About the Centre

The Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre is a not-for-profit community based centre under the sponsorship of Wattle Range Council. It is a long-day-care service with a capacity for 60 places. The centre is open from 7:30am – 5:30pm, five days per week for 50 weeks of the year. We offer full-day, half-day, casual and emergency care sessions. Places are available for babies and children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age.

It is the vision of the Centre to provide a high quality education and care service that embraces the learning and capabilities of our youngest citizens, in a nurturing and engaging environment. We aim to meet the needs of the families in our community and work collaboratively with parents in the education and care of their children at a most important stage of their development (the early years). We welcome parent participation and involvement in the centre and encourage open communication between parents/directors/educators and administration staff.

All Australian Childcare Centres must be licenced under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010, and comply with the Regulations under the Act. The Regulations cover all aspects of operation including;

• Quality Improvement
• Documentation and Educational Program
• Health, Hygiene and Safety
• Staffing and Supervision
• Indoor/Outdoor space and equipment
• Medical and Emergency
• Administration, Policies and Procedures

Wattle Range Council are the Approved Provider for the Service and are responsible for;

• Financial accountability
• Receiving/distributing monies granted, fees received and childcare benefit payments
• Audit processes
• Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare
• Staff
• General maintenance of building and grounds

The Centre has recently achieved an 'Exceeding Rating' in the National Quality Standards accreditation process.

The Centre comprises of three main play areas according to age groups and staffed according to current ratio regulations;

Koala Room (Children 6 weeks to 12 months) Ratio 1 staff member: 4 children	Wombat Room (Children 1 to 2 years) Ratio 1 staff member: 4 children	Wallaby Room (Children 2 years to 3 years) Ratio 1 staff member: 5 children	Emu Room (Children 3 years to 6 years) Ratio 1 staff member: 10 children

There are separate sleeping areas adjacent to the Koala and Wallaby rooms, with the Wallaby sleep area also doubling as an extra activity room. A large dining and kitchen area are available where children gather daily to eat a nutritious cooked lunch. The Centre boasts a large, natural outdoor play environment providing opportunity for children to explore, engage in physical activity and grow produce to cook, eat and sell.

Enrolment & Orientation

The process for enrolment of your child at the Centre is as follows:

• Arrange for an appointment with Director for orientation tour of the Centre and grounds and to collect a copy of the Centre Handbook.
• Register with Centrelink, informing them of your intention to utilize a long-day care service. (Please contact the Centre to obtain our provider number)
• Meet with Administration officer to complete an enrolment form, pay registration fee ($15) and arrange preliminary visits (Preliminary visits are approx. 20 minutes duration, providing an opportunity for you and your child to meet the Team Leader and Educators in the Room to discuss your child’s needs and routines, gain information about how the Room operates and educational planning and learning.)
• Once visits are complete bookings can be made with the Administration Officer. We recommend starting a child with two half day sessions first before moving into full day sessions if required.

It is important to read and complete your enrolment form accurately. Information contained on these forms will be treated as strictly confidential with access limited to the Directors, Administration officer and Room Leader. Please do not hesitate to ask staff for assistance in completing your enrolment form.

You can complete the Enrolment and Waitlist form online:

Enrolment and Waitlist form

Please note: You MUST also contact the Centre by phone on 8733 3030 to add your child to the waitlist.