About Harbour EL

Our name Harbour Early Learning draws inspiration from our landmark centre by the waters of Sydney Harbour, where we embrace its literal meaning. A Harbour is traditionally a place on the coast where ships moor for respite, protected from rough seas. Our name leans into this meaning; a part of the landscape, a place of shelter and of sanctuary, a safe place where we gather, grow and prepare to embark on new adventures.

About Harbour EL

We are proud to say that Harbour EL is privately operated by local owners. We have young families and a deep appreciation of the importance of early learning in shaping our children. We endeavour to provide each child with the best opportunity to grow and learn in an early learning environment that is unique in design and philosophy.

The Harbour EL team are respected and trusted early learning experts who ensure we are at the forefront of early learning thinking, research and innovation. Our team of early childhood teachers, educators and advisors have been instrumental in establishing the pedagogy, curriculum and programs for our infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Specialised educational programs utilising outdoor spaces, supported by exceptional nutritional advice ensures the ‘whole child’ is enveloped in the care provided.

We consider ourselves privileged to nurture and guide your children in their foundational early learning journey and watching their growth and development. We have spent many years creating and curating every detail of Harbour EL and we are committed to provide a dynamic and interesting environment to allow your child to flourish. We welcome your family to Harbour EL and are excited to share this incredible journey with you and your family.

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to gather wood, divide the work and give orders.

Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Our Harbour EL Vision

  • To ensure that all children have the best start in life.

  • To set a new standard of excellence in all areas of teaching and learning.

  • To provide a safe and happy environment where children learn through a culture of inquiry and play.

  • To provide an environment where every child can learn and grow, where a child’s disposition and personality are recognised and nurtured.

  • To promote lasting connections and a friendship network that supports our children and families.

Harbour EL Vaucluse

Our landmark building is located on Village High Road in Vaucluse. It is state of the art and a recently completed purpose-built centre, designed by Australia’s leading architectural, interior design and play space experts. Harbour EL is conveniently located beside Vaucluse Public School, with whom we share the natural beauty of our neighbouring landscape, including mature fig trees which contribute a leafy sanctuary for our play spaces.

Our Inclusive Environment

"Everyone is accepted, included, supported, encouraged and respected in our Harbour EL Community. We aim to provide an environment that protects and facilitates inclusion, and where there are no limits or expectations placed on children who attend the centre based on gender, equity, equality, religion, background, neurodiversity, disability or additional needs. We are privileged to be living in a diverse society, one that should be visible, acknowledged and celebrated."

Kath Boyd

MEd, BEd (Primary) and DipTeach (Early Childhood)

Director of People and Policy at Harbour Early Learning

  • Our nutrition program has been developed exclusively for our children by local, qualified nutritionists. Every meal is made fresh daily by our full-time in-house chef. Each meal is prepared with fresh produce by trained staff and caters for individual dietary needs. Our menu is considered for all age groups, offering children age-appropriate foods from 6-12 months, and into toddlerhood. We strive to ensure nuts, nut products and other foods likely to cause an anaphylactic reaction are not brought into the centre, and other allergens are catered for accordingly.

  • In collaboration with teaching teams, our specialist Outdoor Educator has designed exercise programs and natural science investigations, the Parsley Play program and exercise programs for all Harbour EL children. This facilitates an understanding of the basic fundamental movement skills and introduces the children to environmental awareness and sustainability.

    These programs are not only designed to provide opportunities to develop gross motor skills through play within our outdoor play spaces but to also provide the opportunity to engage with their natural world. Developing a love of, and respect for nature; the bushland, living creatures and the ocean will form the basis of the outdoor program. Our landmark centre is fortunate enough to be surrounded by some of the most diverse educational environments available.

  • Being family owned and operated, we welcome, respect, value and encourage our families to share the responsibility of early learning. Families are always welcome to be part of our program, particularly through supporting the children, the early childhood teachers and educators in their work. We welcome you to share your skills and interests with us in strengthening the family networks at Harbour EL. We look forward to sharing our special events with you such as our Parent Information sessions and end of year celebrations.

“All children have curiosity, potential, and preparedness. They have an interest in relationships. They construct their knowledge, and they are prepared to negotiate with everything presented to them by their environment.”

Loris Malaguzzi

Our Early Childhood Teachers and Educators

Our passionate, qualified and highly respected early childhood teachers and educators are critical to every child’s learning and development. At Harbour EL, we aim to attract and retain early childhood teachers and educators who have excelled in their chosen profession.

We invest in our team as they are such an essential part of the education of our children. The Harbour EL family are advocates for a work-life balance. We aim to provide an environment and the opportunity for ongoing professional growth for our teaching teams to ensure our staff are at the forefront of teaching and learning.

Our early childhood teachers and educators make a commitment to their responsibilities, to: abide by the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics; fulfil the regulations and expectations of the National Quality Standards; and engage in early childhood educational practice that is based on current and forward-looking research, their professional knowledge and understanding of children’s dispositions for learning and unique ways of being.

Our team are the foundation of our operation, and relationships they form with our families are the key to our success. The values of love, kindness, respect for self and others will be encouraged in each experience. Our early learning practices will reflect quality educational approaches for early childhood learning and teaching: modelling, facilitating, scaffolding and inquiry-based learning based on observations, evaluation and assessment, critical thinking, reflection, collaboration and intentional teaching.

  • MEd, BEd (Primary) and DipTeach (Early Childhood)

    I am honoured to have the opportunity to be at the helm of the Harbour Early Learning’s flagship centre in Vaucluse. For the past 25 years, I have worked as an Early Childhood and Primary School Teacher and Preschool Inclusion Consultant, as well as a Director/Principal in early learning and preparatory settings, all experiences that have prepared me for this new role. I am inspired by the vision of the owner’s Ben and James and have greatly appreciated the guidance offered by the highly regarded early childhood specialist, Wendy Shepherd. Their commitment to creating ‘the most progressive and leading early learning program available, in a state-of-the-art purpose-built centre’ is exhilarating and unparalleled. At Harbour EL, we will celebrate diversity as a valuable learning resource, and ensure that every child participates meaningfully towards positive outcomes. I’m excited about working alongside our early childhood teachers and educators as they develop exceptional play-based educational programs and individualised learning experiences. I am also looking forward to getting to know and work collaboratively with all of our families.

  • BTeach (Early Childhood), DipECEC and DipCom

    I am thrilled to be joining the Harbour EL Team. I hold a Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching and have over 11 years’ experience in the profession. I thoroughly enjoy building genuine, respectful partnerships with children and their families. I believe that developing strong attachments with every child helps them feel safe and allows them to explore with confidence. I view collaboration with families, teaching colleagues and the community as vital, as it allows us to reach the best outcomes for children. As an ECT and Educational Leader, I endeavour to facilitate play and learning environments that are inviting, fun and inspire wonder, curiosity and learning. I also strive to value and celebrate the unique culture and history each child contributes to their environment, and acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and perspectives underpinning children’s learning. My passion for the natural world is embedded in my teaching philosophy and I enjoy sharing this interest with children. I am inspired by the words of Howard Gardner, ’You learn at your best when you have something you care about and get pleasure in being engaged in.'

“Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives.”

Thomas Berry