The MELC Difference

At MELC we are proud of the unique service we provide. 

Established in 2005, we are family-owned and operated and have grown with the surrounding community.  Our Director, Maraylya local Leahn Grounds, built the Centre with a vision to provide the highest quality care and early childhood education for local families.  Our Director of Teaching, Angela Latter, joined us at the very start of the journey, and the pair’s dedication and commitment to MELC families remains just as strong today!

So, what makes MELC different to other childcare centres?

• High quality, individual programming for every child

At MELC, we work hard to create a personalised program for every child, identifying their individual needs and interests and adapting our learning experiences to suit.  A key benefit of being independently owned and operated is the ability to remain flexible and innovative – we have the advantage of being able to implement new strategies quickly and incorporate the latest developments in the field without having to wade through the bureaucracy of a large corporate chain.

Working in close partnership with parents and the local community our programs focus on the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to ensure children are building on their cognitive skills, social and emotional skills, physical skills and creative skills.  We liaise closely and frequently with Maraylya Public School to ensure our teaching supports children in their transition to school, and we expose children to a wide variety of experiences through interaction with the broader community including incursions, excursions to school events, and internal events such as Easter Hat Parades and Book Week.

Developing our own unique education program that fits in with the National Quality Framework, and then being able to tailor that program to suit the mix of children in our care each year, provides a distinct advantage to families who choose MELC.

For more information on our highly regarded pre-school Prep Program click here.

• Highly qualified educators with a long track record at MELC

One of the key differences between MELC and other centres is the fact that most of our educators have been with the Centre for many years.  Many have children or grandchildren of their own and their life experience, combined with an understanding of the challenges parents face, allows them to create a stable, nurturing environment with a consistently high level of care.

Our unique environment, combining this mix of highly experienced educators who have been with the Centre for many years with fresh faces and new graduates keen to apply their learning, allows children and families to experience the very best of both worlds.

• We are industry leaders in best practice.

After being in the industry for nearly 20 years, the MELC team understands best practice in early childhood learning and has developed a reputation with schools in the surrounding areas for the quality of our programming and the results of our school readiness program. 

Working within the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines for school readiness, we regularly review our practices and methods to ensure they remain relevant and helpful to the children’s transition to school.In addition, we provide detailed reports on each child’s abilities and challenges to the school so that they are better prepared to welcome each child and work with them in Kindergarten.

As one of the first dedicated early learning centres in the region, we offer more than simply ‘childcare’ and work hard to ensure that we provide the necessary support your children need when moving to school.As well as the highest quality educational program, we also offer additional support such as an Occupational Therapist (OT) and a speech therapist who come to the Centre every week to work with children who need this extra support.

• Experience in Special Education

Having cared for and worked with many children over the years that have additional needs, our focus is on partnering with the parents to develop a program of inclusion that suits the needs and abilities of the individual child.  One of our educators has postgraduate qualifications in Special Needs education and her expertise and experience working with families is highly valued.

• Outdoor Education

Learning and creative play should not be confined to indoors!  Our extensive grounds offer the ideal opportunity for outdoor activities in a safe environment.  We offer unique learning experiences for the children including our ‘Bush Kindy’, allowing the children to play in natural environments which improves their cognitive development, and our veggie patch which also provides an opportunity for the children to grow and nurture their own food. 

Being bordered on two sides by Maraylya Public School, our children have the benefit of being surrounded by school-aged children.Regardless of which school your children will attend after MELC, being familiar with school routines, being able to watch the children and gain an understanding of what the school environment feels like, is a great developmental advantage.

Not only that, we also have the benefit of being able to use the neighbouring school grounds for special activities when required!

We encourage you and your child to experience the MELC Difference for yourselves by arranging a visit to our Centre to meet our experienced and dedicated carers.  You’ll be taken on a personalised tour by our Director of Teaching Angela Latter, who will be able to answer all of your questions and give you the peace of mind that your child will be in the best of care at MELC.

Please email us at [email protected] or call on 02 4573 6686 with any questions or to arrange a tour of the Centre.