Is your centre looking a bit tired? It might be time to refresh your early learning centre. So how do you manage this with minimal disruption, little time, and a budget? Turn your worn-out environment into a vibrant and nurturing space for your little ones.
We have created a guide for refreshing and refurbing your early learning centre.
When you look at early learning centres that have been built in the last 10 years, you’ll more than likely see neutral colour tones across the furniture and storage solutions.
In addition to aesthetics and evolving trends over time, the rationale behind more neutral tones is to provide more ‘blank canvas’ areas for play and learning. The resources, rather than the furniture, become the focus.
Family tours are a big deal. Some children and their families might feel excited about starting in an early learning environment, whereas others may feel a bit nervous. As we often say to children these days, they might be having “big feelings” about the transition.
The early learning industry is a competitive one and its important to make your service stand out to prospective families who tour your facility quickly.
Here are 3 things you can do in your Service to stand out amongst others.
The functionality of a space determines how children maximise opportunities to explore their environment and utilise their resources in a childcare centre. Ideally, spaces and furniture should be multi-functional to deliver the most benefit to both educators and children alike. Consideration for smooth transitions and children to easily maneuver from once space to another, easy supervision and visual connection to the physical environment are also important. STEP4 has some tips for creating functional learning spaces that flow.
There is so much to organise when opening or refurbishing a child care centre. Staff, processes, compliance, insurance and enrolments … the list is endless. But there is one aspect of opening a new child care centre that can be fun and
Nicky has worked in the Early Learning industry for more than 25 years in a variety of roles from Educator through to Centre Director, Area Manager, Advisory & Development Coordinator, Program Manager and Quality Advisor. Currently, Nicky is the Managing Director of a group of community-based Preschools in NSW. In this role, she has recently project managed the construction, fitout and opening of a new community Preschool for her organisation and it is through this process that she partnered with Step4 for the fitout of the new Preschool.
After spending part of her teenage years living in a remote part of the Kimberley in Western Australia, Nicky’s appreciation for the indigenous history of Australia began. Through her career, she has worked with and assisted Educators and Directors in their journey of understanding this important aspect of learning and history and how to ensure that their approach is collaborative, respectful and appropriate.
Nicky has recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Education as a specialisation subject for an ongoing Masters of Education. The extension of her own understanding of Indigenous perspectives was something that she wanted to support and this has assisted her in identifying ways that she can further support Educators across all levels and experience in reflecting on and extending their own knowledge.
Prue commenced her career as an early childhood educator before progressing to a centre Directors role. She later became an Area Manager supporting children, services and families throughout Sydney..
Prue has been working with STEP4 for almost 4 years now supporting services with their ongoing needs and requirements for resources, furniture and equipment as well as contributing her industry knowledge and design concepts to new centre startups. She loves the creative process of working with service owners, managers and educators to enable their vision come to life and create engaging and bespoke learning environments where children’s curiosity and engagement can be fostered. She loves sharing her passion and ideas and working collaboratively with industry leaders, educators and owners.
