We recently visited the brand new HazelGrove Early Education in Rhodes in person and came away with plenty to share with you all. There is a lot to love about HazelGrove Early Education with their Rhodes service and they have an exclusive offer for interested families.
Exclusive Offer
For the first 4 weeks get 2 days for FREE. Simply pay the $200 enrolment fee. Normal fees and a one-week bond will start in week 5. To claim this offer, simply mention it when you reach out to the team at HazelGrove Early Education. Valid until 31st October 2026.
What We Noticed on The Tour
Lots of natural light. This was the first thing we noticed. The spaces feel bright and open. The centre spans the whole floor so you have the light from both sides and a lot of the walls for the ‘rooms’ are mostly glass, meaning everything felt open and light. The doors all slide open and children can move around in the space freely. There was a lot of space and plenty of different zones and activities to interest your child.
Impressive Outdoor Spaces. There are 2 main ‘outdoor’ spaces that include multiple sand pits, cubby houses, a large pirate ship/activity centre, water play, blocks, ball sports, a lovely reading area with a huge library and lovely seating spaces, garden and veggie beds that the children help to look after, dedicated infant spaces, various experiences set up at tables and on the floor – ready for children to engage with. You can see these spaces are well thought out, offer so much variety and learn through play opportunities for young minds.
Extended Opening Hours. HazelGrove Early Education is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm daily.
A completely enclosed space, with some practical upsides. The whole site is enclosed, and one advantage is that children don’t need sunscreen or hats while they play there. That’s one less thing to remember at drop-off and very handy if you have a child who doesn’t like to wear a hat or has sensitive skin when it comes to sunscreen.
Trains next door. The train tracks run along one side of the site, and the centre has built a bench there so children can sit and watch for trains. If you have a train-obsessed child, they will love this!
A sandpit made for digging. The sandpit lets children dig for dinosaurs that are actually buried in the sand. Don’t worry, there are also buckets, spades, trucks and diggers.
Outings for infants through to preschoolers. Excursions aren’t only for the older children. The younger children are taken out in two 6-seater prams, so even the younger ones get to join in on excursions. We love this approach as toddlers are not always taken out. The preschoolers also regularly visit the local nursing home, which is a very short walk away.
Meals cooked onsite. All meals are made onsite by the centre’s chef and allergies can be catered for. On the day of our tour, the chef was making a udon noodle dish for lunch.
Multicultural Staff and Language. HazelGrove Early Education intentionally hires educators who are of a multilingual and multicultural background who speak First Nations languages, English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hindi to name a few languages.
3 Aims for HazelGrove Early Education
1. Children have a genuine voice. HazelGrove Early Education runs Children’s Committees and works from a children’s rights and agency approach. The aim is for children’s ideas and perspectives to influence their environment and learning.
2. Learning is slowed down. Through Slow Pedagogy and a project-based approach, children get time to investigate, revisit ideas, ask questions and make deeper connections, instead of moving from one activity to the next.
3. The goal is capable citizens, not just school-ready children. The centre supports children to express their ideas, understand culture and community, respect others, care for the environment and become confident contributors to the world around them.
Age and Stage Appropriate Curriculum
Infants. The focus is on secure attachment. Educators use the Circle of Security framework, which is built around infants feeling confident to explore because they know they can return to a familiar adult for comfort. Rooms are designed with soft, natural materials and calm colours, with consistent routines and familiar faces. Care moments like feeding and nappy changes are treated as chances to connect, and sleep is guided by each child’s cues and by what families do at home, while working towards self-settling over time.
Toddlers. The focus is on children’s rights and growing independence. Spaces are designed to be safe and to spark curiosity. Toddlers are encouraged to do things for themselves, like putting on their own shoes, tidying up and making choices, and educators support them in expressing feelings, making friends and building empathy.
Preschool. Children are seen as capable, active citizens. The program draws on the hundred languages of children (art, music, movement, storytelling and imaginative play), children’s rights to be heard and to ask questions, and leadership and decision-making opportunities. It also includes conversations about fairness, inclusion and resilience. The transition-to-school program says school readiness is more than name recognition, early literacy and numeracy. It also covers emotional regulation, social confidence, friendships, communication and a love of learning.
Beyond the Gate
This is HazelGrove Early Education community program. The centre has regular partnerships with local nursing homes and schools, and children visit, connect and share experiences. It includes the youngest children too, who join the visits in specially designed 6 seater prams with their educators.
A Smaller Centre by Choice
HazelGrove Early Education Rhodes features spacious rooms, thoughtfully arranged with furniture to create defined areas for small-group experiences and learning. It’s aiming for around 90–100 children (well under their allowed licensing), so educators can build closer relationships with each child and family.
The centre also says it staffs above the legal minimum. Every room has an additional educator on top of the required ratio, and at least one educator in each room is a university-qualified Early Childhood Teacher (ECT).
The Rooms
The centre cares for children from 6 weeks to 5.5 years, across four rooms:
| Room | Ages | Approx. group size |
|---|---|---|
| The Nest | 6 weeks – 2 years | 12–15 children |
| The Explorer Nook | 2 – 3 years | 25–30 children |
| The Discovery Den | 3 – 4 years | 20–25 children |
| The Studio | 4 – 5.5 years | 20–25 children |
Their Curriculum
The curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Practices the centre highlights include:
- The environment as the third teacher: spaces designed to invite curiosity, creativity, collaboration and independent thinking
- The Hundred Languages of Children: children show their thinking through art, movement, music, construction, dramatic play and relationships
- Atelier-inspired learning: exploring materials, creativity and ideas in different ways
- Garden to Plate: growing, preparing and sharing food, and learning about sustainability
- Cultural responsiveness and Connection to Country: cultural learning built through the curriculum
- Strong family partnerships: working closely with families so children experience consistency between home and centre
Included Enrichment: Sport, Dance and Music
HazelGrove Early Education runs three enrichment programs alongside its everyday curriculum.
Sports. Sessions are run in partnership with Futureroo Sports. They’re non-competitive fitness classes that build teamwork, sportsmanship and an understanding of game rules. Futureroo says its programs are developed with input from allied health professionals. Children try a mix of activities:
- Soccer and rugby league: basic footwork, passing and dribbling through games, with a focus on teamwork and fair play
- Boxing: strength, rhythm and controlled movements in a non-contact setting, with a focus on self-regulation and confidence
- Basketball: bouncing, passing and shooting through playful drills and mini group games, building hand-eye coordination
The Arts. Run in partnership with ABC Dance With Me, these sessions mix gentle stretches, creative exercises and playful routines. They support coordination milestones like skipping, galloping and balancing, and build rhythm, spatial awareness, memory and pattern recognition. Games like Follow the Leader help children practise listening and motor control. Throughout the year, dance is interchanged with other activities such as visual arts, clay work or music depending on the term.
French language with Bonjour Babies. Children are exposed to the french language through this incursion where its age appropriate, fun and interactive for the children.
What’s Included:
- Five meals a day all cooked fresh on site
- Nappies and wipes
- Incursions and excursions
The Details
Address: Level 7 1 Rider Blvd
Hours: 7.30am–6.30pm
Phone: (02) 7264 3250
Website: HazelGroze Education Rhodes
Tours: Families can contact the centre or book a tour through the HazelGrove Early Education website.