Our Curriculum

At Minnows Early Learning Centre, we’re proud to offer a curriculum that sets us apart as a leading Cheltenham daycare provider. Our learning programs focus on nurturing children’s natural curiosity through hands-on, play-based activities that build confidence, independence, and early academic skills. Whether your child is in the toddler stage, preparing for kinder, or just beginning their early learning journey, our educators tailor the curriculum to meet their needs and pace.

Families searching for a trusted Cheltenham daycare often tell us they value our balance of structure and creativity. We blend early literacy and numeracy with music, art, sensory exploration, and outdoor play—so every day is engaging and purposeful. Located conveniently in Bayside, our daycare centre serves families from Cheltenham, Beaumaris, and surrounding suburbs who want more than just supervision—they want meaningful growth and care.

If you’re seeking a Cheltenham daycare that feels like an extension of your home and values your child’s unique potential, our curriculum is the perfect fit. Book a tour or explore our full programs to see the difference we can make.

cheltenham daycare

Early Years Learning Curriculum

Guided by early years learning framework our curriculum supports children’s unique strengths and abilities….Children know things, and with support and respect for their capabilities we can extend their knowledge, understanding and life experiences.

Language and Literacy

A lifetime of learning begins with reading!

At Minnows our planned language and literacy curriculum supports children’s growing listening and speaking abilities. We see language learning as a part of play, practised in the social process of doing things together. We promote language learning through musical songs and games, stories, art, science and maths activities. Good reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are pivotal to communication, to school and later learning.

STEM

Science-technology-engineering-maths

Children at Minnows have the opportunity to be introduced to early STEM skills through inquiry based learning programs. We support key STEM skills by teaching children to:

ask questions
work together
think creatively
solve problems
explore and take calculated risks
test solutions to problems
discover new ways of doing things.

recycle-reduce-reuse-early-learning-program

Reduce Reuse Recycle

Sustainable Living and Learning

Continually consuming less invites conversation about the broader community and looking after our world. Our focus is on being friendly to our environment, reducing, reusing and recycling so as to leave the land as nature intended. Our environmentally friendly experiences such as gardening and using recycled materials and only using what we need.

Nature Kindergarten

Minnows Kindergarten children have the freedom to explore the bush, the wetlands and reserves unhurried and uninterrupted in our Nature program. Children use multiple senses to discover and learn from a different environment that promotes unpredictability, challenge and resilience.

“Let Nature be your teacher.”

William Wordsworth

Nutrition and Physical Activity

Eating well is promoted, with children enjoying the combination of eating balanced meals in small groups and socialising while they enjoy their meals, laughing, talking, listening and learning with each other.

Being active and challenged physically develops a strong sense of self, the ability to manage risk while promoting brain development. Our playgrounds are for all abilities. A place to practice fun and fitness while playing among friends. An environment that enhances the learning of physical skills while experiencing the different weather and the natural world.

Indoor/Outdoor

Children can choose to play indoors or outdoors throughout the day.

This flexibility accommodates children’s changing interests and needs. They develop confidence to make decisions about of their own agency.

Both environments are places where children can confidently play and learn and master skills creatively.

Minnows ELC

A place to nurture a life long love of learning

Enrol now

As a well-established Cheltenham early education centre, Minnows is proud to be more than just a place where children learn—we’re a hub for local families. Our commitment extends beyond the classroom, offering trusted resources to help parents stay informed, connected, and confident in their early parenting journey. We understand that finding reliable support services, educational materials, and community programs can be challenging. That’s why we've curated a list of useful links tailored for families seeking childcare, health services, parenting advice, and developmental guidance.

Being a Cheltenham early education centre means we play a key role in bridging families with local services and support networks. Whether you’re a first-time parent or enrolling your third child, our goal is to empower you with tools that enhance your child’s early learning experience at home and within the community. We believe strong partnerships between educators and families lead to better outcomes—and these resources are one of many ways we bring that belief to life. At Minnows, your child’s growth, and your confidence as a parent, are equally important. If you're looking for a Cheltenham early education centre that truly supports the whole family, we invite you to explore everything we offer.