Avenues Early Learning Centre Norman Park Review

Avenues Early Learning Centre Norman Park is a privately owned and operated childcare centre that caters to 157 children daily, aged between 6 weeks and 5 years. It has been designed to cater to the needs of children and their families with long day care facilities. Staff aim to ensure that children’s development will be encouraged, enhanced, and supported in an environment, which will cater to the individual needs of each child.

At Avenues Norman Park Early Learning Centre, all staff aim to provide a warm, caring atmosphere where each child and their family feels welcome and secure. This is an environment that has its own unique rich culture that recognises, embraces and values diversity. Their aim is to foster within each child an awareness and acceptance of others, developing respect for those who may be different from themselves in terms of lifestyle, abilities, and beliefs.

All programs are prepared with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals such as language, literacy and math, as well as the creative arts (art, music, and dance), development of life skills, problem-solving and investigation. The weekly programs are influenced by the Early Years Learning Framework with a strong emphasis on the Reggio Emilia approach. Each Program is prepared by qualified Early Childhood Educators. Each child’s individual needs and interests are considered whilst preparing the room’s program. The programs and experiences provided are appropriate to the child’s age and stage of development.

Children are offered a range of learning experiences both indoors and outdoors and need to use all their senses if they are to experience, discover and learn about their world. The programs take into consideration the multicultural backgrounds of the communities they are located in. The staff aim to break down and challenge traditional stereotypes, respect similarities and differences whilst promoting an atmosphere of inclusiveness. The centre’s educators are respectful of individual differences, interests, styles, and rates of learning. They encourage children’s independence and aim to increase their awareness of the community and the people around them.

Avenues Early Learning Centre Norman Park Parent Fact Sheet

Education Type: Long day care centre

Days & Hours of Operation: 7:00am to 6:00pm – 52 weeks per year. Only closed public holidays.

Ages of Care:  6 weeks to school-age children

Staff Ratio: Standard for QLD –

• 6 weeks to 2yrs – 4 children to 1 staff member
• 2 years to 3 years – 5 children to 1 staff member
• 3 years to 5 years – 11 children to 1 staff member

Food Provided: On-site qualified chef at the centre – morning tea, hot lunch, afternoon tea and late afternoon tea provided daily.

Nappies Provided: Yes. Sunscreen, wipes and bedding for children aged under 15 months also provided.

National Quality Standards (NQS) Rating: Exceeding

Size of Centre: 9 rooms from nursery to kindergarten

Point of Difference: Avenues Early Learning Centre Norman Park employs mature staff who have worked at the centre for 5+ years within all rooms. Their well-developed Kindergarten program has been formulated with local schools to get children ready to attend prep. Native bee farm/worm farm/vegetable gardens on all levels to support children’s learning about the environment.

Centre Philosophy

Avenues Early Learning Centre Norman Park provides a high-quality child care service for the benefit of the children and families who attend and is a dedicated facility to the community. Their aim is to provide a professional, personalised, friendly service, in a modern, first-class centre, designed specifically to enhance children’s learning and development.

For children –

• Children have the right to an education that maximises their abilities and respects their family, cultural and other identities, and language.
• Each child has unique qualities and abilities and they respect children’s individuality.
• Children move through various stages of development and staff endeavour to cater to their needs accordingly.
• Children have a right to play and be active participants in all matters affecting their lives.
• Each child is a life-long learner and works towards being successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens.

For learning –

• Children’s learning is dynamic, complex and holistic. Physical, social, emotional, personal, spiritual, creative, cognitive and linguistic aspects of learning are all intricately interwoven and interrelated. 
• The centre will provide an environment where children are able to explore and interact with materials in creative and interesting ways. Environments are safe, inclusive and free of bias, encouraging multiculturalism.
• Play-based learning is invaluable to a child’s development and staff will actively interact and engage in children’s play to further provoke ideas, encourage problem-solving and help children express their knowledge through projects. Play is a context for learning through which a child can organise and make sense of social worlds, as they engage with people, objects and representations.
• Children’s ideas and thoughts are valued and extended upon by the engagement in medium/long term projects. Projects are in-depth studies of concepts, ideas and interests which arise within the group. The project and adventure of learning may last a week or several weeks.
• Projects will focus on the interests of the children, through community or family events or as the known interests of children and are designed to promote the development of the whole child.
• Children are encouraged to work in collaborative group work, both small and large, and this is considered valuable and necessary to advance cognitive development. Children are encouraged to dialogue, critique, compare, negotiate and problem solve through group work.
• Children’s play and learning will be documented and used to plan effectively for their current and future learning. Assessment will include the gathering and analysing of information about what children know, can do and understand. This will be communicated and shared with families to reflect the ongoing partnership between family and the centre.

For families –

• Families are viewed as partners, collaborators and advocates for their children. Staff recognise that they are the children’s first and most influential educators.
• Parents and families should always be kept informed about their child’s progress and interests.
• Encouraging parents and families to involve themselves in Centre happenings.
• Staff work in co-operation with parents and families, sharing information and respecting the importance of their role.
• Listening to parents and families’ concerns and suggestions and acting on them appropriately.
• Providing a service to parents and families that assists them in quality of life for their children and themselves.

For educators –

• Educators bring a vast amount of professional judgements, in which they weave together their professional knowledge and skills, knowledge of children, families and community, as well as personal styles and past experiences. In conjunction, they bring forth creativity and intuition to demonstrate flexibility to suit the time, place, and context of learning.
• Educators work to inspire, mentor, and facilitate the learning process by carefully listening, observing, and documenting children’s work.
• Educators test children’s theories and ideas, help them to research, provide materials, resources and scaffold their learning to help them make sense of the world around them.
• To document children’s learning process through portfolios, photos, and other means.
• As a group, staff must develop effective communication skills and act as a positive role model for each other.
• Staff will undertake ongoing professional development to update their skills and knowledge to provide the highest quality care and education to children in their care.

For the community –

• The great vastness of cultures within the community should be valued and respected and embraced as a resource to educate others.
• Staff will provide experiences that reflect the diversity of the community
• Staff will work together with other agencies and professionals in order to meet the needs of the children and their families.
• The environment helps us learn. Staff will aim to encourage the services around them to collaborate in learning and share their knowledge within their service. As early childhood educators, they draw upon knowledge of the following documents which are used to inform our philosophy and practices: Early Years Learning Framework, Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines, National Quality Standards, and Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations.

What parents are saying

“We were very nervous to move our little one from one day care to another due to moving areas, however the transition between the two schools has been made so easy by the welcoming and friendly staff. My son settled in from the first day and gets excited each day when I ask him if he wants to go to his new school. This is a true reflection of the great staff at Avenues. I would highly recommend this day care!” – Kate

“Thank you for the amazing service and care that you have brought to our family over the last 2 years. We could not recommend the Centre more.” – Bre

“The centre and staff have been amazing, and I feel blessed to have had both my children attend.” – Loretta

“Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience for our children. Much more than a day care centre.” – Raelene

Avenues Early Learning Centre Norman Park is located at 117 Agnew Street, Norman Park.

To arrange a tour or to enrol your child, please visit their website.