Hawthorn Street Early Learning Centre
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Quality Area 1 · Educational program and practice

Learning designed around your child.

At Hawthorn Street, children’s ideas, family knowledge and everyday discoveries shape what happens next.

Come and see it in actionExplore 45 family stories
We listenWe planWe explore
A child learning through play and exploration
Quality families can see.
Real practice, explained in plain language.

What this looks like at Hawthorn

Small moments. Meaningful outcomes.

Browse family-friendly examples drawn from Quality Area 1. Choose an NQS element or move through every story.

Hawthorn Street children and educators learning together
Element 1.1.1

What this means for your family

A lesson plan should begin with your child - not a template

Each week, our educators and Educational Leader review the next week's learning, EYLF links and resources. Then we tailor the experiences around what children are showing us - their interests, culture, development and the knowledge families share. We document what happened, reflect as a team and use the result to improve the next plan. For families, that means learning is intentional, personal and never simply 'set and forget'. Ask us to show you how your child's ideas can shape the program.

Ask us to show you
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Story library

More ways quality becomes visible

45 stories in this selection

See Quality Area 1 in motion

Ideas become learning here.

A short vertical video gives families a genuine glimpse of the people, decisions and everyday experiences behind the words.

  • 9:16 Vimeo format — designed for phones, without black sidebars on the website.
  • Captioned and muted — clear and accessible wherever families watch.
  • Connected to real practice — every video supports a family story from this Quality Area.
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A child engaged in an early learning experience
HAWTHORN STREETIdeas become learning here.QA1 · Educational program and practice

9:16 VIDEO · VIMEO READY

Shared by our families

The words families remember.

Real comments from Hawthorn Street families, speaking about the moments that gave them confidence.

“I couldn't believe how much she has grown!”
Emily WittsHawthorn Street parent
“I'm blown away by his growth this year. You've shaped him into such a great little person.”
Karen May HughesHawthorn Street parent
“Thank you Hawthorn Street Early Learning Centre team for making Rigzin's birthday special.”
Kumar LamaHawthorn Street parent

What families can expect

Learning designed around your child.

Four practical commitments make the Quality Area meaningful for children and families.

01

We listen

Children’s questions, family knowledge, culture and everyday experiences become part of our planning.

02

We plan

Educators connect those ideas with purposeful experiences and clear learning intentions.

03

We explore

Children investigate through play, relationships, groups and experiences across the local community.

04

We reflect

We review what happened and use it to decide what should come next.

The seven Quality Areas

What quality feels like for your family.

Each area turns the National Quality Standard into experiences families can recognise at Hawthorn Street. Together, the seven pages contain all 200 family stories.

Learning designed around your child45 family storiesHealthy, safe and cared for30 family storiesSpaces that inspire discovery25 family storiesEducators you can rely on20 family storiesRelationships that help children thrive20 family storiesFamilies and community belong here30 family storiesLeadership families can trust30 family stories

Acknowledgement of Country

We learn together on Wiradjuri Country.

We acknowledge the Tubbagah People of the Wiradjuri Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and learn. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge their continuing spiritual connection to Country.

See it for yourself

Come and see what quality looks like in your child’s day.

Meet our educators, explore the learning spaces and ask us to show you how these commitments become visible in practice.

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