Jenny’s Early Learning Centre – Strathfieldsaye is our Regional State Winner for Victoria, with an incredible KindiCare Rating of 9.9, and at this centre, the whole team takes pride in their education and care offering.

They go the extra mile to give each child a rich and memorable early learning experience, and this often involves actually going the extra mile, because ‘out-and-about’ excursions are commonplace at Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye! Assistant Director, Bree McCarroll, says, “We try to get the children outside of the centre more than we keep them in, and do a lot to ensure that each day is different and interesting, instead of just sticking to the same old routines.” She explains that, “We want the children to feel excited about coming into the centre each day, and every age gets a chance to spread their wings. We have three centre prams that hold four babies each, and the older children love to stretch their legs and wear a high-vis centre vest as they explore our local area.” Children and educators regularly take a trip to their local playground and park, and they also have regular visitors coming to them. Families are always being involved in centre life, with casual catch-ups and special invites to fundraisers and celebrations; and Narelle from Quirky Tales has been visiting the centre for more than six years, sharing her skills as a qualified librarian and amateur actor, as she hosts creative storytimes for the children. Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye is also lucky to have some staff who’ve come to the centre and stayed for years! Bree says, “We’ve just given out certificates for 10 years’ of service to two of our staff members,” and Bree herself has been at Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye for six years. Bree continues to love every moment she spends at the centre, and says it’s the sense of community that really makes her job, and her centre, special. She explains that, “The best thing for me is getting involved with the families and forming relationships with them, and I think my colleagues feel the same way. “At Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye, we take real pride in everything we do, and it’s really fulfilling to bring interest and joy to the children’s lives; and also to give families peace of mind that their little ones are in safe hands during the childcare day.” The team’s efforts are definitely appreciated by their early learning community, and in January this year, Jenny’s Strathfieldsaye was rated Exceeding National Quality Standard in all seven Quality Areas by their regulatory authority. Their 2023 KindiCare Excellence Award is icing on the cake, and we congratulate Centre Director, Mikaela Johnson, Assistant Director, Bree McCarroll, and the whole team on their brilliant results.