Explorers Learning Academy in Mittagong is located in a peaceful rural setting.
The children look out onto the cows and goats and watch trains passing by.
We boast an experienced, long term team, and this is complemented by some younger educators who have bucket loads of enthusiasm and new ideas.
Our cook provides fresh and nutritious meals. Mealtimes are a social occasion for children to relax and enjoy good food in the company of friends.
Our babies are cared for in a beautiful homely environment where they are encouraged to discover their world in their own time A free-flowing mix of indoor-outdoor play means that our learning environments are calm and purposeful.
Our children are true Explorers! In the year before school, our Preschoolers travel in our Explorers bus to visit our local library, and explore nearby bush land, and more.
Our preschool and transition to school programs foster skills and learning that will support and prepare your child to head confidently off to Kindergarten when their journey at Explorers comes to an end.
Here’s what parents and carers are sharing on Google Reviews
I was quite nervous leaving my daughter for the first time at 4 years old, but all the staff were very welcoming, warm and just really lovely. Highly recommended! Wouldn't go anywhere else!
The teachers are so lovely, and so passionate about the work they are doing with these little minds. We only have 1 year left now before big school and I am excited to see the new things Scarlett will pick up as a ‘Schoolie’ next year. My kid adores her teachers. Talks about how great they are all the time.
She will really miss coming here when she graduates. Another thing I really appreciate about these wonderful ladies is that they want to send my girl out into the world completely prepared for what comes next. They are dedicated to making sure these kids are equipped to handle the transition to ‘big school’ so they will not just ‘be fine’ at school but excel! Thanks again Explorers for looking after my Scarlett. Highly recommend.
This morning, the children engaged in a beautiful immersive playdough experience using fresh herbs, butter beans, muffin wraps, cutters, flowers, and rolling pins
The creativity was endless as children made playdough cupcakes, nature “feasts,” garden pies, and even potions! Through this hands-on play, children explored textures, built fine motor skills, and shared ideas with their peers.
Inspired by theorists like Froebel and Vygotsky, this experience highlights how play with natural materials supports creativity, collaboration, and meaningful learning.
“Play is the highest form of research.” – Albert Einstein
Mar 25
🍀 St Patrick’s Day Celebrations at Explorers Learning Academy Bardia 🍀
What a magical day of green, gold and giggles at Explorers Learning Academy Bardia as our children and educators celebrated St Patrick’s Day together!
Our learning spaces were filled with laughter, creativity and curiosity as the children explored festive experiences throughout the day. From shamrock art and sensory play to music, dancing and imaginative storytelling about mischievous leprechauns, the children embraced the spirit of the celebration with excitement and joy.
Educators used the day as an opportunity to talk with the children about Irish culture, traditions and symbols, helping them understand how celebrations from around the world bring people together and help us learn about one another.
The children particularly loved searching for tiny hidden treasures and rainbows, wondering if a leprechaun had visited the centre overnight!
At Explorers Learning Academy, we love celebrating the rich cultures and traditions that make up our community, creating joyful learning experiences that spark curiosity and connection.
As an old Celtic blessing says:
"May your troubles be less,
and your blessings be more,
and nothing but happiness
come through your door." 🍀
Thank you to our wonderful families and educators who helped make today so special. We hope a little Irish luck follows everyone home today! 💚
Mar 17
Clean Up Australia Day at Explorers Learning Academy Bardia.
Today our Explorers proudly participated in Clean Up Australia Day, with everyone getting involved in caring for our environment and community.
Throughout the day, children engaged in meaningful, hands-on experiences. Our younger learners explored themed sensory trays, discovering how we can sort and care for our world through play. Outside, the children worked together to help clean our garden and play areas, showing wonderful teamwork and responsibility.
We also learned new clean-up songs that made caring for our environment fun and memorable, and the children watched a short film about Clean Up Australia Day in our local community. This sparked thoughtful conversations about how even small actions can make a big difference.
Experiences like these support children to develop:
• A sense of responsibility for the environment
• Cooperation and teamwork skills
• Early understanding of sustainability and community care
• Confidence in contributing to their world
We are so proud of our young environmental champions and the care they showed for our beautiful learning space and wider community.
#ExplorersLearningAcademyBardia #CleanUpAustraliaDay #SustainabilityInAction #LittleEnvironmentalists
Mar 2
Our Tiny Echidnas’ Sensory Adventure!
This morning, our Tiny Echidnas had so much fun exploring our water sensory bags! The bags were filled with different textures and vibrant colours, giving the children a hands-on experience to touch, squish, and explore.
Through this activity, the children are developing important early learning skills, including:
· Fine motor skills: squeezing, pressing, and manipulating the bags strengthens tiny hand muscles.
· Sensory development: exploring different textures and colours stimulates their senses and curiosity.
· Cognitive skills: observing cause and effect as the water moves and noticing colour changes encourages problem-solving and early science concepts.
· Language development: talking about what they see, feel, and hear expands their vocabulary.
It was wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement as they discovered new sensations and shared their experiences with friends.
#ExplorersLearningAcademy #SensoryPlay #TinyEchidnas #EarlyLearning #EYLF #ChildDevelopment
Feb 24
The development of early numeracy skills is essential in supporting children’s confidence and ability to make sense of the world around them. We believe children learn best in a fun, interactive environment where they can explore concepts through play. Last week, children engaged in a hands-on experience by constructing giraffes using blocks. They measured the differences in height, practised one-to-one correspondence through counting, and worked collaboratively to create connected giraffes.
In line with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), these experiences support children in becoming confident and involved learners, as well as effective communicators. Early numeracy helps children develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and an understanding of patterns, measurement, and quantity. Through collaborative play, children also build social skills and learn to share ideas.
This experience also supported fine motor development as children grasped, stacked, and balanced blocks, strengthening hand-eye coordination, finger control, and precision in their movements as they grow strength to support stamminer for writing.
Embedding numeracy into play-based learning fosters curiosity and a positive attitude towards mathematics, laying a strong foundation for future learning. ... See MoreSee Less
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Our school readiness program is embedded into our day to day routines, from early writing skills to emotional regulation and developing responsibilities. We set our preschool children up for success in all of their future learning. ... See MoreSee Less
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Weekly visits to the local Mittagong Library provide children with meaningful opportunities to engage in reading, storytelling, and creative craft experiences. These excursions support a strong connection with the community, allowing children to develop familiarity with shared spaces and build confidence in social environments. Through these interactions, children experience a sense of belonging and learn to participate respectfully within their wider community.
Aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), these experiences foster interconnectedness by helping children understand their role within a broader social context. They promote effective communication as children listen, share ideas, and express themselves through both language and creative arts. Respectful relationships are encouraged as children interact with peers, educators, and community members.
These community-based experiences reflect our centre philosophy by nurturing inclusion, collaboration, and a strong sense of identity, supporting children to become confident, connected, and active participants in their world. ... See MoreSee Less
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We are looking for a Full Time Early Childhood Trainee ready to start their journey in the Childcare Sector. Send your resume to careers@explorerslearningacademy.com.au ... See MoreSee Less
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