KindiCare Excellence
Awards 2022
The KindiCare Excellence Awards celebrate the top performing early childhood education and care centres right across Australia.
2022 Award Winners
Western Australian Regional Winner
Discovery at Play Early Learning Centre Vasse
KindiCare●August 29th, 2022
With an impressive KindiCare Rating of 9.5, Discovery at Play Early Learning Centre Vasse is the regional winner for Western Australia this year.
This centre is two-and-a-half hours south of Perth, and Director, Shanice Thein-soe says, “Although life is slower in Vasse, there is never a dull day, and community isn’t just a buzzword at our centre, it’s a way of life!” Everyone is incredibly community-minded, and educators and families are united in their care for the children. Shanice says, “Our educators have a genuine passion to advance each child’s interests.” “In their everyday learning, nothing is forced, and everything is according to what the children enjoy, to ensure they get the most out of every day.” Families also take an active interest in being part of their children’s growth and development, and everyone is committed to open communication and ongoing connections. Shanice says, “Staff are always speaking to families and to one another, and we are all so friendly and close, with a real knowledge of what’s happening in each child’s life.” “We are also very close with Vasse Primary School. We offer Before and After School Care for that school, and our Kindy room has a brilliant, two-way relationship with the teachers there,” to help preschoolers best prepare big school. Grown-ups also support one another. Discovery at Play ELC Vasse is family owned and operated, and Shanice says, “Support runs down from the owners to management to our qualified educators to our trainees to ensure that everyone feels valued and happy. This has a really positive influence on how we are with the children, and how engaged we are in all we do.” The centre also holds regular Community Days which allow families to connect with educators, and also to network in a really nice way. Families with businesses are encouraged to set up a small stall to promote their wares and build local connections; and cupcakes, dolls’ clothes and dog treats have all made an appearance in the centre’s community marketplace! All of these positive connections drive the centre’s success. Shanice says, “We get a lot of good praise in the community, because we are so connected, and many families come to us after hearing wonderful things about our service.” Discovery at Play ELC Vasse proves that distance is no barrier when it comes to quality and education, because although this service is far from Perth, it is deeply connected to the community that really counts – its own.