About Applecross Pre-Kindy and Childcare
Nurturing the Changemakers and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
Applecross Pre-Kindy and Childcare has been part of the Applecross community for over a decade, providing long day care and kindergarten for children aged 18 months to 6 years at 797 Canning Highway. The centre is approved for 80 places and rated Meeting NQS under the National Quality Framework.
Who we are
We are one centre, not a chain. That matters more than it sounds.
It means the people who lead this service are the same people you’ll see at pick‑up - present, involved, and genuinely connected to your child’s day. Our educators are consistent and relationship‑driven, they know your child, your family, and the small details that matter.
Our family brings a blend of educational expertise, industry experience and the lived reality of raising two children of our own. We understand early childhood from every angle - as parents, as operators and as educators - and we use that insight to make informed, flexible decisions that support each family’s individual circumstances wherever possible. We care. We live here. And we are part of this community.
It’s also why our backyard keeps evolving. We’re replacing artificial turf and hard surfaces with real grass, sand, woodchips and natural textures - because children deserve environments that feel alive, and we have the freedom to make that happen the moment we know it’s right.
Families join us from Applecross, Ardross, Mount Pleasant, Booragoon and across the City of Melville - many because someone they trust told them, “This is the place.”
What we believe
Children are capable.
That single belief sits underneath everything we do. We don’t manage children through their day — we design indoor and outdoor environments that invite them to try, to test ideas, and to take ownership of their learning, while we stay close to support and guide and trust their potential- not take over.
Nature plays a powerful role in this. Children settle differently on grass and sand than they do on concrete, and natural materials hold their attention because the challenge shifts each time they return. These spaces grow confidence, curiosity and persistence in ways manufactured environments simply can’t.
Our curriculum honours the Early Years Learning Framework and extends it through our philosophy of raising worldready children. We teach children to recognise and respond to their feelings, navigate disagreements with agency, think critically and creatively, and keep going when the first attempt doesn’t work. These are the foundations of emotional regulation, problem‑solving and resilience — the skills that matter in childhood, in school, and in every chapter that follows.
Children who learn this way don’t just arrive at school ready. They arrive at eighteen, and at thirty, with the same strengths intact.
Our ten guiding principles
These ten principles guide how our educators communicate, set up learning spaces and support children through their day.
1. Children understand the ‘why’ behind their behaviour and learn to navigate challenges with emotional intelligence.
We use the 3-second rule to respond, not react. By meeting the need beneath the behaviour, children develop self-awareness, empathy, and reflective thinking — the foundations of ethical leadership and responsible decision-making.
2. Children build emotional literacy as a lifelong tool for collaboration, empathy and entrepreneurial resilience.
Vocabulary of Emotions is our core curriculum. Acknowleding and responding to feelings helps children understand themselves and others, forming the communication skills, teamwork capacity, and emotional regulation needed to take risks, innovate, and lead.
3. Children become confident negotiators and collaborative problem-solvers.
We act as facilitators, not fixers. Through shared problem-solving, children learn to listen, compromise, generate solutions, and take ownership — the same capabilities future entrepreneurs use to build partnerships, resolve conflict, and lead teams with integrity.
4. Children grow into curious thinkers who question, investigate, and imagine new possibilities.
We elevate “How?” and “Why?” as core drivers of learning. By valuing inquiry over compliance, we nurture innovators who explore ideas, test hypotheses, and see the world as a place of opportunity, creativity, and discovery.
5. Children develop resilience, persistence, and a growth mindset that prepares them for real-world challenges.
We focus on effort over the product. Celebrating the process teaches children to embrace mistakes, refine, and keep going — essential traits for creators, makers, and entrepreneurs who thrive through experimentation and perseverance.
6. Children become culturally aware, inclusive thinkers who value diverse perspectives.
Diversity is a daily celebration. Exposure to difference helps children understand global communities, appreciate varied viewpoints, and collaborate respectfully — shaping future leaders who build inclusive, socially responsible ventures.
7. Children learn to think expansively, exploring multiple viewpoints and imagining new solutions.
“I wonder…” is our power phrase. Wondering aloud cultivates creativity, perspective-taking, and possibility — the cognitive flexibility that drives innovation, design thinking, and environmental problem-solving.
8. Children internalise respectful communication as the foundation for healthy relationships and ethical leadership.
Our tone is the classroom climate. Warm, patient, respectful communication models how people should treat one another, shaping children who lead with kindness, clarity, and integrity in their future communities and workplaces.
9. Children learn through environments that inspire exploration, creativity, collaboration, and connection to nature.
The environment is the third teacher. Intentionally designed spaces invite collaboration, independence, and deep engagement with natural materials — fostering environmental stewardship and a lifelong sense of responsibility for the world around them.
10. Children discover their strengths and personal power to influence their world.
We help children connect to their own power to shape things. By naming their capabilities, children build identity, confidence, and agency — becoming compassionate leaders, creative thinkers, and conservation-minded citizens who believe they can make a difference.
Our educators are qualified early childhood professionals, and several have been here long enough to have taught siblings through. This stability means children are greeted by familiar faces who know them deeply and understand what helps them feel safe, confident and ready to learn.
We invest in training beyond the minimum, particularly in emotional literacy and inquiry-led practice, because the ten principles above have an unwavering impact when all educators understand them the same way.
Ratios meet full regulatory requirements across every age group, and the centre is led by a director who is present, accessible and genuinely connected with families each day. Our team chooses to work in a service where relationships, capability and nature‑rich learning come first, and that commitment shows in every interaction.
Our educators
Quality and compliance
Applecross Pre-Kindy and Childcare is rated Meeting NQS under the National Quality Framework, assessed in December 2025, and is approved for 80 places. The centre is an approved Child Care Subsidy provider.
Our policies, including enrolment, health and safety, and behaviour guidance, are available to families on request and are provided in full at enrolment.
Come and see for yourself
Half an hour here will tell you more than this page can. Book a tour, bring your child, and have a look at how the centre’s rhythm feels and explore the outdoor oasis.