Early Learning Centre
PLACES AVAILABLE
Join an ELC tour
An ELC group tour offers a firsthand experience of the welcoming community and engaging learning environment that make Portside Christian College ELC a special place for young learners.
During the tour, families will meet our ELC Director, Mrs Jacqui Gliddon, and explore our thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor learning spaces, they will see how creativity, play, and growth are encouraged through our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, Christian values, and play-based learning philosophy. The tour also provides an opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of how we support each child’s early learning journey.
ELC private tours by appointment.
What we value
AT PORTSIDE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
Our Early Learning Centre provides a warm, nurturing and challenging environment for children from the age of 3.
Our team of trained educators are committed to presenting a rich learning experience for 48 weeks of the year, where children develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually as unique human beings.
We embrace our families in supporting their children to transition from home to a new learning community, and we guide children to establish learning behaviours and relationships that are life impacting.
For more information on our Early Learning Centre or to enquire about enrolment:
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Contact Mrs Alison Thomson, College Registrar
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Direct line (08) 7071 4864
Portside Christian College ELC investment
The College is committed to maintaining fees that are as economical as possible for families, whilst striving to achieve excellence in every aspect of education delivery, encompassing the academic, social, emotional, spiritual and physical components of your children.
Our ELC is an approved Long Day Care centre catering for students aged between three and five years. The service operates between 7:15am and 6:00pm and has a 4-week break over the Christmas holidays.
The daily fee is $140 and includes breakfast until 8am, but does not include lunches. Families may be eligible to access the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), depending on their personal circumstances.
Reggio Emilia Approach at our Early Learning Centre
Our integrated play-based program is influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach, which we interpret from a Biblical worldview within our Australian context. This approach offers children time and opportunity to explore, discover, question and predict as they wonder, imagine and create.
We use Reggio Emilia to frame our thinking and learning approach, to observe what children know and are curious about, and to understand what challenges them.
Nature Pedagogy at our Early Learning Centre
LEARNING FROM AND EMBRACING NATURE
'Nature pedagogy' is a term we use to describe how we embrace nature as a key way of working with children. We bring nature into our classrooms and connect outdoor spaces such as our frog garden, mangroves and excursions to local areas.
"Nature play has proven benefits of outdoor play ranging from a great sense of wellbeing and better self discipline to improved concentration, imagination and social skills."
Claire Warden
- Nature pedagogy and experiential learning educator
Parent Partnership at our Early Learning Centre
A VILLAGE RAISES A CHILD
We believe that relationships are at the heart of our pedagogy. We aspire for our ELC community to be an extension of your own family and your community. We value partnering with families and building connections as this supports children's learning and development.
At our Early Learning Centre all of our families are encouraged to be involved in their child's learning and to build relationships in our community.
We refer to each of our rooms as a 'neighbourhood' and our community as our 'ELC Family'. We embed this view through all aspects of our program.
Personalised documentation for every child
Portside Christian College Early Learning Centre uses Storypark to manage and share information with our families. With Storypark the educators will share photos and updates with you about your child in a safe portal. Storypark enables you to communicate directly about your child with the educators.
For more information on Storypark please speak to a staff member in ELC or email us.
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ELC Welcome book
Download our ELC Welcome book to find out all you need to know about starting at Portside ELC.
ELC Community Handbook
To access our ELC Community Handbook, please click here.
NEW ELC Now open
Our new Early Learning Centre is now open at 9-13 Marion Street Ethelton.