Goodstart Early Learning Tapping

We are very thrilled to share that Nicola has officially been appointed as our new Centre Director!

Having stepped into the role in an acting capacity while Claire was supporting other areas of the business, Nicola has shown incredible dedication, professionalism, and care. Her commitment to creating positive experiences for children, families, and educators has been evident every day.

Please join us in congratulating Nicola on this well-deserved appointment. We are excited for this new chapter and look forward to seeing all the wonderful things that lie ahead under her leadership. We know that our children, families, and educators are in very capable hands, and we can't wait to continue this journey together. 🎉🌟

Whether your child is already attending early learning, getting ready to start, or you're still exploring your options, it's natural to have questions.

💭 Will my child feel safe and supported? 💭 How will they cope with new experiences and changes? 💭 What can I do to help them feel confident and settled?

Listen to Episode 1 of What I Wish I Knew... The Early Learning Guide podcast, with child development expert Dr Billy Garvey as he explains why transitions are such an important part of childhood and how strong, supportive relationships help children navigate change with confidence.

From starting early learning to moving rooms, making new friends or tackling other big milestones, transitions are a normal part of growing up. When children feel safe, supported and connected, they're more likely to embrace new experiences, build confidence and develop the resilience they need to thrive.

🎧 Tune in to hear Dr Billy's expert insights and explore more episodes of What I Wish I Knew... The Early Learning Guide podcast: https://brnw.ch/21x5zrp

💛 Because every child deserves to feel safe, supported and a true sense of belonging as they grow, learn and discover the world around them.

💛 National Child Protection Week 💛

At our service, creating a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for children is at the heart of everything we do. While we are recognising National Child Protection Week, these important conversations and practices are embedded into our everyday program throughout the year.

This week, children have been learning about safe and unsafe choices, exploring ways to recognise their feelings, understand boundaries, and identify who they can turn to when they need help.

We have been discussing our "Circle of 5", encouraging children to identify five trusted adults they can seek support from when they are worried, upset, or need assistance. These conversations help children build confidence in knowing that they are never alone and that there are safe people who care about them.

We are also reinforcing the important message that children are the boss of their own bodies. Every child has the right to make decisions about their personal space, to express when they feel uncomfortable, and to say "no" when something does not feel right. Through respectful interactions and everyday experiences, we support children to develop their voice, advocate for themselves, and respect the boundaries of others.

By embedding these concepts into our daily practices, we are helping children build the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to stay safe, feel empowered, and develop positive relationships with those around them.

🌟 Happy Early Childhood Educators’ Day! 🌟

Today we celebrate our wonderful educators and the incredible work they do each and every day. ❤️
Being an early childhood educator is so much more than a job. It’s the cuddles when a little one needs comfort, the patience when emotions are big, the laughter, the messy play, the endless stories, the celebrations of every little milestone and the reassurance that helps children feel safe, secure and loved. 🥰
Our educators nurture, encourage, teach, inspire and create beautiful memories that children will carry with them as they grow. They show up every day with caring hearts and a genuine passion for helping our children learn, grow and become confident little people. 🌱✨
To our amazing team, thank you for everything you do, including all the little things that often go unnoticed but make such a huge difference. Your dedication, kindness and commitment to our children and families never go unappreciated. ❤️
We are so incredibly lucky to have such a passionate, caring and dedicated team. Today is your day, and we hope you know just how valued and appreciated you are! 🥰 We also hope you enjoy your well deserved, (not so nutritious) lunch and treats 🙈😅

💐 Today we say farewell to an incredible leader, mentor and friend. 💐

As Claire finishes her final day as Centre Director, we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank her for the remarkable contribution she has made to our Centre community over the past 10+ years.

Claire has been at the heart of our Centre for so many families, children and educators. Her passion for early childhood education, unwavering commitment to children's wellbeing, and genuine care for everyone who walked through our doors have helped create the nurturing, welcoming environment we are so proud of today.

Over the years, Claire has supported countless children through important milestones, built meaningful relationships with families, and inspired generations of educators. Her leadership, kindness, and dedication have left a lasting impact that will be felt for many years to come.

While we are sad to see her go, we are incredibly excited for Claire as she begins a new chapter in her role as a Safety and Assurance Lead. We know she will continue to make a positive difference wherever she goes.

Claire, thank you for your years of service, your endless support, your guidance, and the genuine care you've shown to our community. You will be deeply missed, but we are so grateful for the memories, friendships, and positive impact you leave behind.

Please join us in thanking Claire and wishing her every success and happiness for the future. ❤️

🌷 Thank you, Claire. Once part of our family, always part of our family. 🌷

❤️

Ever had one of those "What should I be doing with my child?" moments? You might already have the answer at home.

Earlier this year, every Goodstart family received a What & When for Families guide for each child. If it's been tucked away in a drawer since then, now might be the perfect time to pull it back out.

The guide is packed with simple, play-based activities that support your child's learning and development at home. Best of all, it's written in your child's voice, with ideas tailored to their age and developmental stage.

From singing songs with babies and playing peek-a-boo, to "I Spy" games, storytelling and treasure hunts with older children, the activities are designed to fit naturally into everyday moments you already share together.

We know learning doesn't only happen in the classroom. Those small moments at home can help build big communication, language and literacy skills.

Take another look through your What & When for Families guide to explore age-appropriate activities and learning ideas you can try together.

💛 Sometimes the best learning resource is the one you already have at home.

Strong relationships are the foundation for confident, curious learners 💛

Goodstart’s key educator approach ensures every child is known, supported and feels safe - through consistent, nurturing connections with educators and meaningful partnerships with families. These bonds help build wellbeing, resilience and a true sense of belonging from day one.

Discover how this approach supports your child’s learning journey: https://brnw.ch/2

Did you know we invested $65.5M into our social purpose last year, a 14% increase on the year before? 👏 At Goodstart, we're proud of the impact we have on children, families and communities. As a not‑for‑profit, every dollar we earn is reinvested to improve outcomes – from high‑quality learning and educator development to extra support for children who need it most.
Because when we put children first, the impact goes further 💛

The research is clear 📚 reading aloud is one of the most powerful things we can do for our children.

When we read with a child, we’re doing far more than sharing a story. We’re building the foundations for language, confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Decades of research shows that children who are read to regularly:

💛 Build stronger language skills
Hearing rich varied language in books exposes children to far more words than everyday conversation alone. This growing vocabulary helps them understand, communicate and make sense of the world.

💛 Develop early literacy skills long before they learn to read
Through stories, children learn how books work – that print carries meaning, that pages turn left to right, and that stories have a beginning, middle and end. These early understandings make learning to read feel familiar and exciting.

💛 Strengthen phonological awareness
Rhymes, rhythms and playful sounds help children hear the building blocks of language.

💛 Grow their comprehension and thinking skills
Talking together about a story, predicting what might happen, wondering how a character feels, and connecting events to real life helps children develop memory, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking.

💛 Experience connection, comfort and joy
Shared reading fosters calmness, closeness, and moments of joint attention. These warm interactions support a child's sense of security and belonging.

Most importantly, children who experience positive, engaging reading moments from a young age are more likely to develop a genuine love of books - something that matters even more than early literacy skills alone.

Reading is simple, joyful, and sets children up for success in school and life.

Here is a list of some of our favourites below 👇