Early Learning
Early Learning and Childcare in Ferntree Gully
Amaroo provides early learning and long day care for children from infancy through to school age. Our experienced educators take the time to understand each child, helping them settle into care and grow in confidence at their own pace. The Amaroo centre is a warm, familiar place where children can feel secure, explore their world and develop a genuine love of learning.
A Reassuring Beginning for Your Child
Starting childcare is a big step for the whole family. Some children quickly begin exploring their new surroundings, while others need more time, reassurance and familiarity. At Amaroo, we work closely with you to learn about your child’s routines, interests, personality and individual needs. Our free orientation program can be tailored to help your child become comfortable with their educators and learning environment before care begins.
Continuity is especially important during the early years. Amaroo does not use agency staff, so your child can build relationships with familiar educators who get to know them properly. Many members of our team have been part of the centre for more than a decade, providing a reassuring sense of stability for children and families.
Our Nursery
Our Nursery provides a calm, nurturing environment for babies and younger toddlers from birth to approximately 20 months. We understand that every baby has their own routines and ways of communicating. Educators work in partnership with families to support a smooth transition between home and care, responding to each child’s individual needs throughout the day.
The room provides a safe place for babies to move, rest, play and explore. Through sensory experiences, music, stories, conversation and age-appropriate activities, children begin building the physical, social, emotional and communication skills that support later learning. Most importantly, babies receive the warmth, attention and reassurance they need to feel secure in their new environment.
Learning experiences are designed to build:
Language and communication
Physical coordination and confidence
Social and emotional skills
Creativity and imagination
Independence and practical self-help skills
This is an active stage of development. Children are supported to test their abilities, try new things and learn through play without being hurried into the next stage.
Our Toddler Room
From approximately 20 months to three years, children are developing greater independence and becoming increasingly curious about the world around them.
Our Toddler Room gives children the freedom to explore while providing the consistent support and clear boundaries they still need. Educators encourage children to communicate, make choices, participate in routines and begin developing relationships with other children.
Learning Through Play, Relationships and Discovery
Play is at the heart of early learning at Amaroo. As children build, create, imagine, investigate and interact with others, they are developing skills that will support them throughout childhood. Play helps children make sense of their experiences, express their ideas and become more confident learners.
Our educational program is informed by the Early Years Learning Framework and adapted to reflect the children in each room. Rather than following a fixed program that is the same for everyone, educators observe children’s interests, ideas and development and use those observations to plan meaningful learning experiences.
The experienced Amaroo educators help children develop a strong sense of identity and belonging. Children learn to communicate their needs, participate in a group, care for themselves and others, manage emotions and approach new experiences with growing confidence.
The program supports children to become:
- Secure in who they are
- Connected to their community and the people around them
- Active, healthy and emotionally supported
- Curious and involved in learning
- Confident communicators
Some experiences are planned, while others grow naturally from a child’s question, discovery or interest. Educators gently extend the learning by introducing new materials, ideas and challenges at the right time.
Families also play an important role. Your knowledge of your child helps us create learning goals and experiences that are relevant to their life, culture, abilities and interests.
What a day at Amaroo can include
There is a familiar rhythm to each day, but it is not a rigid timetable. Experiences vary according to the children’s ages, routines and interests, as well as the weather and opportunities that arise.
A day may include indoor and outdoor play, stories, music, movement, art, sensory experiences and small-group activities. Children have time for active play as well as quieter moments, rest and unhurried interaction with their educators.
Babies continue to follow their individual routines as closely as possible. As children grow, they gradually become more involved in shared experiences and the daily life of their room.
This balance of routine and flexibility helps children know what to expect while leaving plenty of room for curiosity, imagination and spontaneous learning.
Space to play outdoors
Children need room to move, investigate and connect with the natural world. Amaroo has a large outdoor environment with real grass and space for children to enjoy active play, quieter discoveries and time outside. It provides a refreshing alternative to highly structured playgrounds dominated by concrete and artificial surfaces.
Outdoor play gives children opportunities to practise coordination, take manageable risks, observe changes in nature and use their imaginations. It also supports physical wellbeing and creates different ways for children to play and learn together.
Keeping families involved
Families should not have to wonder what their child has been doing or how their learning is progressing. Our educators use Storypark to share room plans, learning stories, observations and updates with families. Individual learning goals help connect the program with each child’s interests and development.
Parents and carers are encouraged to contribute their own knowledge and goals. This creates a stronger connection between home and Amaroo and helps educators understand what is meaningful to each family. Children also build an art portfolio throughout the year, creating a personal record of their experiences and creativity to take home.
Early childhood teachers throughout Amaroo
Every Amaroo room benefits from the knowledge of a qualified early childhood teacher. This means educational expertise is embedded across the centre rather than being limited to the kindergarten rooms.
Our wider team is highly qualified and experienced, with most educators holding diploma or bachelor-level qualifications. Every staff member on site is trained in first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis response, alongside ongoing child safety and professional training.
For families, this means your child’s care and education are guided by people who understand early childhood development and know how to turn everyday experiences into valuable opportunities for learning.
Continuing into kindergarten
Children can continue their learning journey at Amaroo through our government-approved and funded Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs. Remaining at the same centre allows children to progress into kindergarten within a familiar community. They can continue learning with educators they know while building the confidence, independence and skills that will support their transition to school.
Our kindergarten programs are delivered by qualified early childhood teachers, with the convenience and extended hours of long day care surrounding the program.
Flexible childcare for real family life
Family schedules do not always fit neatly into a standard week. As a standalone, family-run centre, Amaroo can listen to each family’s circumstances without policies being dictated by a distant corporate head office. Where places and staffing arrangements allow, we may be able to help families whose care requirements change, including parents and carers working shifts or irregular hours.
Amaroo is open from 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except for public holidays. If you have particular scheduling needs, speak with our team. We will be honest about what is available and do our best to find an arrangement that works.
School holiday care
Our school holiday program is available for primary-school-aged children from the surrounding area, subject to places being available.
Holiday care provides a balance of activities at Amaroo, special experiences and planned outings. Programs change between holiday periods, giving children new opportunities to be active, creative, social and involved in their community.
Contact our team for information about the next school holiday program.
Before and after school care
Amaroo also supports families with primary-school-aged children through before and after school care.
Our school transport service provides drop-off and collection for selected local primary schools. This can be especially helpful for Amaroo families with a younger child at the centre and an older sibling at school, reducing the need to manage different care arrangements and collection points.
Children can begin or finish their day in a familiar environment, with time to relax, play and participate in age-appropriate activities. Please contact us to confirm participating schools, availability and current transport arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Early Learning
Everything you need to know about our programs, educators, opening hours and enrolments.
What ages do you care for?
Amaroo provides long day care and early learning from infancy, followed by funded Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs. We also offer before and after school care and school holiday care for primary-school-aged children.
How will you help my child settle into care?
We offer a free orientation program that can be tailored to your family. These visits give your child time to become familiar with their room and educators before commencing care. We will also talk with you about their routines, interests and individual needs.
Will my child have the same educators regularly?
We value consistent relationships and do not use agency staff. Amaroo has a highly stable team, including many educators who have worked at the centre for more than ten years.
How will I know what my child is learning?
Educators use Storypark to share learning stories, observations, room plans and other updates. Families can also contribute information and learning goals for their child.
Do you accommodate shift workers or changing care days?
Where availability and staffing arrangements permit, we may be able to accommodate changing schedules. We encourage families with irregular working hours to discuss their needs directly with our team.
Are meals provided?
Please ask our team about the meals and snacks currently provided, including how we manage allergies, dietary requirements and individual feeding routines.
How do I find out about fees and vacancies?
Send us an enquiry with your child’s age, preferred starting date and the days of care you require. A member of our team will respond personally with current availability and relevant fee information.
Discover whether Amaroo feels right for your family
Choosing early learning and childcare is a personal decision. We welcome your questions and want you to have the information you need without pressure.
Send us an enquiry with your child’s age, approximate starting date and preferred care days. A member of the Amaroo team will get back to you personally and, when you are ready, arrange a suitable time for you to visit the centre.