Our Approach
Children learn by following their own questions
Our inquiry-based philosophy is rooted in the Early Years Learning Framework and emphasises play-based learning, helping children reach developmental milestones in a nurturing environment. In practice, that means educators watch what children are drawn to, then build the program around it. A child fascinated by water becomes a child who measures, pours, predicts, and compares, learning that sticks because the child asked for it.
Meet our caring educators
Our Centres
What inquiry-based learning looks like
Four things you would notice if you spent a morning in one of our studios.
01
The question comes first
Educators follow what children are curious about rather than running a fixed weekly theme. Interests are observed, discussed with the team, and turned into experiences worth returning to over days or weeks.
02
Play is the work
Play is how children test ideas, negotiate with each other and make sense of the world. Literacy, numeracy and problem-solving grow inside it rather than being taught beside it.
03
Teaching is intentional
Following children’s interests does not mean standing back. Educators step in with a question, a material or a challenge at the moment it will extend a child’s thinking.
04
The room teaches too
Studios are set up so children can reach, choose and return materials themselves, which builds independence before anyone has to teach it.
Your child’s safety is our first priority
At the heart of everything we do is an unwavering commitment to child safety. It is a responsibility that shapes our decisions, our everyday practices and every interaction with children.
Our educators remain attentive to children's voices, behaviours, emotions and individual needs, creating environments where children feel safe, respected, heard and supported.
Through thoughtful supervision, strong safeguarding practices and a culture where children's wellbeing always comes first, we work to ensure that every child is protected, their boundaries are respected, and their right to feel safe is upheld every single day.
Belonging, being and becoming
Every approved early learning service in Australia works to the Early Years Learning Framework. Here is what its three words mean on an ordinary day.
Belonging
Our educators are trained in active supervision — positioning, scanning, counting and listening so they can respond the moment your child needs them. Ratios are our minimum, never our limit.
Being
Childhood is now, not just preparation. Children get unhurried time to play, wonder and be the age they are.
Becoming
Children change fast. We plan for who your child is growing into, from first steps through to the year before Prep.
Reggio Emilia inspired
The five learning outcomes we plan against
We draw on the Reggio Emilia approach, which sees children as capable, curious and full of ideas worth taking seriously. It shows in open-ended materials, in projects that run for as long as the interest lasts, and in educators who document children’s thinking rather than their worksheets.
Reggio Emilia Inspired
How a program comes together
Planning runs in a loop, not a straight line
01
Observe
Educators watch and record what children choose, repeat and return to.
02
Plan
The team, guided by the educational leader, turns those observations into experiences and sets up the studio for them.
03
Document
Photos, notes and children’s own work record what happened and what it showed about their thinking
04
Share and reflect
Families see it through Storypark and conversations with the educator and director. They notice children's development at home; what they tell us feeds back into the next cycle.
Wellbeing and Nutrition
The five learning outcomes we plan against
Included in your daily fee are nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Take a look at our exciting menu. We provide morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. As outdoor play is integral to our curriculum, we apply sunscreen for our children throughout the day. Nappies and wipes are provided for children under the age of two.
Nutrition Matters
Your Voice Matters
Where Every
Parent
& Child Has a Voice
Our Learning Spaces
Allied Health,
Right Here at the Centre
Supporting your child’s development is a shared journey. At Smart Tots, we work alongside trusted Allied Health professionals to make it easier for families to access additional support.
Where available, services such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and other developmental support can be provided right here at the centre during your child’s usual centre hours, helping minimise disruption to their day.
Our educators, families and Allied Health professionals work together to create a connected approach that supports each child’s individual needs, confidence and development.
A Collaborative Approach to Care
What parents say about us
Hear from our Smart Tots families about the care, connections and everyday moments that help their children feel at home.
F A Q's
Questions parents
often ask.
Is it structured, or is it just play?
Both. The day has a reliable rhythm — meals, rest, outdoor time, group time — and within it children choose what to work on. The learning is planned; it just does not look like a classroom.
How will I know my child is progressing?
Educators document learning against the framework outcomes and share it with you regularly through Storypark and in conversation at pick-up. We hold a formal catch-up each quarter to update parents on their child's development.
What is the Early Years Learning Framework?
It is Australia’s national framework for early childhood education, built around belonging, being and becoming, and five learning outcomes. Every approved service works to it, and ours is assessed against the National Quality Standard.
Will this prepare my child for school?
Yes — that is what the Kindergarten year is built around, led by a bachelor-qualified teacher. See how school readiness works.
How can I ask about availability and fees?
Book a tour and discuss with the centre manager, who will be more than happy to discuss both topics with you and clarify any uncertainties you might have. All three centres are approved for the Child Care Subsidy, which reduces the fees you pay.
Your next step
Come in, look around and feel the Smart Tots difference.
Meet our educators, explore the learning spaces and ask every question on your list.
Your next step