Emotional security
A secure bond with an educator gives babies the confidence to explore. Everything else is built on that feeling of safety.
Nursery
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Nursery · 6 weeks to 12 months
Leaving your baby with someone else for the first time is a big moment. You want to know who will comfort them when they need you.
Every family arrives at our nursery with the same quiet questions. Will my baby be okay? Who will settle them when they cry? Will anyone know they like to be rocked a certain way, or that they only nap with their comforter?
We built our nursery around those questions, because we are parents too. It is a calm, nurturing beginning where babies can explore, connect and grow at their own pace, cared for by educators who get to know your baby as an individual.
What your child gets
Everything your baby needs from day one
Calm, nurturing nursery rooms
Purpose-built rooms with separate sleep spaces, designed around your baby's routines and needs.
Qualified educators every day
Every educator holds early childhood qualifications and is trained in first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma management.
Meals cooked fresh on site
A qualified chef prepares nutritious, allergy-friendly meals and bottles follow the routine you give us.
Staffed above legislated ratios
We go beyond the minimum ratios, so every baby gets the close, consistent care they deserve.
Open 7.00am to 6.30pm
Long day care hours with no school holiday closures, and we stay open over the Christmas break, giving your family the consistency you need.
Settling in
We understand how emotional the first few weeks can be
For many families the hardest part is the drop-off. That feeling is completely normal, and we will never rush it.
Orientation follows your baby’s pace, not a fixed number of visits. Some babies settle quickly, others need more time with a parent close by. Before your baby starts, we take time to learn their routines, comfort cues, feeding and sleep patterns, and the little things that help them feel at home, then shape their first days around what you tell us.
Comforters are welcome, and you can contact the campus whenever you want to know how your baby is going.
“They made us as worried parents feel at ease from the start. We knew we could trust them.”
Who will comfort my baby?
Familiar faces who know your baby’s cues
Babies feel safe when the same caring people respond to them, again and again.
Our educators watch and listen closely: a certain cry, a rub of the eyes, a reach for a favourite toy. They respond to those cues with warmth, so your baby learns that their needs will be met. Many of our educators and room leaders have been with us for years, so your child keeps familiar faces as they grow.
We staff above the legislated ratios, and every educator working directly with children holds current first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma management qualifications.
“Elles Belles has been fantastic with helping my baby adjust to a new environment. You can really tell they truly care for your children.”
How babies learn here
Learning happens in the everyday moments
For babies, learning is not a lesson. It happens in the middle of ordinary routines, shared with a trusted adult.
Communication
Educators talk, sing and respond to every coo and babble, turning nappy changes, meals and cuddles into early conversations.
Play and exploration
Natural indoor and outdoor play spaces invite babies to reach, crawl, pull up and discover at their own pace.
Rest and routine
Your baby’s own sleep and feeding rhythms guide the day, with a calm sleep room and bedding supplied.
A day in the nursery
What a day can feel like
Every baby’s day follows their own rhythm, so no two look exactly alike. This is the general shape of it.
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A gentle arrival
Early arrivals start the day together in a mixed-age group, which lets siblings spend time together, then move into the nursery as more children arrive.
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Play, cuddles and discovery
Indoor and outdoor experiences are planned around your baby’s strengths and interests, with plenty of time on the floor to move and explore.
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Meals from our own kitchen
Meals are cooked on site by a qualified chef, and bottles follow the routine you give us.
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Rest when your baby needs it
Sleep follows your baby’s cues in a calm sleep room, with bedding supplied.
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A conversation at pick-up
Educators record the day through daily reflections and individual portfolios, so you can talk it through together when you collect your baby.
Staying connected
You are part of your baby’s day, even when you are not in the room
You know your baby best, and we treat you that way.
We encourage open, honest communication in both directions, and your feedback shapes how we care for your child. Our open-door policy means you are welcome at the campus during our operating hours.
Each day is recorded through reflections and individual portfolios, so you always have something to talk about with your baby’s educators.
“From the very beginning, the team at Elles Belles made us feel completely at ease. It’s clear they truly care about each child’s wellbeing and development.”
Why families choose Elles Belles
Family owned, and parents too
Elles Belles is a proud, private, family-owned childcare and kindergarten. Our own children have attended Elles Belles, and decisions are made by parents who understand the trust you are placing in us, never by a head office far away.
- Meals cooked fresh on site every day by qualified chefs
- Staffed above the legislated ratios
- Extracurricular programs included at no extra cost
- Open 7.00am to 6.30pm, including over the Christmas break
Good to know
Nursery questions
For anything we have not answered, email us at opsmanager@ellesbelles.com.au or ask on your tour.
We request that each child has a bag for their personal belongings. Families should ensure that all their children’s belongings are clearly labelled. To assist us in meeting all your child’s needs, we ask that the following items are provided:
- A beanie and warm jacket for winter
- Change of clothes for all weather conditions (including enough underwear if toilet training)
- Ready-made bottles or pre-measured formula and sterilised bottles (if required)
- Comforters (refer to our sleeping and rest requirements policy on-premises)
- Drink bottle containing strictly water
Every child is provided with an Elles Belles hat. It must be brought every day during the SunSmart months.
The Education and Care Services National Regulations stipulate that the minimum staff-to-child ratios for a licensed children’s service are:
- For every four children under the age of three, there must be a minimum of one educator.
- For every eleven children aged three and over, there must be a minimum of one educator.
At Elles Belles Early Learning, we staff above these ratios to provide the extra care, supervision, and education your children deserve.
The health and safety of your child is our highest priority; therefore, children must not attend if they are unwell. If your child is sick, they should not only be resting but also be kept away to prevent compromising the health and safety of the other children within our centre.
Our waitlist operates by considering the child’s age to determine if our age-specific rooms have vacancies that meet the family’s needs, such as preferred days and start date. We also take into account the Priority Access Guidelines set by the Government.
Once one of our campuses reaches full capacity, we can only depend on existing families to voluntarily change their care requirements or cease care for a vacancy to arise. When a vacancy becomes available, the Campus Directors will consult the waitlist. Additionally, three months prior to your child’s commencement, you will receive a courtesy phone call from Elles Belles Early Learning, informing you of any potential vacancies for your consideration.
Ready to visit?
Come and meet the people
who will care for your baby
Book a tour of Cheltenham or Ormond to see the rooms and meet the team. Still researching? The Early Learning Hub is a good place to start.