::: the avenue children’s centre and kindergarten
We received a wonderful invitation a few weeks ago from the staff at The Avenue Children’s Centre, an inner city kindergarten and child care centre at Balaclava here in Melbourne.
They said, “We’d love you to come and visit us here as we are doing wonderful things and we are so proud of our centre!” Well that was an invitation too good to resist!
We rocked up this week to see a beautiful old converted, heritage listed house in a quiet residential street. These old houses are perfect for preschool centres as they are large and roomy, with high ceilings, plenty of rooms and a reasonably sized backyard. They also have heaps of character! We felt that we were coming to visit a big family home.
They have a babies’ area with eight children …
although the youngest was twelve months old …
so not tiny ones.
They also have a toddlers’ area with ten children …
and a huge kindergarten room down the back for the twenty biggies.
They run an indoor/outdoor program, so there were children inside and out when we arrived.
They are lucky enough to have plenty of staff so supervision for this sort of program isn’t a problem.
Because of their excellent staff/child ratio, they are also able to run what they call a “general outing scheme’ whereby the parents sign a consent form at the beginning of the year so that small groups of children can be taken out into the community to do those normal things that familes do, such as going to the post office, buying food for cooking or perhaps checking out the hairdressers as parrt of their community curriculum.
We headed outside first, always our favourite spot.
Our first impression was a big, exciting old fashioned family back yard.
There are fruit trees in tubs that came from Landcare …
as well as strawberries and herbs.
They had several sand …
and digging patches …
and a dry creek bed, complete with a bridge, and a tunnel beneath.
A water tank has been installed so the children can use it to make mud …
and enjoy lots of messy play!
There is a pirate ship.
What fun!
Then there is Silly Billy the rabbit …
who hops around the yard all day long.
They have a couple of climbing trees, as they allow and encourage their children to take some risks!
There were little cubbies dotted around …
an outdoor blackboard …
and heaps of loose parts for the children to access.
They have an iPod playing a wide selection of music, from classical to contemporary up on the verandah. It was wonderful!
Inside the children were happily playing at a huge water play area on two levels …
and with trains up on a table.
They had a dinosaur jungle area utilising artificial grass, logs and rocks …
the cosiest library corner …
and an inspiring art and collage area.
As well as this lovely puzzle space …
they had sensory …
and imaginative play spaces …
including a haridressing salon …
and very homely home corner.
We loved this fabulous model of a human skeleton …
and an overhead projector set up for drawing on a huge piece of paper on the wall. The patterns the feathers make are stunning!
The Avenue Childcare Center is an extremely warm and inviting setting …
situated at 39 The Avenue, Balaclava, in the City of Port Phillip, Melways Reference 58 A12. It is a not for profit, community based centre run by a voluntary committee of parents.
This information has been added to our Education Directory.
If you are proud of your center and the program you offer your children
please get in touch with us for further details
about becoming part of this valuable Education Directory!
What a wonderful center. The outside area looks so inviting as does inside. So many different playspaces for the children…just lovely!
::: Pam it was really lovely inside and out … And SO HOMELY inside and out!
wow I love this! thanks for posting it!
::: Thanks Jenni we agree … We love it too!
Good golly – what an amazing place. I love seeing how they use a small space. Their outdoor area looks like such a fab place to explore and play – and their art area is wonderful. Bring me more!
::: Jenny you would be really impressed with their wonderful use of space outdoors. They have fit so much into a small area … every square inch fantastic!
This has giving me lots of wonderful ideas that I can incorporate with my son. Thanks for sharing!
::: You’re very welcome Jodi … It is such an inspiring place!
What a wonderful space for learning, exploration and play. I want to get in there and play too. It makes me sad that all childcare centres aren’t like this – it makes the one my daughter goes to seem so sterile. It actually remindse a bit of where I went to for care as a child. How wonderful. Has given me some ideas for our backyard!
::: Mel it really is a beautiful setting. We simply love the homely environment they have created for their children.
Just magical! Is there anything like this in Perth?
::: It really is magical Rachel. As for Perth, we’re sure they’re out there, but we don’t know where … sorry!
Another thankyou for another wonderful children’s space – lots of thinking and planning happening there.
::: YEP! … It’s certainly a ripper Louise!
My children have both attended this centre, and it is every bit as wonderful as it looks.
My younger child is severely disabled, and has been welcome at the centre from day one. Every effort is made to ensure she is just ‘one of the kids’.
Finding this childcare centre was one of the best things that’s every happened to me as a parent. Sarah and Tarryn – and every single staff member – deserve enormous kudos for doing such an incredible job, and for showering the children with love.
::: Megan thank you so much for your lovely comment. We agree that Tarryn and Sarah deserve every word of your praise! As parents we can certainly relate to that felling of relief you get when you find a program that can perfectly accommodate and nurture your family … Kudos to them indeed! Thanks for stopping by.
As Sarah’s extremely proud stepmother, I have watched she and her wonderful staff as they have developed & improved the centre over a 10 year period.
They are incredibly hands on, and treat the children as they would their own.
Hats off to all of you… I just wish I too could come and play!!
Oh to have had the opportunity to be pre-schooled in that environment… how encouraging for the little people there. Its a dream!!
::: Oh wow what a proud Mamma you are Trish … as well you should be! In the short amount of time we spent at The Avenue it was very evident to us that Sarah is a compassionate, dedicated teacher who along with her staff has formed a strong bond with her children. Such a lovely environment for the child to grow up in. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a beautiful comment.
This is a beautiful space – it must be a joy to work here. Thanks for sharing
::: Kierna the staff were all very happy and relaxed, and it was clear to us that it is a joy for them to work there, AND it was a real joy for us to visit.
It’s refreshing and sooooo homely! Can anyone tell me where they got or how they made those outdoor toadstool seats?
Melis
::: Thanks Melis. It really is a homely space! … As for where the toadstools come from, we have no idea, SORRY! May we suggest you email ‘The Avenue’ to find out http://theavenuechildrenscentre.org.au/contact-us/