a Government Funded Kindergarten Program five day a week to university staff, students and local families, caring for children from six weeks to five years – in rooms from Nursery to Kindergarten / Preschool.  

Inside, our rooms are set up in line with our curriculum and programs, and reflect the Early Years Learning Framework. Although, our Storypark platform means we can stay in close contact with parents and ensure they are aware of their child’s development and achievements. At the core of our programming is an understanding of the children’s individual needs, interests and strengths – so communication is key in this process.

We focus on using the natural environment as the third teacher. Our outside play spaces and resources are natural and reflect on the tranquillity that encompasses our environment. We have garden beds, grass, tan bark play areas, vegetable patches, sand pits, mud pits and lots of shaded play areas across our small yard, large yard, and central courtyard. This provides opportunities for children to explore and express wonder in their environment. Educators and teachers engage in conversations that encourage thinking and imaginative skills in their everyday play experiences. 

Our early learning centre offers community and family spaces, natural environments and our onsite centre cook prepares nutritious meals for all the children, including children with dietary requirements.  

Drop off and pick up is made easy for families as we have ample car parking opportunities in our secure car park. 

Please feel free to give us a call or pop in for a visit. We would love to show you around. 

Our vision

For children

Our vision is to provide a unique environment for children and offer them the opportunity to weave their lives around the campus community while enabling them to develop and explore using the natural environment as a 3rd teacher.

For families

We welcome and support families to be a part of their children’s every day learning experiences and provide convenience and ease of access for university and local families.

For educators

We enable educators to engage with a range of university faculties with specific emphasis on the School of education and focus recruitment on high quality educators.

For the community

Our vision is to design the building to allow future growth to accommodate University and Community groups to integrate within the centre. In order to continue to support growth of local employment and workforce participation, Goodstart will seek to employ within the community and provide accessible and affordable childcare to ensure families have access to care while participating in the workforce.