Zebra Early Learning Centre

4.9 /5
7 reviews

Childcare and preschool in Hahndorf, SA

Welcome to Zebra Early Learning Centre in Hahndorf. Our daycare and preschool centre is convenient for local families in Hahndorf or nearby suburbs Aldgate, Balhannah, Bridgewater, Echunga, Meadows, Nairne, and Woodside. Zebra Early Learning Centre offers long day care and a preschool program for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.

Our purpose-built childcare and preschool centre in Hahndorf offers innovative early learning programs in a safe, nurturing environment. Our natural outdoor environment features a cubby house, slides, a veggie garden, and a mud kitchen. Our purpose-built indoor spaces are homely, allowing children to explore natural resources and ignite their imagination and creativity. Our passionate educators focus on achieving the best learning outcomes and providing real-life experiences linked to our program. Our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher delivers a preschool program, preparing children for a smooth transition to school. With consistent and knowledgeable educators, we uphold high standards of child safety and care. Our children enjoy walks within the local community and access the oval and the neighbouring school.

Why you’ll love Zebra Early Learning Centre in Hahndorf

Spacious outdoor environments

Passionate, qualified educators

Nappies and wipes provided

Chef-prepared meals

Preschool program

Family communication app

Extended/flexible hours

Incursions/excursions

Sun protection aware

Allergy and anaphylaxis aware

Meet our Centre Manager

Samantha

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Working towards Bachelor of Teaching
“I believe children can achieve great things when provided with the right tools to inspire their natural desire and curiosity.”

My career in early childhood education began in 2010, and I joined the team at Zebra Early Learning Centre in April 2023. I started my career as an educator in a Montessori Centre, progressing to team leader, assistant manager, and then Centre Manager. Much of my early career was spent with the toddler age group and supporting educators in caring for infants within our community. I have held various leadership roles and am passionate about mentoring educators to uphold best practices with a child-centred approach.

My teaching style has evolved to support children’s individual needs and goals. I believe children can achieve great things when provided with the right tools to inspire their natural desire and curiosity. I am committed to delivering best practices with our highly skilled educators and advocating for children’s rights. I firmly believe that each child has the right to feel safe, secure, and respected. My aim is to nurture their independence, watch them grow into capable learners, and instil a love for lifelong learning.

Children who attend early education and care settings have opportunities to develop social skills, build trusting relationships with peers and adults, and belong to a community outside the family. The Early Years Learning Framework supports their development, providing a strong foundation for future success beyond the early years. Our dedicated team strives to provide the best possible learning outcomes for children in collaboration with families. We encourage families to get to know our educators and pride ourselves on effective communication. Recognising families as the first teachers, we work in partnership to meet individual goals for children across the service.

I look forward to welcoming your family to Hahndorf Early Learning Centre.

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Our innovative early learning programs

At our early learning centre in Hahndorf, our experienced educators and teachers continually seek innovative ways to enrich your child’s education. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, we offer a variety of engaging and diverse learning experiences, including:

Sustainability

We promote sustainability by providing recycling bins and sending food scraps home with families or educators who have chickens. This practice helps reduce waste and supports our community’s eco-friendly efforts.

Inclusion

We create a sense of belonging for your child to ensure they feel heard and empowered to make choices, fostering their independence. We celebrate each child’s unique strengths, helping them to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Music and movement

Our evidence-based Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR) program is designed to develop fundamental skills that help support children’s self-regulation, memory, and concentration. It is an innovative approach to holistic learning, development and well-being in early childhood.

STEM

We encourage your child to ask questions, experiment, and problem-solve, all while engaging their natural curiosity. By fostering this inquisitive mindset, we help them develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Age-appropriate early learning

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(0-2 years)

Nursery

In the nursery room, our educators follow children’s home routines to ensure consistency and comfort, focusing on building secure and trusting relationships. This approach helps create a strong sense of security and well-being, fostering an environment where babies can thrive and feel safe.

  Next: Toddlers
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(2-3 years)

Toddlers

Our educators plan a variety of sensory experiences to support toddlers’ development, with a strong emphasis on music and movement activities. These experiences are designed to enhance cognitive and motor skills, while also encouraging self-expression and creativity in a nurturing setting.

Previous: Nursery Next: Pre-kindy
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(3-4 years)

Pre-kindy

For the pre-kindy room, our educators aim to foster children’s independence and self-help skills through an inquiry-based approach to learning. This method encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, allowing children to explore their interests and develop a love for learning.

Previous: Toddlers Next: Preschool
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(4-6 years)

Preschool

Our educators and teachers provide structured learning experiences to support children’s transition into the school environment, focusing on literacy, numeracy, self-help and critical thinking skills. Emphasising the importance of strengthening relationships within the local community, we provide opportunities for children to explore the world around them, preparing them for a successful and confident start to their school journey.

Previous: Pre-kindy  
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Preschool and school-readiness program

At our early learning centre, your child will benefit from our enhanced learning program in preschool combined with our play-based learning program. With the added convenience of long daycare hours, our preschool program runs all year round, perfect for busy families.

The added benefits of our preschool program include:

  • Extended long day care opening hours
  • Open all year round (excl. public holidays)
  • Programs developed and delivered by our qualified educators and teachers
  • Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation
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We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating

Thanks to the in-house chef at our Hahndorf child care centre, your child can expect healthy, nutritious, and yummy meals. We offer a rotating seasonal menu, providing breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack freshly made daily. We cater to all dietary requirements, including halal.

What a typical day looks like for your child

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Arrival at the centre

Your child will be welcomed by our team of educators, who will ensure the morning transition from home to centre goes as smoothly as possible. On arrival, share information about your child’s specific needs for the day.

  Next: Mealtimes
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Mealtimes

Our centre chefs prepare a nutritious menu for your child to sit down and eat. This is a great time for everyone to share stories from the day. Educators model healthy eating practices, social behaviours and support children’s growing independence with mealtime routines.

Previous: Arrival at the centre Next: Infant care
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Infant care

If you have an infant, we spend one-on-one time with them to establish a connection. Educators talk gently and respond to babies’ cues. We use songs, games, and conversations to strengthen relationships and build language skills.

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Play-based learning

Your child is naturally curious. They want to learn and explore, which is why we teach through play-based learning. It supports language, motor skills, memory, emotions and social relationships. Educators plan play-based learning experiences based on children’s interests and goals.

Previous: Infant care Next: Sleep, rest and relaxation
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Sleep, rest and relaxation

We match routines to your child’s individual needs. Opportunities for rest and relaxation help make them feel safe. Play-based learning experiences are provided for older children who no longer don’t sleep in centre.

Previous: Play-based learning Next: Heading home
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Heading home

As your child prepares to head home, this is your opportunity to speak with our friendly educators about your child’s day and everything they learnt. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow.

Previous: Sleep, rest and relaxation  

Communicating with families

We prioritise clear and consistent communication with families to foster a strong partnership in supporting each child’s development. We ensure families feel informed, involved, and confident in their child’s early learning journey.

Our families love hearing about their child’s progress and the experiences they’re having day to day. We share these moments through centre newsletters, our Xplor App, one-on-one meetings, and at various centre events.

Fees

The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.

  • Nursery0 – 2 years

    $161.50
  • Toddler2 – 3 years

    $161.50
  • Preschool3 – 5 years

    $161.50

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*

1-4 days = full day session; 5 days = 10 hour per day sessions

CCS Estimator results

  • Estimated subsidy

    $0.00
  • Total fees

    $0.00
  • Out-of-pocket cost

    $0.00

*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:

  • Accuracy and currency of family income information entered;
  • Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
  • Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres)
  • Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight)

Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.

For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.

Calculate my subsidy

Explore nearby G8 Education centres

Looking for other great childcare, kindergarten or preschool options? Discover more G8 Education centres near you!

Frequently asked questions

A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.

On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.

Our Family Support Team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Early Learning Services centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.

Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.

Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.

For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits and spare socks.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits and spare socks.

Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.

It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.

Early Learning Services uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.

After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.

If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Early Learning Services is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.

Contact us

We look forward to welcoming your family.