Our Nursery Studio, designed for
6 Weeks to
1.5 Years
Our Nursery Studios are an inviting, safe and nurturing environment where your little one is our number one priority, and where all families are welcome.
Infants' routines vary greatly, so we follow each child's routine from home to create that homely environment. Our nursery educators work closely with you to make sure every child receives nurturing, responsive care and that the day belongs to your child, not a timetable.
Parent resources
How our Nursery Studio works
Nurturing
relationships
Close, one-on-one bonds with familiar educators, built through face-to-face interaction and the security of the same faces every day.
Continuity
with home
We follow your child's own routine for sleeping, feeding and settling, bringing as much of home into the Studio as we can.
Learning
through senses
Sight, touch, smell, taste and sound.
Music, visual displays, textures and materials to investigate every day.
Mastering
new skills
Grasping, moving, exploring. Play is where our nursery children practise every new skill, with an educator right beside them.
For your child in our Nursery Studio
What parents can expect
Our days are very busy, but it's always lots of fun.
Warm and welcoming spaces
01
One educator to every four children, held all day — because every child in our Studio is under two.
02
A daily rhythm shaped by your child's sleeps and feeds, kept in step with what you're doing at home.
03
Sensory play every day — water, sand, dough, paint, music and natural materials to turn over and investigate.
04
Room to move and something to pull up on. Tummy time, crawling space, low sturdy surfaces and soft climbing as your child gets steadier.
05
Objects that respond. Lids that fit, things that stack, drop, post and empty — working out how the world answers back.
06
Sleeps, bottles, meals and nappy changes recorded as they happen, with photos, so you know how the day went before you arrive.
Held, fed, sung to, and put down gently
Every child, at
their own pace
Children don't develop in neat steps. One will crawl at seven months and stay quiet until eighteen. Another will babble constantly and take their time getting to their feet. Both are completely normal. What our nursery educators do is notice, and if something isn't emerging when we'd expect, we raise it with you early and gently.
6 weeks – 3 months
Settling and connecting
Focusing on faces. Turning towards familiar voices. First social smiles. Lifting their head during tummy time.
With us: one primary educator takes the lead, so your baby learns one face, one voice and one way of being held first. Face-to-face talking and singing throughout the day. Short, supported tummy time. Feeds and sleeps entirely on your baby's cues.
3 – 6 months
Reaching and responding
Grasping objects and bringing them to their mouth. Rolling over. Cooing and gurgling in response. Laughing. Lighting up at familiar people.
With us: baskets of safe, varied textures within reach. Educators narrating everything. Floor-level mirrors. Supported sitting. Real back-and-forth conversation, where we pause and wait for the reply.
6 – 9 months
Moving and exploring
Sitting unsupported. Rocking on hands and knees, then crawling or shuffling. Passing objects between hands. Repeated babble. Answering to their own name. Separation anxiety appearing.
With us: clear floor space and low, stable surfaces to pull along. Consistent goodbye routines at drop-off, so separation becomes predictable rather than sudden. First tastes and textures introduced in step with home.
9 – 12 months
Standing, pointing, communicating
Pulling to stand. Cruising along furniture. Pointing at what they want. Waving. Peekaboo. Understanding simple words. Perhaps a first word. Feeding themselves finger food.
With us: sturdy furniture at pulling-up height. Every point and gesture treated as real communication, because it is. Action songs. Self-feeding encouraged and mess accepted. One-to-one book reading every day.
12 – 18 months
Walking, talking, deciding
First steps, then confident walking. A handful of words growing steadily. Following simple instructions. Stacking, posting and emptying things, endlessly. Clear preferences and strong opinions.
With us: a Studio built to be walked around and safely climbed on. Real choices offered through the day — which book, which cup, inside or outside — because a child who chooses is a child learning to think for themselves. Early turn-taking supported by an educator rather than expected.
A home away from home
Empowering Children
The things you
shouldn't have to ask about
Safe sleep, every sleep
Every sleep follows Red Nose safe sleep guidance. Children are placed on their backs in their own cot, in a room with clear sightlines, and are physically checked and recorded throughout every sleep.
Allergies and dietary needs
Individual plans are documented, displayed in both the kitchen and the Studio, and known by every educator working with your child.
Qualified in an emergency
All nursery educators hold current first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis training, alongside child protection training and a valid Queensland Blue Card.
Ratios that hold all day
One educator to every four children, maintained across the full day — not only at the quiet times.
Health and hygiene
Nappy change routines, cleaning schedules and illness exclusion periods follow Queensland Health guidance. If your child is unwell we'll call you early rather than let the day drag on.
Rated by the national regulator
Smart Tots Alexandra Hills - Meeting
Smart Tots Mt Cotton - Meeting
Smart Tots Capalaba - Meeting
Exciting programs with caring educators
The same faces, day after day
Babies build trust through repetition. That's why we work hard to keep our nursery teams stable — many of our educators have been with Smart Tots for 5 years, and families often have the same familiar educator across their child's whole first year with us.
Every nursery educator holds at least a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and our Studios are led by educators holding a Diploma. But qualifications are the starting point, not the point. What matters in a nursery is patience, warmth, and being genuinely interested in a child who has spent twenty minutes emptying a basket and filling it again.
Good to know
Questions parents
ask us
What age can my child start in the Nursery Studio?
We welcome children from 6 weeks to 1.5 years. Most families start somewhere between three and twelve months, usually as a parent returns to work, but there's no right age — we'll settle your child whenever you're ready.
How many educators are there per child?
One educator to every four children. Because every child in our Nursery Studio is under two, that ratio applies across the whole room, all day.
Will you follow my child's routine from home?
Yes, and it's central to how the Studio runs. We ask about sleep, feeds and comfort routines at enrolment and update them as they change. Children sleep when they're tired rather than when a timetable says so.
How will my child settle in?
Slowly, and with you there at first. We offer orientation visits before the first full day so your child can spend time in the Studio while you're present. Most children settle within two to three weeks, though some take longer, and that's normal. Your educator will call or message you during the day in those early weeks.
Can I send breastmilk?
Yes. Expressed breastmilk can be brought in labelled bottles and stored in the nursery fridge or freezer. We follow safe storage and handling guidelines and never mix or reuse a bottle. You're also welcome to come in and feed during the day, any time.
What do I need to bring each day?
Typically bottles and formula, spare clothes, a comforter, and any creams or medication. Nappies, wipes, meals, sunscreen and bedding are provided.
Do you provide meals for infants?
Yes: all meals are prepared fresh on site by our cook, and solids are introduced in step with what you're doing at home — the same foods and textures you've already tried.
How will I know what happened during the day?
Sleep times, bottles, meals and nappy changes are recorded as they happen and shared with you through our Storypark App along with photos. Your educator will also talk you through the day at pick-up.
What happens if my child gets sick at care?
We'll call you. If your child has a fever, is vomiting, or is unsettled in a way that isn't like them, we'll let you know early rather than waiting until pick-up. Exclusion periods follow Queensland Health guidance.
When will my child move to the toddler room?
Around 1.5 years, but it depends on your child rather than the calendar. We'll talk with you first, then transition gradually — short visits with a familiar educator, building up over a few weeks before the move becomes permanent.
Can I get government subsidy for nursery fees?
Most families are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, paid directly to us to reduce your out-of-pocket fees. The amount depends on your family income, activity level and type of care. Services Australia can confirm your entitlement, and we're happy to help you work out your likely fees.
Do you have nursery places available?
Availability changes regularly and Nursery Studio places are typically our most in demand. Contact your closest centre and we'll tell you honestly what's available and where you'd sit on the waitlist.
Close to home
Find your
Smart Tots.
Three welcoming centres, one shared commitment: helping children feel secure, capable and excited to learn.
Alexandra Hills
Our founding centre, open since 2016, has 95 licensed places, a warm, dedicated team of educators and a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach.
Mt Cotton
99 licensed places in a bushland setting, recently refurbished, with a team our families single out by name.
Capalaba
A smaller, more boutique centre with 77 places across our four rooms, a caring team of educators, and a recently upgraded outdoor environment.
Ready when you are
Give your child a confident beginning.
Meet our educators, explore the play spaces and see why families choose Smart Tots.