How do I choose the right early learning centre for my child?

Choosing the right early learning centre means looking for qualified educators, a nurturing environment, strong safety standards, and a play-based learning philosophy like the one used at Sanctuary Early Learning.

What makes a high-quality early learning centre in South East Queensland?

A high-quality early learning centre is assessed under the National Quality Framework and offers structured learning programs, low educator-to-child ratios, and a strong focus on emotional wellbeing and early development.

Is an early learning centre better than family day care?

An early learning centre like Sanctuary Early Learning offers purpose-built facilities, multiple qualified educators, and structured early years programs that support school readiness and social development.

What age can my child start at an early learning centre?

Most early learning centres accept children from around six weeks of age through to school age, with age-appropriate programs designed for each developmental stage.

What curriculum does Sanctuary Early Learning follow?

Sanctuary Early Learning follows the Early Years Learning Framework, focusing on play-based learning that supports cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.

What is play-based learning and why is it important?

Play-based learning allows children to explore, problem-solve, and build confidence through guided play, which research shows supports stronger early brain development and lifelong learning.

Does Sanctuary Early Learning prepare children for school?

Yes, Sanctuary Early Learning offers structured school readiness programs that build early literacy, numeracy, independence, and social skills to support a smooth transition to primary school.

Are learning programs tailored to my child?

Educators at Sanctuary Early Learning observe each child's interests and development to tailor learning experiences that support individual strengths and needs.

Are educators at Sanctuary Early Learning qualified?

All educators at Sanctuary Early Learning hold or are working towards nationally recognised early childhood education qualifications and participate in ongoing professional development.

What educator-to-child ratios apply?

Sanctuary Early Learning meets or exceeds Australian educator-to-child ratios to ensure children receive individual attention and high-quality care.

How does the centre support emotional wellbeing?

Educators focus on secure relationships, predictable routines, and positive behaviour guidance to support children's emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging.

How are children settled into care?

Sanctuary Early Learning offers gradual orientation sessions and flexible settling-in periods to help children feel safe, comfortable, and confident.

How does Sanctuary Early Learning keep children safe?

The centre follows strict health and safety policies, secure access procedures, and daily safety checks to create a safe and protected learning environment.

What illness policies are in place?

Sanctuary Early Learning follows national illness exclusion guidelines to reduce the spread of illness and protect the wellbeing of children and families.

Are meals provided at the centre?

Many Sanctuary Early Learning centres provide nutritious, age-appropriate meals designed to support healthy growth and development, while accommodating allergies and dietary needs.

How are allergies and medical needs managed?

Individual health management plans are developed in partnership with families to safely support allergies, asthma, and other medical requirements.

How much does early learning cost in South East Queensland?

Early learning centre fees in South East Queensland typically range from $110 to $180 per day before subsidies, depending on location, age group, and services provided.

What are the fees at Sanctuary Early Learning?

Fees at Sanctuary Early Learning are competitively priced and vary by centre and age group, with detailed fee information provided during the enrolment process.

What is the Child Care Subsidy and am I eligible?

The Child Care Subsidy is a government payment that reduces out-of-pocket childcare costs for eligible families based on income, activity levels, and hours of care.

How much will childcare cost after subsidy?

After Child Care Subsidy, many families pay between $30 and $80 per day, depending on their individual circumstances and hours of care.

Sanctuary Early Learning | Early Learning Centre

At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure, learning is an adventure — one guided by curiosity, connection, and a deep respect for each child. As a family-owned early learning provider, we offer high-quality care and education across our centres throughout Queensland.

Our approach is grounded in our core values of Connection, Collaboration, Inclusion, and Respect, shaping welcoming environments where children feel safe, supported, and confident to explore the world around them. We follow each child’s interests, allowing learning to unfold naturally through play, relationships, and meaningful experiences. Across our centres, children engage in rich programs including movement, creative arts, outdoor play, and wellbeing practices that support resilience, independence, and emotional growth.

Every Sanctuary centre is thoughtfully designed to reflect its local community, providing engaging, home-like spaces where children can learn and thrive. Our programs align with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines (QKLG), ensuring a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

We invite you to experience the Sanctuary difference — book a tour and explore enrolment opportunities at a centre near you.

At Sanctuary, we take a holistic approach to early learning — recognising that children develop through the connection of mind, body, emotions, and relationships. We follow each child’s interests, allowing their natural curiosity to guide learning experiences that are meaningful, engaging, and developmentally appropriate.

Our programs support children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing through a balance of play, movement, creativity, and quiet moments of reflection. From outdoor exploration and creative expression to mindfulness and calm transitions, children are supported to build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self.

Learning at Sanctuary is shaped through responsive educators, nurturing environments, and strong relationships with families. This integrated approach ensures every child feels secure, valued, and empowered — laying the foundations for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure, our centres are designed to provide a safe and stimulating environment for your child to learn, grow and thrive. Each facility is thoughtfully crafted, offering a range of amenities and features to support your child’s development. Our Cairns facility, for example, boasts:

Spacious and well-equipped indoor and outdoor play areas
Age-appropriate resources and learning materials
Dedicated rooms for babies, toddlers and kindergarten-age children
Qualified and experienced educators who truly care about your child’s wellbeing
Secure premises with modern safety measures in place
Eco-friendly practices and sustainability initiatives

We understand that every child is unique and we cater to the individual needs of children from as young as 6 weeks old up to 5 years of age. Our programs are designed to support children’s growth across all developmental stages, including:

Babies: Our nurturing educators provide a safe, clean and loving environment for your baby to grow, ensuring their needs are met with warmth and responsiveness.
Toddlers: we encourage exploration and curiosity, while promoting independence. We know our toddlers have a big world to investigate and wrap every element of our program around their interests and activities.
Kindergarten: Our kindergarten programs prepare children for their transition to school, fostering a love of learning and developing essential life skills. This is all accomplished by following their lead, unpacking their investigations and diving a little deeper into topics.

At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure, we believe in providing a comprehensive and engaging curriculum that incorporates both STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).

This combination ensures our kindergarten program offers:

A strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking skills
A focus on play-based learning and child-led interests, promoting creativity and self-expression
Opportunities for children to develop a sense of belonging, confidence and resilience
A supportive environment where children are encouraged to explore, take risks and learn at their own pace

How do I choose the right early learning centre for my child?
Choosing the right early learning centre means looking for qualified educators, a nurturing environment, strong safety standards, and a play-based learning philosophy like the one used at Sanctuary Early Learning.
What makes a high-quality early learning centre in South East Queensland?
A high-quality early learning centre is assessed under the National Quality Framework and offers structured learning programs, low educator-to-child ratios, and a strong focus on emotional wellbeing and early development.
Is an early learning centre better than family day care?
An early learning centre like Sanctuary Early Learning offers purpose-built facilities, multiple qualified educators, and structured early years programs that support school readiness and social development.
What age can my child start at an early learning centre?
Most early learning centres accept children from around six weeks of age through to school age, with age-appropriate programs designed for each developmental stage.
What curriculum does Sanctuary Early Learning follow?
Sanctuary Early Learning follows the Early Years Learning Framework, focusing on play-based learning that supports cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
What is play-based learning and why is it important?
Play-based learning allows children to explore, problem-solve, and build confidence through guided play, which research shows supports stronger early brain development and lifelong learning.
Does Sanctuary Early Learning prepare children for school?
Yes, Sanctuary Early Learning offers structured school readiness programs that build early literacy, numeracy, independence, and social skills to support a smooth transition to primary school.
Are learning programs tailored to my child?
Educators at Sanctuary Early Learning observe each child's interests and development to tailor learning experiences that support individual strengths and needs.
Are educators at Sanctuary Early Learning qualified?
All educators at Sanctuary Early Learning hold or are working towards nationally recognised early childhood education qualifications and participate in ongoing professional development.
What educator-to-child ratios apply?
Sanctuary Early Learning meets or exceeds Australian educator-to-child ratios to ensure children receive individual attention and high-quality care.
How does the centre support emotional wellbeing?
Educators focus on secure relationships, predictable routines, and positive behaviour guidance to support children's emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging.
How are children settled into care?
Sanctuary Early Learning offers gradual orientation sessions and flexible settling-in periods to help children feel safe, comfortable, and confident.
How does Sanctuary Early Learning keep children safe?
The centre follows strict health and safety policies, secure access procedures, and daily safety checks to create a safe and protected learning environment.
What illness policies are in place?
Sanctuary Early Learning follows national illness exclusion guidelines to reduce the spread of illness and protect the wellbeing of children and families.
Are meals provided at the centre?
Many Sanctuary Early Learning centres provide nutritious, age-appropriate meals designed to support healthy growth and development, while accommodating allergies and dietary needs.
How are allergies and medical needs managed?
Individual health management plans are developed in partnership with families to safely support allergies, asthma, and other medical requirements.
How much does early learning cost in South East Queensland?
Early learning centre fees in South East Queensland typically range from $110 to $180 per day before subsidies, depending on location, age group, and services provided.
What are the fees at Sanctuary Early Learning?
Fees at Sanctuary Early Learning are competitively priced and vary by centre and age group, with detailed fee information provided during the enrolment process.
What is the Child Care Subsidy and am I eligible?
The Child Care Subsidy is a government payment that reduces out-of-pocket childcare costs for eligible families based on income, activity levels, and hours of care.
How much will childcare cost after subsidy?
After Child Care Subsidy, many families pay between $30 and $80 per day, depending on their individual circumstances and hours of care.

Queensland Free Kindergarten

By Sanctuary Early Learning • December 16, 2025

Starting school with confidence begins long before the first bell rings. For many Queensland families, the Free Kindergarten program is transforming access to quality early childhood education by removing cost barriers and giving children a strong foundation for lifelong learning. What Is the Queensland Free Kindy Program? In January 2024, the Queensland Government introduced the […] The post Queensland Free Kindergarten appeared first on Sanctuary Early Learning.