1 week Ago By Madilyn McKinley
It is not often you walk into a childcare centre to find a snake ready to greet you. or signup to continue reading Or two goats, chickens and a bird aviary in the backyard. These animal additions are part of Wodonga Homestead Early Learning, which is due to open next month, already drawing almost 700 families to the waiting list.
said there was a high demand for quality childcare in the region. "The homely feel we're offering is something a little bit different in that way," she said. "We're just very passionate about looking after children, making sure they're safe, supervising them properly, making sure everyone goes home happy and healthy.
" The privately owned childcare centre on Loames Street has a capacity of 100 children from babies to five year olds, each with their own separate rooms and play spaces. It is part of John Wall Childcare, which assists with new build start-ups. The centre employs a full-time ranger to care for the animals and run an education program.
"The children love them, it actually takes quite a while for kids to get in and out of the building, they've got to say hello and goodbye to everything on the way through," she said. The centre embraces natural play, where shoes are optional, with sandpits, a water play space, large grassed areas and a vegetable garden as part of a "little growers" program. A chef makes every meal from scratch, including the bread, and two full-time gardeners are also employed at the centre.
Ms Sanders has been in the industry for 25 years, having worked at as its director for 20 years, before moving to and opening Thurgoona Early Learning Childcare, which also incorporates animals. She also has plans to open another childcare centre in Thurgoona with similar philosophies. Currently, the director's favourite part of the centre is a large truck incorporating a slide and children's play equipment.
"Every time we build a centre, something changes, we improve it every time," she said. Tours can be booked through the childcare centre. Journalist at The Border Mail.
You can contact me at [email protected].
au. Journalist at The Border Mail.You can contact me at madilyn.
[email protected].
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