Celebrating its first year of operation, Journey Early Learning opened the doors to its Seymour centre on Saturday, August 15, inviting the community to discover the world-class facility inside.

Since opening in March last year, the centre, which boasts seven nature-based rooms, has received a positive response from the community.

“We’re growing and we’ve had a lot of good feedback, so that’s been really helpful,” Seymour centre acting manager Mel McCormick said.

“We’re also really building with the Puckapunyal families, so we have a lot of that connection coming through, which is really, really exciting.”

Journey Early Learning is a childcare and kindergarten service which operates centres across Australia.

Young learners aged from six weeks to five years are supported in building their confidence through a child-centred, play-based approach.

What makes the local centre special is its natural resources and large glass windows and doors, connecting children to the enclosed, green outdoor space beyond the learning spaces inside.

Centre quality manager Cleo Grouios, who has been working with Journey for seven years, said the natural feel was about supporting children’s wellbeing.

“We really promote indoor-outdoor learning,” she said.

“Being outside really helps with children’s emotional and physical wellbeing. It helps them regulate.”

Engaging children is at the forefront of Journey’s model.

The large range of resources, from colouring pencils to kitchen playsets to the play centre outside, ensures that each child’s individual interest can be captured.

“If children aren’t interested, then they’re not engaged, they’re not learning and they’re not confident,” Ms Grouios said.

“Children need agency and choice and an environment where they choose where they want to play.

“They might want that quiet time indoors and they have that opportunity. They might want to go outdoors and run, and they can do that as well.”

The Seymour centre also has a particular focus on connecting with the community, which was what the open day was all about.

“The more we connect to community, the more opportunities and resources we can offer to families and children. It really helps children connect to their world,” Ms Grouios said.

“Having that for children is really important because, as they go to school, that confidence is already there. They’ve already explored the community and they already have those partnerships.”

After a year of operation, Ms Gourios said Journey was very proud of the Seymour centre and its educators.

“It’s such a beautiful centre, we’re very proud of this centre,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful team of really nurturing educators just wanting to learn and explore different ways and practices of teaching. They’re really lovely.”

For more information about Journey Early Learning, Seymour, visit journey.edu.au/centre/seymour or phone 9005 4650.

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