Find out more about Child Safety at C&K

LDC 6 weeks 5 years 60.00 1.50

C&K has developed an Infant and Toddler Approach, which informs the way we care for and educate our babies and toddlers. Our philosophy for this age is to “slow down” and be in the moment with your child as they learn and explore the world. We focus on developing a deep and trusting relationship with each child.

All C&K childcare centres deliver C&K's quality kindergarten program. Kindergarten, also known as pre-prep or preschool, is a program for children who are turning 4 by June 30 in the year before they attend school. C&K’s kindy programs are government-approved and led by experienced and university qualified teachers. Our program supports children’s curiosity, creativity, problem solving, resilience and real-world knowledge and skills.

At C&K, we know that children do not learn in isolation, so we approach learning as a collaborative relationship between teachers, educators, children and families. We believe children are powerful learners, active citizens, thinkers and theorisers - this is at the heart of our early childhood curriculum. We've designed our indoor and outdoor spaces to ignite imaginations and nurture healthy minds and bodies. Learning through play is an integral part of our education program. Our educators skilfully enrich and extend children's play experiences, creating a learning program that is tailored and meaningful for your child.

Your child’s learning and care journey is shared with you via conversations with your child’s educators, through written documentation and through Storypark (an app and website).

Little toddler in an orange C&K shirt stacking colouful wooden blocksEducator smiling and cuddling a small baby insideChild looking through a colourful wooden rainbow insideBaby crawling up colourful soft play to smiling educator

C&K North Caloundra Open Day

About Event

You're Invited to Open Week!

We're opening our doors and would love for your family to come and see what makes our centre such a special place for children to learn, play, and thrive.

Explore our learning spaces, chat with our passionate educators, and experience the warm, welcoming community we've built together. Open Week is the perfect opportunity to discover why so many Queensland families choose C&K.

C&K has been proudly supporting Queensland children and families for almost 120 years. As a not-for-profit, children are at the heart of everything we do - from the way we design our spaces to the early learning programs that celebrate every child's curiosity, individuality, and potential.

We'd love to meet you. Come say hello! 💛💙

Open Week Events

C&K Mount Gravatt West - 36th Anniversary and Playground Grand Opening

About Event

Join us as we celebrate an exciting milestone — 36 wonderful years of C&K Mount Gravatt West Childcare Centre and the Grand Opening of our brand-new playground! We warmly invite our families, friends, and community members to come along, explore our centre, and celebrate with us. This special celebration is an opportunity to reflect on our journey, connect with our community, and showcase our beautiful learning environment. Bring your family along for a fun-filled day of entertainment, connection, and celebration. We would love to celebrate this special milestone with you and your family. Everyone is welcome!

  • Magic Show - 10am
  • Face Painting - $5
  • Balloon Twisting - $5
  • Sausage Sizzle - $3
  • Cold Drinks - $2
  • One FREE icy pole for every child attending

💚 Together, celebrating 36 years of nurturing young minds and building strong community connections.

We look forward to welcoming you! 💛

Events

The ‘3 Day Guarantee’ - What families need to know

29th September 2025
Share article:
Link copied! 😊

In a huge win for Queensland families, the Australian Government will implement the '3 Day Guarantee', removing the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test, from January 2026. Families will now be guaranteed at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) per fortnight (equivalent to 3 days per week), regardless of their activity levels.

How does the '3 Day Guarantee' benefit Queensland families?
  • The '3 Day Guarantee' makes quality ECEC more accessible and affordable, removing barriers and reducing stress for families across Queensland.
  • Ensures that children are school-ready and improves long-term developmental outcomes.
  • Provides targeted cost-of-living relief to families during challenging economic times.
  • Provides families with certainty around eligibility for subsidised ECEC.
  • Families whose recognised activities were previously limited or capped, such as those working casually, studying, looking for work, or volunteering, are now eligible for 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
  • Stay-at-home parents who were previously ineligible are now eligible for 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
  • Creates a more equitable early learning system across Queensland communities.
What are Queensland families entitled to?
  • Every family earning under $533,280 per year will receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, without needing to meet activity requirements.
  • Families can still access 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight if they meet activity requirements or have a valid exemption.
  • First Nations families, and families caring for First Nations children, will automatically receive access to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
  • Families earning over $533,280 in 2024-25 are not eligible for subsidised care – consistent with current settings.
Example of benefits

Sarah and Alex are a couple with one child accessing ECEC for 3 days (36 hours) per week. Their combined family income is $90,000 per annum. Sarah works full-time and Alex works 8 hours per week.

Previously, they received 36 hours of CCS per fortnight. From January 2026, they are automatically eligible for 72 hours per fortnight. This saves them $230 per week of care, or $11,400 per year. For different family income thresholds, the savings are:

Annual income Savings per week Savings per year (50 weeks of care)
$90,000 $230 $11,400
$120,000 $220 $10,630
$140,000 $200 $10,110

At C&K, we look forward to opening our doors to new families, and seeing children attend for additional days in 2026! With 40 childcare centres across Queensland, we welcome children from six weeks to five years to learn, play, and thrive alongside our experienced teachers and educators.

Find your nearest C&K childcare centre, book a tour or begin an enrolment application ahead of time.

For more information, view the Fact Sheet - 3 Day Guarantee – Early Education - Department of Education, Australian Government

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) - Essential information for families

29th September 2025
Share article:
Link copied! 😊

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an Australian Government program that helps families with the cost of childcare. If you're eligible, CCS can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket childcare expenses, making quality early childhood education and care more accessible for your family. Here's everything you need to know about how CCS works and how to make the most of it.

What is the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an Australian federal government subsidy provided to eligible families to reduce the cost of childcare fees.

How much CCS can I claim?

The amount of CCS you can claim depends on your circumstances, including income, activity hours (work, study, volunteering, or job searching), and the number of children in your care. Visit Services Australia for more details and examples.

From January 2026, the Australian Government will remove the CCS Activity Test, guaranteeing families at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) per fortnight, regardless of their activity hours. For more information, view the Fact Sheet - 3 Day Guarantee – Early Education - Department of Education, Australian Government.

How is CCS paid?

Services Australia pays the subsidy directly to C&K, reducing families' out-of-pocket fees. This means that your childcare fees are automatically reduced, and you only pay the gap amount. Until your CCS has been approved and commenced, C&K requires full payment of your childcare fees.

How to get the most out of the subsidy – flexible booking options

Based on individual circumstances, families can access up to 100 hours of subsidised care a fortnight through CCS. At C&K, we appreciate that each family is different with individual needs. We offer flexible booking options designed to help you maximise your CCS and access to early childhood education and care while minimising out-of-pocket costs.

Our childcare centres offer three options: a full-day session, a 10-hour session, and a 9-hour session. Our 9- and 10-hour sessions work with your schedule and start once your child is signed in; they do not have set start and finish times.

Example:
John and Laura are a couple with one child attending a C&K childcare centre. They are entitled to 100 hours CCS per fortnight. They maximise their CCS by choosing 10-hour sessions, resulting in all their childcare hours being fully subsidised (10 days a fortnight x 10 hours a day = 100 hours).

Should John and Laura choose the full-day session instead, they would pay the full hourly rate for hours exceeding their 100-hour CCS entitlement.

How to apply for CCS

Visit the Services Australia website to start the claim process.

Need help?

For more information regarding CCS applications and payments: Visit Services Australia or call their Family Assistance Line on 136 150.

For assistance maximising CCS with flexible booking at C&K Queensland centres: Contact our Service Support team to discover how our flexible session options can help reduce your out-of-pocket childcare costs.

Essential tips for families before your child's first day of childcare

22nd September 2025
Share article:
Link copied! 😊

You’ve toured the childcare centre, accepted your enrolment offer, and organised your child’s start date… Now what? If this is your family’s first childcare experience, it’s natural to have a lot of questions. This comprehensive guide provides expert tips to ensure your family's smooth transition into childcare, helping both you and your child feel confident and prepared for the adventure ahead!

Organise a Stay and Play session

Before your child’s first day at childcare, we recommend attending several short Stay and Play sessions. These introductory visits are specifically designed to help your child become familiar with their new environment, meet their early childhood educators, and interact with future peers - all while having a trusted family member present for support.

Talk to your centre’s director to organise the most suitable times to visit. These sessions are also a great time to ask the educators any questions you may have.

Share your child’s important information

To ensure the best possible care for your child, providing detailed information about their needs, preferences, and routines is essential. This communication helps educators deliver personalised care from day one. Important information to share includes:

  • Your child’s routine. Share nap times, feeding schedules, and any cues. If your child has no strict routine, let the team know that you are happy for them to follow your child’s cues.
  • Health information such as allergies, medical conditions, disabilities, or developmental delays so that any Medical Authorisation Forms (or similar) can be prepared.
  • Food experiences. For babies, share what foods they've tried, feeding method (purees/mash/finger foods), and allergen introductions.
  • Toileting information. Share where your child is in their toilet training journey so that educators can support home strategies.
  • Likes and dislikes. For example, if your child needs a comfort toy to go to sleep, or hates getting messy, let educators know so that they can accommodate them as best they can.
  • Your child’s abilities and interests. Share what they enjoy (drawing, building, etc.) so that educators can incorporate these into their programming.
Know what to pack

Your director will provide a list of what you need to pack in your child’s bag, as this can vary from centre to centre. However, a general guide:

  • A wide-brimmed hat, with no chin straps (a C&K hat is included in your enrolment)
  • Bottles of expressed milk or formula (if required)
  • Change of clothes (play is messy!)
  • Wet bag for dirty clothes
  • Water bottle
  • Comfort items
Label belongings for easy identification

Please ensure that all belongings are labelled. Labelling your child’s belongings gives any misplaced items the best chance of finding their way back to you. Plus, our educators will thank you!

Some options for labelling items include:

  • Permanent markers
  • Waterproof stickers
  • Iron-on labels
  • Name stamps
  • Keyrings

Labels with fun designs are a great way to help young children recognise their belongings even before they can read their name.

Medications must be labelled with a pharmacy label, including the child’s name and directions for use. This also applies to non-prescription items such as sunscreen and nappy cream.

Make a plan for breastfeeding or bottle feeding (if applicable)

If your baby or toddler is still breastfeeding or bottle feeding, you will need to think about how they receive their milk or formula. All of our childcare centres welcome breastfeeding mothers to come and feed their children during the day – please let your centre know if this is your intention so that they can ensure that there is a calm, quiet space for you.

If your child will be taking a bottle, you will need to provide bottles of milk or formula. Provide the number of individual bottles that your child will need each day. For example, if your child takes one bottle in the morning and one in the afternoon, you will need to provide two bottles. All bottles must be signed in when you drop your child off each day. Your director or educators will explain the process.

If your child is usually breastfed but will be taking a bottle at childcare, it is important to make sure that they are comfortable with the bottle. Not all babies take to a bottle straight away – and that’s ok. It’s a good idea to practice at home beforehand. A few tricks to try if baby is refusing:

  • Trial different bottles, and teat shapes and/or flow rates
  • Try feeding in different positions
  • Ensure that the milk or formula is the correct temperature
  • Let someone other than mum offer the bottle

Calculating how much breastmilk your child will require can initially involve some trial and error – after all, it’s impossible to know exactly how much they drink from the breast! Our educators will record how much your child drinks each feed and will work together with you during those initial weeks to determine the ideal amount.

Start with shorter days for an easier transition

Many children benefit from the flexibility of attending for a few hours on their first day, building up to a full day over the course of a week or two as they become more comfortable and form attachments with their educators. This gradual approach reduces separation anxiety for both children and parents, and allows children to build confidence in the new environment.

Remember – you can always call the centre to see how your child is doing and decide when to pick them up as the day progresses.

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to the director of your childcare centre. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience about child development and successful childcare transitions. Your child's educators and the rest of the team at C&K will be on hand to support you and ensure that your family's transition to childcare is a calm, welcoming, and positive one. Good luck, we’ll see you soon!

Is food provided?

Submitted by e.dellow on

All C&K childcare centres provide morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, with the exception of C&K Hughenden Kindergarten & Early Childhood Centre. And most centres have a cook who prepares the nutritious meals onsite, fresh every day. Seasonal menus are created by our qualified cooks and are tailored carefully for children with dietary requirements.

What are your staff to child ratios?

Submitted by e.dellow on

The National Quality Framework (NQF), regulated by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), sets the minimum educator-to-child ratio requirements for early childhood education and care services across Australia. These ratios are designed to ensure children receive adequate supervision, safety, and quality education.

C&K adhere to these regulatory requirements as follows:

  • Birth to 2 years - 1 educator to 4 children
  • Children 2 to 3 years - 1 educator to 5 children
  • Children 3 to 5 years - 1 educator to 11 children

Can I claim CCS and Free Kindy at childcare?

Submitted by e.dellow on

Yes, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Free Kindy can be claimed together. The CCS is applied to your fees before the Free Kindy subsidy and is paid directly to the centre. The Free Kindy subsidy is then applied to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

You will need to be eligible for CCS and apply via Services Australia. To receive the Free Kindy subsidy, you're not required to do anything additional. As long as your child is of eligible-age (turning 4 years old by 30 June) and enrolled in the kindy room, the Free Kindy subsidy will be applied to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

Click here to find out more about Free Kindy.

How do I choose the right childcare centre for my child?

Submitted by m.hall on

We understand how daunting this task can be, and we are here to support our families in finding a centre that feels right for their child.

At C&K, our doors are always open, and we encourage you to book a tour at some of your local C&K centres. It is important to explore the learning environment and meet the teachers and educators who will be spending time with your child.

This is your chance to see the centre's routines, watch the staff interact with children, and get a feel for the space. During the tour, educators can answer any questions you might have.

The right centre can look different for all families, depending on their unique needs. We aim to provide early childhood education and care environments where all children can thrive. Before or after visiting the centre, you can complete an enrolment application to be added to the waitlist.

Click here to for more handy tips on how to choose the right centre for your child.

What is the Child Care Subsidy?

Submitted by m.hall on

The Australian Government helps families with the cost of childcare by subsidising fees to reduce out-of-pocket costs. This is called the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for CCS, and the amount of subsidy you receive will depend on family income, activity hours, and the number and ages of the children you have in approved care. From 1 January 2026, every eligible family will be guaranteed at least 72 hours of subsided early childhood education and care (the equivalent of 3 days per week).

Click here to learn more about CCS and check your eligibility.

Subscribe to Childcare