About our centre
C&K Dixon Street Early Years Centre offers an intensive early learning and care program for children and families living with significant adversity.
The program is based on extensive research, conducted by the University of Melbourne, and guided by infant mental health principals. It is a resource intensive, referral only early childhood education program. The program aims to change the life trajectory of children, improve learning and developmental outcomes through attachment and trauma informed practice.
The intensive early learning and care model offers children a place in a small group setting for:
- five hours a day
- five days per week
- for three years
By consistently attending the centre for this time period, the objective of the program is to ensure that at-risk and vulnerable children realise their full potential and transition into school as confident, capable learners, developmentally and educationally equal to their peers.
The program is a referral only early childhood service for vulnerable and at-risk children and families living with significant adversity.
Eligible children must be:
- Under three years old (at time of referral)
- Assessed as having two or more risk factors (child, parent or family risk factors as identified in the DHS Best Interest Practice Guidelines)
- Eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy
Othe aspects of the model:
- Children are provided with 75% of the daily dietary requirements cooked onsite by a chef
- Qualified teachers in each room
- Lower child educator ratio 1:3
- Individualised program for child family that enhance learning and development
- Relationship based approach
- Responsive to individual child and family needs
Program hours
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 2:30pm
More information for referrers
For further information about the referral process please contact dixonstreet@candk.asn.au or download our fact sheet.
C&K Dixon Street Early Years Centre is supported by the Parkville Institute to replicate the Early Years Education Program (EYEP), an intensive, high quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) program that achieved remarkable learning and developmental outcomes for children in its trial phase.
