Golden Valley Childrens Learning Centre

03/09/2026

Thank you to Monique and Meeks Preschool & ELC for organising the Hawkesbury Education and Care Exchange and to Sensory Play Store for the amazing lucky door prize

14/08/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Bridget has passed away peacefully.

For those who may not know, Bridget finished up at Golden Valley last year after an incredible 36-year career as our much-loved cook. Throughout those years, she made such a lasting impact on our centre, our children, families and educators.

Bridget didn’t just cook meals she cared for our children through every meal she prepared, and her warmth, kindness and familiar presence became such a special part of Golden Valley. Incredibly, she even had the privilege of feeding some of the parents of children who now attend our centre when they themselves were babies and young children.

Her 36 years of dedication is an incredible legacy, and there are so many memories of Bridget that will remain a cherished part of our centre’s history.

Bridget will always hold a very special place in the hearts of everyone at Golden Valley.

We send our deepest condolences and love to Bridget’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Rest peacefully, Bridget. Thank you for everything. You will never be forgotten.

22/07/2026

Join our team ⭐️

21/07/2026

The neuroscience behind how play supports academic achievement but make it one slide...

21/07/2026

The importance of play in developing writing skills

21/07/2026

Golden Valley Childrens Learning Centres christmas in july raffle! Don't forget to grab your tickets for our Committee Fundraising Raffle!

There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, and every ticket purchased helps support improvements and resources at our centre.

Purchase your tickets here:
https://www.raffletix.com.au/?ref=m2fsp

Thank you to everyone who has already purchased tickets and to those who continue to support our centre.

https://www.raffletix.com.au/?ref=m2fsp

Golden Valley Childrens Learning Centre | Christmas In July | Drawn on: Friday, 31 July 2026 9:34 PM

02/07/2026

25/06/2026

While well intentioned, we are doing too much and overcomplicating something very simple. In fact, we are often getting in the way of how children learn best.

When we try to condense learning into weekly themes, or design a day around a single letter, we miss the reality of how learning actually works. There is no special day or week when a child learns the letter K.

Internalizing symbols like colors, numbers, shapes, and letters is not the result of being drilled with charts, flashcards, or worksheets. It is the byproduct of accumulated experiences that carry relevance and meaning.

A child begins to understand the letter K when they see it on the sign for the park they love to visit, or on the packaging of their favorite snack.

Numbers make sense when they notice the bus they ride home, or when they count how many apples go into the bag at the store.

Shapes and colors take on weight when they are discovered in nature, on buildings, and in the everyday patterns that surround them and elicit authentic interest.

Learning is built in real time, in real spaces, through real encounters and real connections. When we isolate symbols from life and relevant context, they lose their power. When we notice them alongside children in the world they are already navigating, those same symbols come alive and carry meaning that actually sticks.

25/06/2026

“Brain breaks” exist only if we misunderstand how learning works.

Movement is not a pause from cognition. It is a biological driver of learning.

When children move, multiple brain systems activate and integrate at once, including those responsible for balance, timing, memory, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. This whole brain coordination is what allows learning to occur.

Movement increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain and stimulates brain derived neurotrophic factor, which supports neural growth, synapse formation, and long term memory. It also activates the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, which are foundational for attention, spatial reasoning, language processing, and self regulation.

For young children, learning develops from the body up.

Neural pathways for thinking, problem solving, and regulation are built through repeated sensory motor experiences. Short, isolated bursts of movement cannot offset long periods of physical restriction.

Calling movement a “brain break” reverses biological reality. The brain does not learn in spite of movement. It learns through it.

11/06/2026

Shout out to Meredith for showing initiative to complete team surveys meeting the set deadline.