
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.
🐾🐶 Living Safely with Dogs NSW Visits Explorers Bardia! 🐶🐾
Today our preschool children had a very special visit from the Living Safely with Dogs NSW Program as part of our ongoing School Readiness and Child Safety learning.
Through an engaging and interactive session, the children learnt important skills for staying safe around dogs, including:
🐕 How to safely approach and interact with a dog
✋ When we should not touch or approach a dog
👀 How to recognise some of the signals dogs use to communicate
🧍 What to do if an unfamiliar dog approaches us
🙋 Why we should always ask the owner before patting a dog
🐾 How to behave calmly and respectfully around animals
The children loved putting their new knowledge into practice and had lots of opportunities to participate, answer questions and demonstrate safe behaviours.
Experiences like today’s incursion help our children develop confidence, awareness, responsibility and practical safety skills that they can use within our wider community.
A huge thank you to Living Safely with Dogs NSW for visiting Explorers Learning Academy Bardia and providing such a valuable learning experience for our children!
#ExplorersLearningAcademyBardia #LivingSafelyWithDogs #ChildSafety #SchoolReadiness #PreschoolLearning #CommunityConnections #LearningThroughExperience #EYLF
Aug 19
🔴❤️ RED NOSE DAY AT EXPLORERS! ❤️🔴
Today at Explorers Learning Academy Bardia, we celebrated Red Nose Day with a little bit of messy fun our children had their noses painted RED!
There were lots of smiles and giggles as the children admired their red noses and joined their friends in recognising this important day.
Through age-appropriate conversations, we explored the importance of kindness, caring for others and supporting our community, while raising awareness of the wonderful work of Red Nose Australia.
A fun and simple experience with a very meaningful message!
🔴 Happy Red Nose Day from all of us at Explorers Learning Academy Bardia! 🔴
#RedNoseDay #RedNoseAustralia #ExplorersLearningAcademy #ExplorersBardia #CommunityConnections #KindnessMatters
Aug 11
Emus PALS Program – Session 8: Overcoming Fear & Anxiety
This week, our Emus are continuing their PALS Social Skills Program with Session 8 – Overcoming Fear and Anxiety.
Feeling worried, nervous or scared is a normal part of childhood. Through this week’s PALS experiences, our educators will help children recognise these feelings, talk about what might make them feel worried, and explore safe and positive strategies to help them feel calm and confident.
Throughout the week, our Emus will explore:
💭 Recognising when we feel worried, nervous or scared
❤️ Understanding that it is okay to experience different emotions
🗣️ Using words to tell a trusted adult how we are feeling
🌬️ Practising calming strategies such as slow breathing
🤗 Identifying people who can help us when we feel worried
💪 Building confidence when approaching new or challenging experiences
Celebrating ourselves when we try something that initially feels difficult
These important social and emotional skills support our children’s resilience, emotional regulation, confidence and school readiness, helping them develop strategies they can carry with them as they grow.
Continuing the learning at home: Families can support this week’s learning by talking openly about worries and asking, “What could help your body feel calm?” or “Who could you talk to if you were feeling worried?”
We look forward to seeing our Emus develop their confidence and discover that even when something feels a little scary, we have strategies and trusted people who can help us through it.
#ExplorersLearningAcademy #EmusRoom #PALSProgram #SocialEmotionalLearning #EmotionalRegulation #Resilience #SchoolReadiness #ChildrensWellbeing
Aug 10
Cooking Up Something Yummy in the Emus Room!
Our clever Emus have been busy in the kitchen today, making some delicious vegetable fritters with Miss Cristina!
The children loved getting hands-on as they helped prepare, mix and create their yummy fritters, which will be enjoyed as part of our afternoon tea today!
Cooking experiences are such a wonderful way for children to build independence, confidence and practical life skills, while exploring healthy foods, different textures, early maths concepts and working together as a team.
We think food always tastes that little bit better when you’ve helped make it yourself!
EYLF V2.0: Outcome 3 – Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
Well done, Emus, we can’t wait to hear the verdict at afternoon tea!
#ExplorersLearningAcademy #EmusRoom #LittleChefs #HealthyEating #CookingWithChildren #LearningThroughPlay #HealthyHabits
Aug 10
This week, some of our friends stepped into the roles of scientists during our hands-on science experiments! Before each test, we posed two big questions: “What do you think will happen?” and “What actually happened?”
It was wonderful listening to the children build their hypothesising skills as they made creative predictions, tested their ideas, and carefully observed the outcomes. By capturing and recording their thought processes side-by-side, we aren’t just doing fun experiments, we’re helping children develop critical thinking, cause-and-effect reasoning, and a lifelong curiosity about how the world works! ... See MoreSee Less
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At Explorers Learning Academy, we believe every child’s voice matters, no matter how young they are. This week, our children under 18 months shared their preferences through their smiles, gestures, sounds, facial expressions, and interactions. Our educators took the time to observe, listen, and reflect using our Children’s Voice template, ensuring these moments help shape our program, learning spaces, and daily experiences. By valuing children’s communication, we support the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), fostering a strong sense of belonging, identity, and agency. When children feel heard and respected, they build confidence, develop trusting relationships, and become active participants in their learning. Together with families, we create an environment where every child’s voice is valued and celebrated. ... See MoreSee Less
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We are looking for a Part Time Cert 3 and a Trainee in Early Childhood for our Mittagong centre!
Apply by emailing careers@explorerslearningacademy.com.au
Or apply through seek.
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Early Childhood Educators Certificate 3 Job in Mittagong, Southern Highlands & Tablelands NSW - SEEK
au.seek.com
Rewarding early childhood role - Employee discounts, flexible work, and great team culture. Apply now!0 CommentsComment on Facebook
When children take the lead in their learning, magic happens! At Explorers, We are contsantly tuning into child-led interests and needs allowing us to create projects that genuinely excite and inspire our little learners. By building on what sparks their curiosity, we foster confidence, problem-solving skills, and a lifelong love of discovery.
Last week, our Baby Room has been exploring the wonderful world of emotions, while our Toddlers dived underwater to build an amazing room aquarium full of sea creatures. Meanwhile, our Preschoolers brought their camping dreams to life outdoors with tents, sleeping bags, chairs, and fishing nets! Watching their ideas turn into real-world play is what child-led learning is all about. ... See MoreSee Less
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