Brookvale - Explore & Develop

Monday–Friday 7.30am–6.00pm

Ground Floor 122-126 Old Pittwater Road Brookvale NSW 2100

(02) 9939 8336

charlenef@exploreanddevelop.com.au

6 weeks to 6 years

We are a child-safe organisation

Meet the owner

Charlene

As a qualified early childhood professional, Charlene is proud to have independently owned and operated the service since 2008. As a mum to two grown-up children, Charlene brings both professional insight and personal understanding to the joys and challenges of raising a family.

With a background in Human Resources, Charlene transitioned from a corporate career into early childhood education—but believes she never really left the HR space. “I’m still in the business of people,” she says. Holding a Diploma in Children’s Services, a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, and a Diploma in Energetic Healing, Charlene draws on this unique blend of experience to foster genuine, heart-centred relationships with children, families, and her team.

Features

Family owned and operated

Natural outdoor environment

Preschool program

Incursion programs and activities

Dance program

Yoga

Language lessons

Nappies and wipes supplied

Our approach

Every classroom, including our nursery, is led by a university-qualified teacher. What truly sets our service apart is the consistency and commitment of our team, many of whom have been with us for over 10 years; this stability creates deep, meaningful relationships and a strong sense of continuity for the children in our care. Our owner/operator is present daily and represents the heart and soul of our service.

Our curriculum takes a holistic view of development, supporting each child’s social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and interpersonal growth. We are passionate advocates for early intervention and work closely with a range of Allied Health partners to ensure every child has access to the support they need.

The low staff turnover means both our girls are really comfortable with all the staff and have known most of them for the whole time they have been at Explore & Develop.

My first daughter Peggie started at Explore & Develop Brookvale when she was 9 months old, it was not easy leaving her but Charlene and the team made me feel better and reassured me she would be fine. Peggie is now 4.5, she thoroughly enjoys coming to pre-school and her sister Bessie is thriving in the baby room. We consider ourselves and our girls incredibly lucky to have got places at Explore and Develop when we did – we have never had any regrets.
I have taken for granted the strong relationship that I have with Charlene and her team at Explore & Develop, it is only when I speak to other mums with kids at other daycare centres that I realise that having such great relationships with the staff is not the norm. I love the clean, spacious, bright and nurturing environment that Explore & Develop provides, not just for the children but for the whole family. When my youngest Bessie started daycare she often came home smelling of perfume which gave me great comfort knowing she was held and hugged when she was feeling upset – she now walks into the baby room full of confidence and waves goodbye to me!
Charlene goes above and beyond in her efforts to integrate family with childcare creating a community environment for all involved, some examples include Christmas markets, summer picnics, experts coming in to talk about children behaviour/nutrition we also get regular emails about up and coming parenting seminars in the local area.
The team at Explore & Develop treats each child as an individual and helps them reach their full potential; we appreciate the care and guidance the staff has shown to our girls.
Our family are extremely happy with Explore & Develop Brookvale, i cant praise it enough!

Samantha Selby & Paul Valentine
I cannot speak highly enough of this wonderful centre and I tell everyone of the fantastic experience we are having with Charlie at your centre and how we feel so very lucky to have found such a fantastic environment for Charlie to be in each week.
I was initially hesitant about sending Charlie to daycare but honestly could not have been more pleasantly surprised. It has made the transition for him an absolute breeze. He loves his kindy days and we are constantly impressed with the range of activities for him to engage in and the care and support from both Charlene and all the excellent teachers in the Bilbies room.
The daily photos and explanations of what the children are up to is a huge comfort to us as parents, seeing what they are up to each day and we are so grateful for the generous, gentle, loving, caring nature of everyone we’ve dealt with.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Natalie and Dave Smith
It’s not only the community feel and small centre that’s appealing, it’s the reassurance knowing you have an onsite director and owner who puts her heart and soul into the centre – down to the amazing indoor and outdoor play equipment, the activity based learning, the education standards, the incursions, to the high quality food served and most importantly, the outstanding, caring and engaging teaching staff – it’s no wonder the staff never leave!

It’s a big decision finding the right day care for your child. I know for me it was. I have high standards and wanted to find a second home for my precious child. Without family around and having to work full time it was important I found that special place. I was recommended Explore & Develop by another mum & child care worker on Facebook and I hit the jackpot when I found the Brookvale centre! At first I hesitated moving from a centre with a backyard, but now I can’t imagine being anywhere else! This centre offers so much more on every level and the outdoor area is brilliant and ever-evolving. My child leaves for school next year and I just wish he could stay at Charlene’s centre til high school! It’s all about the little things and Explore & Develop Brookvale has it. And at the end of the day you can tell how wonderful the centre is by the smiles on the children’s faces, they’re content and love being there – my child included. I could go on, so please feel free to contact me via Charlene and I will gladly vouch my words for those that are seeking reassurance.

Melissa Nolan (Joel aged 4)
From day one, we absolutely loved this centre. Charlene, the centre’s owner and Director, is amazing! Working tirelessly to make sure everything is managed and maintained to the highest standard – while ensuring a wonderfully warm, welcoming and family-focussed environment. This centre is truly unique. Our boys have always been encouraged to explore and participate freely, invited to test their own boundaries and limits, and are provided with a wealth of the most exciting and creative learning opportunities on a daily basis! The staff at the centre demonstrate amazing patience and love for our boys. It is so wonderful knowing that when I drop them off in the morning, they will be looked after with nothing but care and kindness, by people they really trust. We feel really lucky to be part of the Explore & Develop family. Thank you to Charlene and the team!

Catherine Adlebert
I’ve been really happy with the results at Explore & Develop Brookvale. Their balance of educational versus playtime is outstanding and their contribution to my son’s development over the last few years has been significant. It’s put him in very good stead for school next year. Our son looks forward to preschool each day and that makes me very happy.

Andrew Heywood

Learning Environments

Nursery

0 – 2.5 years

We work closely with families to ensure consistency between the baby’s home life and their time at the service, which gives our youngest children an important sense of security, allowing them to build confidence and begin to explore. Led by an Early Childhood Teacher, our nursery room educators have also received expert sleep and settling training through our partnership with the Tresillian organisation.

Early learning

2 – 3 years

The toddler years are a busy stage of development where children are intent on discovering new things about themselves and their environment. Small group sizes and high educator-to-child ratios allow us to offer a variety of child-led, child-inspired and educator-guided opportunities. We value play-based learning as an ideal context for young children’s development and this is reflected in our practice.

Preschool

3 – 5 years

Our best-practice Preschool program is Reggio-inspired, holistic and enquiry-driven. Woven intrinsically into the Early Years Learning Framework (the national curriculum for the early childhood years), we recognise the importance and value of play. As such, our programs are child-centred and play-focused. Each opportunity for play that is introduced has an underlying objective – whether it be the development of early language, math or STEM skills, or to support social and emotional development through engagement and interaction with peers.

Outdoor environment

We have two separate outdoor spaces catering to our Babies and our Toddlers/Preschoolers, ensuring that all children feel safe, secure and confident to explore their natural surroundings. Our beautiful backdrop of established trees, shrubs, garden beds, rocks, grass areas, edible gardens, digging patch and sandpits offer opportunities for open-ended imaginative play and a variety of sensory experiences. These opportunities allow children to strengthen their sense of agency and gain an understanding about the natural world and the importance of sustainability.

Rated 5 stars on Google

Steph Sambrook

2 weeks ago

My daughter, Ivy, has been at Explore & Develop Brookvale for about six months, and I couldn't be happier. She took a while to settle in, but the team supported her (and me!) every step of the way with so much patience and care. She now loves going and has built wonderful relationships with her educators. The Bilbies room always has such a warm, calm and welcoming feel. You notice it the moment you walk in. The educators have also been fantastic at accommodating Ivy's specific needs, which has given me real peace of mind. I also love how much they use the outdoor space. Ivy spends lots of time playing and exploring outside, which is exactly what I want for her. A huge thank you to the Bilbies team. We feel very lucky to have found you!
R G

4 weeks ago

We’ve attended a few daycare services but Charlene and her team at explore & develop have always surpassed my expectations. The environment, their daily schedule for the children, the educators all make this place such a special centre. Both my son and daughter attended who are in school now and I still recommend Explore & Develop to all my friends family and my own customers.
Mel M

a month ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ After researching and visiting numerous daycares, I finally found the one I had been looking for. From the very first phone call to book an orientation, I felt such a welcoming, caring and nurturing atmosphere. As soon as I walked into the centre, I could feel the warmth and care, and most importantly, my child immediately felt so comfortable and at ease. As a first-time parent sending my child to daycare, this meant so much to me. The teachers truly go above and beyond to make the centre feel like a second home. You can see the care and attention to detail in everything, both inside and out. The beautiful garden is such a special part of the centre, and the children absolutely love watching it grow and being involved with it. The daycare is maintained to an exceptionally high standard of cleanliness, which is something I really value as a parent. Another thing I love is the low staff turnover. Seeing familiar, caring faces each day has made such a difference to my child, and how they always feel comfortable, secure and at ease with the educators they know. One of the things that has made me happiest is seeing just how much my child has grown and learned in such a short period of time. Their confidence, independence and curiosity have blossomed, and it has been so beautiful to watch develop, learn new things and become more confident every day. It is clear that the educators genuinely care about helping each child thrive. The daily photos and updates are also something I really appreciate. Being able to see what my child has been doing throughout the day gives me so much reassurance and allows me to feel connected even while at daycare. It really puts my mind at ease knowing they are happy, learning, playing and being so well cared for. I also really appreciate how present and approachable Charlene, the Director/Owner, is. She is always available when you need anything and is so helpful, supportive and genuinely caring. Knowing that she is so involved and approachable gives me an extra sense of reassurance and confidence that my child is in such wonderful hands. I couldn’t be happier with our decision, and I feel so grateful to have found such a wonderful place for my child to learn, grow and feel at home. I truly couldn’t recommend Explore and Develope Brookvale highly enough!
Brigid Christian

a month ago

Explore & Develop is such a beautiful nurturing centre, with amazing educators. Our children have thrived there. The things we love about it is the consistency and dedication of the staff, many of whom have worked there for more than ten years, the number of enrolments they take is less than most centres in the area so it’s a calmer environment than bigger childcare centres with more focus on individual children’s needs and has a lovely community feel.
Kim Beder

a month ago

A home away from home! My son has been with E&D Brookvale from baby room all the way to preschool. The care and dedication of the educators needs special mention as they pour their hearts into the kids. We are so thankful to have had their support on our journey to big school.

Fees & Inclusions

The daily fees for 2026

We are an approved Child Care Subsidy (CCS) service, which means eligible families will receive three days per week of subsidised care.

Use our CCS calculator for an estimate of your individual fees, or contact us and we’ll help you with it.

Our 2026 fees are outlined below. Note these fees are before CCS, which will significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Our service is also eligible for Start Strong Fee Relief, providing a further saving for families of 3- and 4-year-old children, in addition to CCS.

AGE GROUP	DAILY FEE (BEFORE CCS and Start Strong)
Nursery (0-2 years)	$188/day
Early learning (2-3 years)	$178/day
Preschool (3-5 years)	$155/day

Our daily fee is all-inclusive, covering nutritious meals, snacks and drinks, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, bedding, educational programs and learning materials.

Virtual tour

Gallery

Enquire now Waitlist

Parenting Resources

A positive start to early education and care
Read more
Parenting Resources

The lifelong benefits of Early Childhood Education and Care
Read more
Parenting Resources

Download our ‘Learning Through Play’ Ebook
Read more