St Vincent's Early Learning Centre
The St Vincent’s Early Learning Centre will no longer provide early learning and care for children and families beyond 2018. If you have any enquiries, please contact communications@ecms.org.au.
Located at St Vincent's Hospital on the fringe of the Melbourne CBD, St Vincent’s Early Learning Centre delivers high quality and inclusive childcare for children from birth to six years. Our team of nurturing and experienced educators will partner with you to develop a play-based learning program that helps your child realise their potential. Even more importantly, our educators will ensure your child is safe, secure and happy while in childcare.
Highlights of our childcare centre
- Easy access to trams, trains and buses and ample parking for easy drop-off and pick-up - making life easier for busy parents.
- Engaging and recently renovated indoor and outdoor play spaces filled with plenty of natural resources to support children's development.
- Delicious and healthy meals prepared by our talented chef to fuel children’s growth and development.
- Parents and educators can share and receive live updates about children’s learning from anywhere via the Storypark ePortfolio.
- Children can connect with their community and learn in engaging settings outside the centre via our regular excursions.
- Access to a parent lounge that offers a private and relaxing place for breastfeeding.
- A parenting resource centre with a wealth of information on parenting, nutrition, and more.
- Incursions, excursions, meals, and nappies are included within our daily fee, which means there are no hidden fees for families.
"My son is very much enjoying his time in the new combined room at St Vincent's. Communications are regular, and the use of Storypark has been very good. My son has had some specific emotional/speech developmental issues, and the assistance we have had from both Emma and Matthea has been so greatly appreciated. With their help, specifically, we have been able to coordinate William's treatment with a private speech pathologist, and they have been extremely supportive in rolling this into his childcare/educational development and giving us great feedback as we go along. I'm very very grateful for this help they have given us." - Chris S
Play is the best way for children to learn. That's why at St Vincent’s Early Learning Centre, your child's childcare program will incorporate a variety of open-ended and structured play-based learning experiences. Activities will be guided by your child's interests and capabilities, ensuring your child gets the most out of their childcare experience.
Activities will include:
- language and literature
- music and movement
- art and craft
- dramatic play
- science and maths
- sensory motor activities
- cooking and healthy eating
- activities to promote physical coordination
- incursions and excursions.
These play-based experiences will help your child develop important social, emotional, physical, language and cognitive skills.
All our childcare programs are based on the National Early Years Learning Framework “Belonging, Being and Becoming” and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.
Integrated four-year-old kindergarten
Our integrated kindergarten program is led by our wonderful bachelor qualified teacher. It features a variety of play-based experiences that help prepare children for the transition to school.
Our kindergarten program is a convenient and flexible option for families requiring care outside of kinder hours and during school holidays.
St Vincent’s Early Learning Centre rooms feature an open-plan design that enables educators to set up flexible play experiences that foster children’s imagination, curiosity and exploration.
Each room opens onto a recently renovated and spacious outdoor environment where your child can explore, play and learn. Children have access to an array of natural resources and play equipment to support their development, including:
-
a cubby house
-
a spacious boardwalk
-
a huge sandpit
-
climbing equipment.
Your child’s program will be delivered by St Vincent’s Early Learning Centre's experienced, passionate and nurturing educators. Our educators are wholly committed to ensuring each child receives the best possible experience at our centre. Our educators speak 15 languages, reflecting our culturally diverse community.
Educators will work in partnership with you – your child’s most important teacher – to develop a childcare program that reflects and builds on your child’s interests, curiosities and skills.
Educators will share live updates about your child’s learning via Storypark - a secure, login based ePortfolio. Documentation may include photographs, videos, learning stories, and samples of your child’s work. Storypark will also allow you to contribute to and comment on what your child is doing while in care. You can share your family activities and your child’s updates with educators via Storypark too.
If your child has additional needs, our educators can connect your family with specialist support.
Meet our Centre Director
My name's Sarah Kleine and I'm the Centre Director at St Vincent's Early Learning Centre. I'm an experienced leader with more than 20 years’ experience in early childhood education. I've held various roles, from educator to managing multiple children’s services. I'm committed to supporting children, families and team members to achieve their full potential. The spirit of community is central to me when creating an inclusive, safe and nurturing learning environment, as well as creating a culture of continuous improvement to ensure we are providing the best possible education and care that reflects our community’s needs.
I believe every child deserves the opportunity to create precious memories throughout their early life and am proud to provide this at St. Vincent’s Early Learning Centre.