frequently asked questions

North Star provides your child with a distinctive opportunity to benefit from Finland’s renowned education system.

Finnish early childhood education, celebrated worldwide, places a strong emphasis on viewing education from the child’s perspective. With decades of rigorous testing and exceptional learning outcomes, the Finnish education system amalgamates the finest and most contemporary educational philosophies, models, and practices, while maintaining a commitment to continuous development to meet the highest educational standards.

Research underscores that introducing new skills to children when they are developmentally ready results in productive learning, as opposed to frustration. The Finnish education system supports children’s learning and growth without subjecting them to the stress that can arise from pushing them to learn too much, too early.

For everyone, not just children, learning is most effective when driven by individual interests. The Finnish education system consistently achieves outstanding learning outcomes by fostering purposeful play and offering nurturing guidance from highly-trained teachers, making the learning process enjoyable and fruitful.

The first five years of a child’s life are the most pivotal for shaping future life outcomes, encompassing overall well-being, health, and academic achievement. Recognizing this, our founders embarked on a mission to bring Finland’s excellence in early education to the global stage. Drawing from their backgrounds in education science at the University of Helsinki and impact economics at the World Bank Group and the University of Cambridge, they have curated age-appropriate learning activities based on the latest pedagogical insights and developmental science. These activities now support and inspire numerous young learners worldwide. The FinlandWay® methodology is presently employed in a network of schools across five continents in five different languages.

Certainly, our centre adheres to the Australian Early Years Learning Framework as a guiding principle.

Moreover, we implement the FinlandWay® curriculum, a meticulously crafted daily learning curriculum developed by authentic education scientists and early childhood specialists. This curriculum is delivered through a play-based approach, ensuring that your child’s educational journey is both delightful and organic.

We offer a range of care arrangements to suit each families needs. Our Long Day Care and Approved Kindergarten Program run five days per week from 7am to 6.30pm.

We pride ourselves on our wide range of food options for all of our children. From allergies to strict diets and routines, we can cater to your child’s every need.

Families are kindly requested to supply ample changes of clothing, as we encourage outdoor play in all weather conditions. We also request that you bring and clearly label the following items:

• a water bottle
• hat
• comforter/dummy
• for infants, we kindly ask you to provide us with breastmilk, although we can also supply formula if needed.

Upon enrolment, we will provide you with a detailed list of what to bring, and if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to your centre for assistance.

Our centre utilises StoryPark, an application that offers real-time updates from our educators regarding your child’s daily activities and what they are learning. All you need to do is download the app on your phone, and you’ll receive notifications every time your child sleeps, eats, or has a diaper change.

Furthermore, apart from Storypark, we keep you informed through various channels. We display notices and showcase children’s artwork at the centre, publish a monthly newsletter, and, of course, arrange opportunities for in-person discussions with the Room Leader and the Centre Director. Your child’s well-being and development are at the forefront of our communication efforts.

• All essentials from nappies, wipes and barrier cream to formula and bottles, cot linen and sunscreen
• Nutrition program and dietitian designed seasonal menu
• Every snack and meal, starting from breakfast, is prepared daily by our in-house campus cooks – cow and soy milks available
• Dedicated FinlandWay® early learning curriculum designed for nursery, toddler and preschool/kindergarten children
• School Readiness Program
• Health program to support your child’s physical health and emotional wellbeing supported by our health team specialists in Nutrition, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy & Vision
• Stimulating outdoor spaces (with a focus on play-based learning & sustainability)
• Daily photo & diary updates via the Storypark app
• Excursions & community activities
• Qualified and passionate Educators

To allow payments to be processed efficiently our Service prefers Direct Debit. A weekly statement will be sent to parents to indicate the days and hours of care, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) received, and the gap (out-of-pocket) fees required of the parents. The payment will then be processed according to the banking details nominated by the parents.

Our families generally secure 3-5 days for their child. What they find is children develop stronger friendship groups and connections to our educators and giving them a stronger sense of belonging.

Our educators find the children connect with the curriculum on a deeper level enhancing their learning and development, so we recommend a consistency of days and settle into care much quicker.

The minimum enrolment is 2 days. We feel any less than this can be too upsetting for children as they cannot settle and form attachment with other children or teachers. It can also be difficult for teachers to plan a suitable program if a child is only attending 1 day per week. We also require all enrolments to include a Monday or a Friday

To secure your position, you will be sent a link to complete the online enrolment form and upload documents. The following documents will be required:

• Online child enrolment form completed and signed by both parents (unless sole custody)
• Photo or scan of driver’s licence, or other government-issued photographic ID of both parents (unless sole custody)
• Copy of your child’s birth certificate
• Any relevant documents relating to sole parenting documentation, medical plans, custodial orders etc.
• Current immunisation record from Medicare or the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

We have policies related to managing accidents and emergencies and these provide guidance for our staff to manage every situation appropriately. We document all incidents that happen and even in minor cases always inform parents at pickup time at the end of the day. Parents will always be immediately notified in case of serious incidents.

VIC

0-2 years 1:4
2-3 years 1:4
3-5 years 1:11

For information on the VIC Free Kinder Funding please visit our page

VIC Free Kinder Funding

To schedule a tour and gain further insights, please reach out to our Enrolments Team. We have limited openings in our nursery, toddler, and Preschool/kindergarten programs. We strongly recommend early enrollment to secure your desired dates, confirm your specific needs, or add your child to our waitlist.

We extend a warm invitation for you to visit our campus at your convenience, where you can explore our facilities. Alternatively, you can register your child’s details via our inquiry form or engage with our Enrolments team directly. By doing so, you will stay updated with regular communications from our Enrolments Team, including information about availability, upcoming events, and other pertinent campus details. Your proactive engagement is vital to securing a spot for your child at our centre.