Explore & Develop is a unique organisation in the early childhood and care sector in Australia. We are a group of individually owned and operated early childhood education and care services located across NSW and ACT.
Our services are owned and operated by early childhood professionals who are passionate about giving children the best start in life.
As a franchise organisation, families and employees enjoy the benefit of a locally-run service and a direct relationship with the Owner/Approved Provider – as well as the support of many decades of early childhood experience, professional training and resources from the group.
We only welcome new owners to the group who demonstrate a sincere passion for the early childhood sector. All of our service owners work onsite in their services.
Explore & Develop Penrith South is accessible from the M4 Motorway via the Northern Road, furthermore we are conveniently located to the Nepean Hospital Precinct, including Nepean Private Hospital. Our surrounding streets (Derby Street and Lethbridge Street) provide a variety of specialists, medical centres and other professional establishments.
Our approach is built around respectful relationships, play-based learning and close collaboration with families, so children feel supported as they learn, explore and grow.
We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for every member of our community – children, families, employees and partners.
We strive for a culture in which everyone feels a sense of belonging, and we welcome the varied perspectives, knowledge and experience of our diverse community.
Our Owner-Operators share the following commitment to child safety:
Our services are committed to building environments where child safety is embedded in everyday practice, decision making and relationships with families and communities.
Jenny Mays
Jenny Mays has more than two decades of experience in early childhood education and care and is passionate about giving young children the best possible start in life.
As Co-Founders of the Explore & Develop organisation, Jenny and her husband Stephen established the first Explore & Develop service in Frenchs Forest in 2005.
Jenny continues to support the network with deep sector knowledge, leadership and a strong commitment to quality early education and care.
Belinda Ludlow leads the Explore & Develop Support Office, a small team of early childhood sector professionals with specialist expertise ranging from Operations and Policy through to Marketing and Business Management.
We support our network of owners to operate their early education and care services to an outstanding level of excellence, supported by the latest resources, best practice policies and sector-leading training programs.
