Choosing an early learning centre is a big milestone for any family. You want to feel confident, informed, and deeply connected to your child’s experiences — whether you’re seeking child care on the Gold Coast or at one of our Sanctuary communities across Queensland.
At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure, we believe families and educators flourish when they learn together. Strong communication, transparent practices, and a genuine partnership with families underpin everything we do.
Here are some meaningful ways to stay engaged with your child’s progress in their early learning environment.
Stay involved through regular family–educator conversations
Ongoing conversations with your child’s educators provide a clear window into their world — the friendships they’re forming, their interests, their strengths, and the moments that light them up. These meetings are a chance to celebrate growth, talk openly about challenges, and align on shared goals that support your child both at home and in care.
Educators may share stories, observations, or examples of learning that highlight your child’s individuality and emerging skills. Together, you build a consistent and supportive approach around your child.
Keep connected with daily communication tools
At Sanctuary, we use the OWNA family communication platform to share thoughtful daily updates that give you a meaningful glimpse into your child’s experiences. While these posts aren’t always in real time, they offer a curated look at the play invitations they’ve explored, the meals they’ve enjoyed, and the moments of calm or connection woven throughout their day. To protect educator presence and focus, our teams share a maximum of five images per day, ensuring updates are purposeful rather than overwhelming.
We also encourage families to stay connected through everyday conversations with our educators at drop-off and pick-up. These moments — combined with the insights shared through OWNA — help create a truly holistic picture of your child’s learning, wellbeing, and sense of belonging.
Explore your child’s learning portfolio
A learning portfolio is a curated and thoughtful collection of your child’s experiences throughout the year. It often includes artwork, photos, educator reflections, and links to early learning outcomes.
Reviewing the portfolio with your child helps them share their learning story in their own words — a beautiful way to build confidence, memory, and pride in their achievements.
Notice new skills emerging at home
Some of the most remarkable learning moments happen when your child is back in their familiar home environment. You might notice new language, imaginative play, problem-solving, or confidence in everyday routines. These shifts are often reflections of rich experiences in their early learning setting.
Sharing these observations with your educators helps create a complete picture of your child’s development.
Engage in Learning Opportunities at Home
When families build on centre-based learning at home, children experience stronger continuity and deeper understanding.
You might:
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Try a simple sensory activity inspired by something your child enjoyed in care
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Extend a story or project theme with playful role-play
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Ask your educators for ideas based on your child’s current interests
This shared approach tells your child, “We’re in this together.”
Collaborate on your child’s Individual Learning Plan
Many early learning settings, including Sanctuary, develop Individual Learning Plans that follow each child’s interests, abilities, and unique learning needs. These plans grow and change as your child does and are developed in close partnership with families.
By offering your own insights and hopes, you help shape a learning journey that feels personal, meaningful, and deeply connected across home and care.
Learn from visual displays around the centre
Our environments are intentionally designed to document learning in action. Photos, artwork, quotes, and reflections displayed throughout the centre show you what the children are exploring, talking about, and discovering together.
These displays celebrate children’s voices and give families a rich sense of the centre’s learning culture.
Ask About Your Child’s Social Development & friendships
Relationships are at the heart of early childhood education. Asking educators about how your child interacts with peers, navigates group moments, or handles transitions can give you valuable insight into their emotional wellbeing.
These conversations help families and educators work together to support social confidence and belonging.
Connect with us to learn more
Staying informed about your child’s development is an ongoing collaboration built on trust, communication, and shared care. Whether you’re exploring child care on the Gold Coast, Highfields, Redlynch, or Buderim, Sanctuary is here to support your family every step of the way.
If you’d like to learn more about how we partner with families or how we track and celebrate children’s progress, we’d love to welcome you for a visit.
