Welcome to Explore & Develop Artarmon – Dickson Avenue

Explore & Develop Artarmon was the sixth centre I visited, and it stood out by far. Before becoming a parent, I worked in tech and have since returned to university to study Early Childhood Education, so I probably approached choosing a centre more critically than most. We had also only recently moved from Europe, have no family support here, and our toddler was very attached to me after a lot of change and travel. He also did not speak English when he started. Finding a place we could genuinely trust was therefore incredibly important to us. One of the first things that impressed me was the environment. The children spend a lot of time outside, with excellent covered areas, lots of opportunities for climbing, movement, mud, water, sensory play and simply running around. At several other centres I visited, children seemed to spend much more time indoors, sometimes in heavily controlled or overly quiet environments. Here, children are allowed to be children: active, curious, chatty, playful and engaged with the world around them. The indoor resources are equally thoughtful. They are high quality, versatile and clearly chosen around children’s interests and developmental needs rather than simply to look impressive to adults. Again and again, I find myself reading about an idea in my studies and then recognising that principle being genuinely put into practice here. I also really value the centre’s approach to learning and documentation. The activities are clearly purposeful, and parents are given insight into what the children are exploring and learning. At the same time, educators are not constantly behind iPads trying to document every moment. Meaningful experiences are shared, but the priority remains being present with the children — playing, talking, comforting, observing and connecting with them. Our orientation gave me an unusually close insight into the centre. Coming from Europe, I had expected a much more gradual settling-in process, and Alison and the team were incredibly flexible in adapting the transition to what our son actually needed, especially considering his attachment and lack of English. Because of that, I spent more time inside the centre than most parents probably do and was able to observe ordinary moments beyond drop-off and pick-up. What I saw was consistently warm, patient and respectful. One moment in particular summed it all up for me. A few weeks into settling in, I arrived to collect my son and saw him from a distance sitting completely relaxed on an educator’s lap with one of his German books. They still didn’t really share a language, but she was doing her best to “read” it with him anyway — looking at the pictures, attempting the words she could, laughing with him and simply enjoying the moment together. He looked completely at home. It was such a small interaction, but it showed exactly how much heart goes into helping each individual child feel understood and connected. Alison’s leadership also deserves special mention. She is approachable, knows the children and families, is actively involved in the centre and clearly leads by example. The warmth and respect within the team are obvious, and that culture flows directly through to the children. With every educator who regularly works with my son, I have a genuinely good feeling, they are all equally great. By the end of the day, once your child is properly settled, you often feel as though so many important developmental areas have already been naturally covered — gross motor, fine motor, language, learning experiences, little helper tasks, creative and sensory play, outdoor movement and social interaction — without formal „teaching“. I am admittedly very picky when it comes to early childhood environments, Explore & Develop Artarmon has earned my complete trust. Finding it has made an enormous difference to our family, and I would choose it again without hesitation. I would love to write more but the space for reviews is not allowing it 😅 We love this place and the hard work is very much seen! Thank you e&d dicks ave ❤️

After trying a number of daycares in the area, we are very happy with Explore and Develop Artarmon – Dickson Avenue. The centre is staffed by long-term educators who are caring and provide individualised and consistent care, and it is well-managed and overseen by the owner. The food is good and healthy, the covered outdoor layout means fewer sicknesses, and the activities and facilities are fun for the kids.

All three of my children attend Explore & Develop Dickson Road, and I couldn't recommend it more highly. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the warmth of this centre, the educators genuinely know and love each child, and my kids run in happily every morning. We moved our kids to Explore in Develop in January, and we are so grateful to Alison, Holly, Josie, Riju and the entire team for creating such an exceptional centre. What sets this centre apart is the quality and consistency of the team. The educators take time to understand each child and the communication with families is seamless & outstanding. We always know what our children are learning, doing, and enjoying. There is a perfect balance between play, learning, and building independence, and I've watched each of my three children thrive in different ways at every age and stage. Alison, the owner, is an exceptional leader. She is genuinely hands-on, deeply invested in every child's experience, and always available to families. It's rare to find an owner so personally involved, and it shows in the quality of everything the centre does. As a parent, the peace of mind of dropping your children somewhere they are truly cared for is priceless. If you're touring centres in the area, put Explore & Develop Dickson Road at the top of your list. We feel so lucky to be part of this community!

Our daughter has been at Explore and Develop for just a few months and we've already seen her flourish there under the care of Alison and her team of incredible educators. Everyone has gone out of their way to make both her and us as parents feel welcome. The team have expertly helped us navigate challenges around toilet learning and followed routines we've set at home. The educators are decidated to supporting our daughter to achieve her individual goals, suc as helping her with her Nepali language learning. I would highly recommend Explore and Develop to anyone looking for a caring, high-quality and welcoming centre.

We’re so happy we sent our daughter here. Since joining, she has really opened up and has thrived in the fun and loving environment nurtured by the campus leaders. Every day I pick her up, she takes me on a tour of the fun things she’s been doing that day, and barely wants to leave! This is a massive change from the poor experience we had at another center nearby, and we are so thankful to Alison and all of the educators.