How throwing out the toys helped this childcare centre rank with alongside country’s best in latest childcare ratings

A Brisbane “bush kindy” that’s ditched toys has been revealed as one of the country’s top early learning centres. Check the list to see how your centre rates on quality.

Eleanor Phillips and Felicity Matthews playing at Everton Park Child Care which has been rated excellent by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority. Photo Lachie Millard

A Brisbane “bush kindy” that’s ditched toys and seen less arguments among children has topped Australia’s list of best early learning centres.

Everton Park Child Care and Development Centre is one of just 8 Queensland centres to hold the coveted “excellent” rating under the National Quality Framework and one of just a handful of centres across the country that has scored the rating in two consecutive audits.

The centre’s director Hilary Webb said her team was proud to be a centre of excellence.

She said the centre varied from other child care centres as they offered a bush kindy program in a city suburb.

“We don’t use toys outside, we use loose parts and the loose part play is so much more beneficial for children’s brain development, their physical development, their collaborative skills, their imagination.

“It’s the team together that provides this, it’s not just leadership, it’s the whole teamwork together.”

Van Kurz, Anna Madden and Ruby Baguley-Gela, aged 3, playing at Everton Park Child Care which has been rated excellent by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority. Photo Lachie Millard

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, which publishes the ratings, lauded the “no toys” program in which children were co-operating more, leading to less arguments over play equipment.

It also celebrated the centre’s community links, pointing to a program in which children sent presents to service men and women from the nearby army barracks stationed overseas and had raised clothing, gift cards and groceries for a local family who had lost their possessions in a house fire.

“We have built a strong and positive team that shares a similar philosophy that values the importance of providing the best in care and education for all children,” Ms Webb said.

“To reach this level we all need to continue to want to find ways to improve practices.

“We’re guided by families and communities to help shape what we do, there’s seven quality areas that you’ve got to meet and then exceed those standards.

“It means constantly critically looking at what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and if we’re doing it to the best interest of the children.

“We would love to see more centres reach the higher standards to ensure children receive the best in education and care.”