Edge Early Learning Karana Downs

A: The first step is to tour your preferred Edge Early Learning and Kindergarten centre by booking a tour. This gives you an opportunity to meet our educators, explore our nurturing environment, and understand how we can provide an experience that is best suited to your child. After your tour, you’ll receive an enrolment form to secure a spot or join the waitlist.

A: We accept enrolments for future start dates at Edge Karana Downs, so whether you’re trying to enrol your child to start next month, or further down the track, we can assist you. Our Family Engagement Team can provide you with our current availability in each classroom, and help you join our waitlist if we don’t have a position for your child when you need it. Call us on 07 3517 0629 between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

A: The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a federal government subsidy designed to help Australian families with the cost of approved childcare. The amount you receive depends on your family’s income, the type of care, and your recognised activity hours. Learn about CCS.

Applying for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is easy, but it’s a good idea to apply early so you’re ready for your child’s first day at Edge Karana Downs. Follow these steps to apply for the CCS:

• Create a MyGov account (if you don’t have one) and get a Customer Reference Number (CRN)
• Set up your Centrelink online account through MyGov
• Prove who you are by showing documents, either online or in person at Centrelink, to be able to claim payments
• Get your documents ready, like payslips, your child’s birth certificate, and any medical records
• Submit your documents through your Centrelink online account or the Express Plus Centrelink app. You can also mail, fax, or go to a Centrelink service centre
• Submit your CCS application via MyGov after uploading the required documents
• Once your application is lodged, Edge Early Learning will update your enrolment details and submit your application to ensure it’s processed
• The Government will then notify you of your subsidy eligibility and provide information about the amount of subsidy you are entitled to

For more information on how to apply and check your subsidy, visit Services Australia website.

A: You can use our easy Childcare Subsidy Calculator to get an estimate of your out-of-pocket fees for our centre. Simply input your details, and the calculator will provide an indication of your potential subsidy and fees.

A: Our government‑approved Kindergarten program is delivered by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and experienced educators to give children a confident start to school.

Eligible families can access Free Kindy funding (15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year)* at our centre to reduce out‑of‑pocket costs. Our centre team or Family Engagement Team, can help explain how Free Kindy funding from the QLD government can be applied on top of your existing Childcare Subsidy, to further reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Find out more about Free Kindy.

Only want to attend our centre for ‘Free Kindy’ across two days each week? That’s fine too! We offer a flexible 7.5 hour session for families who only want their child to participate in Free Kindy across 7.5 hour days, two days each week.

* Free Kindy subsidy totals 600 hours of subsidised Kindergarten per year.

A: There is no difference in the quality of the Kindy education program offered at Edge Karana Downs versus a community or stand-alone Kindergarten. Our degree-qualified Early Childhood Teacher teaches a kindergarten education program that meets both the Early Years Learning Framework (national curriculum) and the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline.

We offer a flexible 7.5 hour session for families who only want their child to participate in ‘Free Kindy’ across 7.5 hour days, two days each week.

What makes us different?

• Teach A Rainbow education program (only available at Edge centres).
• Healthy Harold’s Little Learners program across 4 terms.
• Sensory Steps program by Upside Down Therapy, where our pre-kindy and kindergarten teachers and educators receive weekly in-class mentoring. This program supports children’s self-regulation through sensory processing strategies, equipping educators with tools to help children calm, organise, and focus themselves throughout the day.
• Year-round program with long daycare hours from 6:30am–6:30pm across five days a week. This means you don’t have to look for extra care outside of the 8am–3:30pm Kindy program each day or during school holidays. It’s childcare and kindergarten when you need it!
• Chef cooked meals daily, unlike a typical stand-alone kindergarten, where you need to pack a lunch box for your child.

A: At Edge Early Learning Karana Downs, we aim to make life as easy as possible for you, so we supply most of the necessities including sustainable nappies, wipes, sunscreen, and nutritious meals (breakfast through to a late snack) to ensure your child is well-cared for throughout the day. However, there are a few items that you will need to bring to ensure your child has everything they need:

• Hat and drink bottle (supplied on enrolment)
• Spare clothes (3 sets)
• Bedding sheets for sleep time
• Any comfort items (dummies)
• Nappy cream (requires pharmacy label)
• Formula (pre-measured in dispenser) & baby bottles (pre-filled with water) / Breastmilk (clearly labelled)

A: We’re conveniently located on Bland Ct, just off College Road and right next door to the side entrance of Mount Crosby State School — perfect for families managing school drop-off and pick-up. Plus, we offer on-site parking for added ease and accessibility.

A: Yes! Your child will enjoy fresh, nutritious meals prepared daily by our on-site chef, using recipes developed in collaboration with accredited dietitians at The Biting Truth. Designed with growing bodies in mind, our seasonal 4-week rotating menus are designed to be age-appropriate and nutritionally balanced, aligning with the Australian Dietary Guidelines to support healthy growth and development. Featuring a variety of whole foods and culturally inspired dishes, meals can be tailored to suit individual tastes, dietary needs, and allergy requirements—ensuring every child receives nourishing meals each day.

A: At our Karana Downs centre our Kindergarten children enjoy weekly Bush Kindy sessions (on rotating days) from Term 2, when the cooler weather allows for comfortable outdoor exploration after morning tea. These sessions are held in the surrounding bushland and grassed areas located directly beside and behind the centre.

A: We partner closely with Mount Crosby State School to support each child’s smooth transition from kindergarten to prep.

Our kindergarten class enjoys excursions to the school for prep classroom visits, sports days, Under 8s Day, and music or library classes. Through the Little Readers Program, children attend library classes, explore books, and connect with senior students (prep buddies) who read with them, helping build early literacy skills and familiarity with the school environment.

We also welcome visits from prep teachers, who read to the children and attend our centre’s parent information evenings. They also collaborate with our Early Childhood Teacher to support our school readiness program. This includes regular communication, meetings to discuss individual support needs, and participation in community network meetings held at the school to assist with transition planning.

A: Yes! Discover flexible childcare with our annual holiday discount offering 30% off* the daily fee for up to 4 weeks per year.

*The Edge Early Learning holiday discount entitles enrolled families to up to 4 weeks of holiday discount per year when the family provides a minimum two weeks’ notice in advance of the holiday. One week of holiday equates to the number of days in your child’s permanent weekly booking. Once your holiday discount is approved by your Centre Director, the Edge Centre Support Team will apply a 30% discount to the daily fee during the holiday period. Up to four weeks total holiday discount per enrolment per year.

A: At Edge Early Learning Karana Downs, we believe open and collaborative communication is essential to every child’s learning journey. That’s why we encourage families to connect with our Centre Leadership Team and educators for face-to-face conversations about your child’s development, whenever it suits your schedule.

As an Edge family, you can also expect to receive regular updates from our centre, including:

Weekly

• Highlights of your child’s learning experiences across the week
• Our Teach A Rainbow program summaries and planned experiences in your child’s room
• Classroom updates, including projects, displays, and environment changes

Monthly / Bi-Monthly

• Individual learning snapshots: goals, progress and meaningful moments
• Centre newsletter with classroom highlights, team introductions and centre events

Twice Yearly / Annually

• Summative Assessment offering a detailed overview of your child’s progress over the prior 6 months, linked to the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0
• A detailed transition report is shared with your child’s primary school, highlighting their strengths and readiness to support a smooth move into formal schooling. For children attending Kindergarten only
• A planned room transition program, including family discussions and a transition letter, to keep you informed, reassured, and supported throughout the transition

We’re here to partner with you every step of the way, fostering a supportive and engaging environment for your child’s growth.

A: As an Edge Family, your child will be cared for in a welcoming, secure environment where their safety and wellbeing are always our highest priority.

• Our experienced and qualified team prioritises safeguarding children through comprehensive policy and procedure, daily practices, education programs, and adherence to national child safety principles—so you can feel confident your child is in safe hands.
• Our Kindergarten children enjoy year-round access to Life Ed’s Harold’s Little Learners Program, helping them build confidence, resilience, and healthy habits in fun, age-appropriate ways including body safety, personal boundaries, and understanding big emotions.
• Our supervisory and senior staff complete regular Child Protection and Mandatory Reporting training, ensuring strong oversight and consistent safeguarding practices across the centre.
• We proudly partner with trusted child safety organisations including Life Ed and Bravehearts to strengthening your child’s understanding of personal safety through expert-led education.
• Our S.A.F.E. framework (Spot, Act, Fix, Explain) means educators are expected to speak up and take action if something doesn’t feel right. With S.A.F.E in place, we have created a culture of accountability and required reporting.
• Active Supervision is part of our every day, with educators trained to Plan, Position, Look and Listen—helping ensure your child is seen, supported, and supervised at all times.