Welcome to Explore & Develop Conder

Resources are carefully selected and placed within easy reach, inviting curiosity and supporting each child’s stage of development. Through play, children begin to make sense of their world, building confidence as capable and active learners. Relationships are at the heart of our practice. We prioritise secure, responsive connections so that every child feels safe, seen and supported. Educators work closely with families to honour individual routines for sleep, feeding and care, ensuring continuity between home and the service. Our orientation process is gentle and personalised, allowing time to build trust and meaningful relationships with both children and their families. We take time to understand each family’s culture, values and beliefs, embedding these into everyday practice. The environment includes quiet, calming spaces for rest, alongside opportunities for children to begin developing independence and agency within their day.

Educators support children to take increasing ownership of their routines, belongings and learning, fostering confidence and a strong sense of self. Our program builds on earlier foundations to nurture a lifelong love of learning. Through play-based and inquiry-led experiences, children develop confidence across a range of areas including social and emotional development, coordination, early literacy and numeracy, and emerging understandings of scientific and mathematical concepts. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, educators design learning experiences that respond to children’s interests and extend their thinking. Through intentional teaching and thoughtful questioning, educators support children to explore ideas more deeply and sustain their interests over time. Learning occurs in both small and larger groups, providing opportunities for children to think, discuss, question, research and experiment as they make meaning of their world.

The environment includes natural elements including established trees, gardens, rocks, grassed areas and sandpits, creating a texturally rich and engaging landscape. These spaces invite children to move, investigate, problem-solve and express themselves creatively. Outdoor play supports children’s wellbeing and sense of agency. Through open-ended experiences, children develop confidence, resilience and an understanding of their relationship with the environment. It offers freedom, challenge and wonder, supporting children to become confident explorers and capable learners. Educators actively engage alongside children—listening, questioning and extending ideas—supporting sustained inquiry and deeper thinking. Through these shared experiences, children develop a genuine connection to nature and a growing respect for the world around them.