Walking into YMCA Holt is a unique and special experience.
Firstly, you notice the centre is made up of open plan spaces filled with light, natural materials, busy sounds of children, cosy nests and comforting aroma’s from the central kitchen – it is a space in which you immediately feel welcome, wish to belong and want to explore.
The contemporary and innovative design has a fundamental influence on the pedagogical practice of the centre. The socio-cultural context invites children of all ages to move, inquire and play freely in flexible spaces filled with open ended and recycled resources.
Our brave approach encourages and values learning through interrelationships, interdependence, peer scaffolding, family and mixed age interactions.
Small teams of key educators connect with each child and their family, building solid foundations for trusting and respectful relationships. Working in partnership with families is paramount in providing children with the highest quality of care and education.
Our proud educators embrace their role as advocates for children engaging in regular professional development and critical reflective practice that continuously challenges and improves knowledge, skills and attitudes.
The centre is nestled within a modest suburban hub providing rich ‘indoors, outdoors and beyond the fence’ experiences of wonder. Our little community of relationships, culture and values lies within a local, national and international community recognising children as citizens of the world.
We are continually inspired by every child, family, educator and member of the community, as well as every article, post, conversation, meeting and workshop we experience on a daily basis.
Approaches and theorists most influential in our practice are play-based learning, Reggio Emilia, Emmi Pikler, Magda Gerber and Claire Warden.
The National Quality Framework, National Quality Standards, Early Years Learning Framework, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ECA Code of Ethics and YMCA Canberra drive the quality, consistency, reflection and future planning of the education and care at YMCA Holt ELC.
The centre is dedicated to early education and care for children aged 6 weeks to school age and caters for up to 90 children.
Opening Hours: 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday (closed on Public Holidays)
Location: 180 Starke Street, Holt, ACT
Waiting List
If you would like to go on our waiting list for a place in a YMCA Early Learning Centre please visit our Enrolment Process page.
