Hampshire House

Hampshire House is Kambala’s purpose-built Early Learning Centre. Our staff are part of a dynamic learning community committed to high quality care and education for children 6 months of age to school age.

At Kambala, learning is an adventure which begins at Hampshire House.

Overview

Kambala’s early learning centre cares for approximately 100 girls and boys aged between 6 months of age to school age.

Hampshire House is located within Kambala’s campus on the corner of Tivoli Avenue and Bellevue Hill Road in Sydney’s Rose Bay. Our centre operates from 7.30am–6.00pm, 48 weeks per year. Our closure period runs from mid-December until mid-January as well as all public holidays. Parents maintain an agreed pattern of attendance, for a minimum of two days per week. Casual days may be available on request.

Hampshire House has been recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACEQA) as ‘Exceeding the National Quality Standard’.

Hampshire House has three main areas:

Nursery
Our Nursery allows for hands-on play and learning experiences for eight babies (aged 6 months to 2 years). There is a separate cot room for sleeping.
Toddler
Our Toddler Room is for children between 2 and 3 years. Children interact, learn and engage in both small and large groups with a focus on open-ended, child-directed learning.
Preschool
Two Preschool rooms allow children between 3 and 5 years to participate in learning experiences that foster and build upon each child’s skills, abilities, interests and knowledge.

Facilities

KITCHEN

Meals are prepared fresh each day in our purpose-built kitchen. Hampshire House provides five meals during the day: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a light supper. Menus are displayed in each room and parent feedback or menu suggestions is warmly encouraged.

MULTI-PURPOSE ACTIVITY ROOMS

The HarbourView Room is perfect for group activities such as music, dance, yoga and ballet.

OUTDOOR PLAYING

The Nursery, Toddler and Preschool rooms each have their own outdoor space and play area with shaded areas, sandpits and age-appropriate play equipment and activities.

THE ATELIER CREATIVE SPACES

Children can communicate through artistic pursuits that include drawing, painting, clay pottery, woodwork and more. It is a window for expression, creativity and learning.

CLICK OR SLIDE

Our Staff

Hampshire House employs qualified and experienced staff with a background in early childhood education. All staffing ratios meet the licensing requirements from the Department of Education and Community Services (DECS). Hampshire House is proud of its high staff-to-child ratio across all rooms. Staff work in teams supported by specialist educators.

LEARNING

Hampshire House supports the National Quality Framework, which was established in January 2012. The broad goal of the framework is to ensure children in all early childhood services have stimulating positive experiences that foster all aspects of their development.

Our learning incorporates the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

We believe children and adults learn alongside one another. Children’s learning develops from their involvement in long and short-term projects and play. These projects and play develop out of first-hand experiences and their theories about the world. The importance of relationships is fundamental to our philosophy. Collegiality between educators, parents, children and the community is highly valued and well supported. Staff work in teams supported by specialists.

We believe children:

Develop theories about the world and how it works and explore these collaboratively.
Bring different experiences, ideas and opinions to discussion.
Are unafraid of making mistakes and reconstructing their own ideas in a climate of respect.
Develop self-confidence and self-image through discussion, debate and play.

We believe that children should learn to respect and celebrate the diversity in society as represented in our Centre and throughout the Kambala community.

Parents are expected to be active participants in the learning process and educators respect their views and opinions.