Frequently Asked Questions

A tour can help you see how your child responds to the people and spaces around them. Look at educator interactions, ask about routines and share the things that matter to your family. Smart Start describes a family-operated, play-based environment. Contact us to arrange a visit and explore whether it suits your child.

Start by contacting Smart Start to discuss your child’s age, preferred days and proposed start date. You can also arrange a tour. Our team can advise on availability and the enrolment steps that apply to your family. Please confirm your place and start date with the centre before making care arrangements.

Please ask us for the current enrolment checklist. Be ready to provide your child’s details, parent and emergency contacts, authorised collection details, immunisation information, and any relevant medical or allergy plans. If you intend to claim CCS, ask which Centrelink details we need to link your child’s enrolment.

A visit gives you and your child time to explore the rooms, meet educators and talk through the routines that matter to you. Contact us to book a tour and discuss any orientation visits before the first day. The centre will confirm available times and how these visits work.

Smart Start’s published room information covers children from six weeks through to kindergarten age, with older rooms listed up to five years. Contact us to discuss the room that best suits your child’s age, development and available places. Kindergarten room placement and eligibility for government kindergarten funding are separate matters.

A typical early learning day combines play, shared learning, outdoor experiences, meals and time to rest. The balance changes with children’s ages, interests and care needs. During your visit, ask to see the routine for your child’s room and discuss how sleep, feeds and other individual needs can be accommodated.

A labelled bag, spare clothes, a water bottle and an agreed comfort item are useful starting points. Smart Start lists meals, nappies, sheets and a hat as included in the daily fee. Please ask for your room’s packing list, including any arrangements for bottles, breast milk, formula or prescribed medication.

Every child adjusts at their own pace. Tell us about your child’s interests, routines and what helps them feel secure. Familiar visits, a predictable goodbye and a trusted educator can make the transition easier. Please discuss a settling plan with the team, including whether shorter initial sessions are suitable and available.

Tears at drop-off can be part of adjusting to care. A calm, clear goodbye and familiar comfort strategies can help. Please tell the educator what usually reassures your child and agree how you will receive an update. If distress continues, speak with the team about adjusting the settling approach together.

Smart Start’s philosophy centres on play-based learning and each child’s interests. Our published kindergarten program connects with the Early Years Learning Framework and Queensland kindergarten guidance. Ask our educators how the program in your child’s room supports identity, wellbeing, communication, curiosity and participation, and how your family’s goals can contribute.

Play gives children meaningful reasons to communicate, experiment and solve problems. Building with blocks can introduce balance and early mathematics; pretend play can develop language and cooperation. Educators can extend these experiences through conversation, thoughtful materials and questions, while allowing children time to follow their interests and explore their own ideas.

School readiness includes feeling confident with others, expressing needs, managing emotions and becoming more independent. Play also builds early literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills. Smart Start describes connections with local schools; ask the team how the current kindergarten program and transition activities can support your child’s move to Prep.

Learning conversations help connect what children do at home and in care. Ask your child’s educator about their interests, developing skills and next steps, and share what you notice at home. The centre can explain how learning observations and progress information are shared, including any platform or meeting arrangements currently available.

Yes. Smart Start’s website lists meals as part of the daily fee and describes a home-cooked approach to food. Please ask to see the current menu and confirm which meals and snacks are served during your booked session. Let the team know about allergies or dietary needs before your child starts.

Please discuss your child’s dietary needs with us before enrolment so we can confirm suitable arrangements. Tell us whether a requirement relates to an allergy, medical condition, religion, culture or family preference. Any medical needs must be supported by the relevant plan; specific menu substitutions need to be agreed with the centre.

Meals are listed as included, so please check with the centre before bringing food from home. Babies and children with special feeding needs may need individual arrangements. Ask the team what to supply for breast milk, formula or bottles, and how items should be labelled, transported and handed over on arrival.

Please tell us about any allergy or medical condition before care begins and provide the relevant medical management plan and prescribed medication. Services must work with families on risk minimisation and communication arrangements. Ask the centre to explain its procedures for your child, including food handling and emergency responses; no environment can be guaranteed allergen-free.

If your child becomes unwell in care, the team will assess their needs and contact you about the next steps, which may include prompt collection. Please keep emergency contacts current. Children who are unwell should stay home, and return timing depends on the illness, public health advice and the centre’s exclusion policy.

Australian centre-based services must have appropriately trained people present and immediately available for first aid, anaphylaxis and emergency asthma management while children are in care. One person may hold several qualifications. Please ask Smart Start about the current team’s training and emergency arrangements; the legal minimum does not mean every educator holds every qualification.

Please contact Smart Start for the current daily fee, session options and inclusions for your child’s room. Your out-of-pocket cost may be reduced by Child Care Subsidy if eligible. Ask for a written fee schedule explaining any additional charges. Applicable fees and payment obligations are set out in your enrolment agreement.

You may be eligible for CCS if you meet Services Australia’s requirements, including responsibility for approved care fees, residence rules and your child’s immunisation requirements. The subsidy is paid to the provider to reduce your fees. Since 5 January 2026, eligible families can access at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight; some qualify for 100. Your final entitlement is determined by Services Australia.

Please contact the centre to confirm the available payment methods, billing frequency and when fees are due. CCS gap fees generally need to be paid electronically. Before enrolment, ask about any transaction fees, deposits or advance payments. The centre will explain the arrangements that apply, as set out in your enrolment agreement.

Please ask the centre how booked absences and public holidays are charged under your enrolment agreement. CCS may still apply when a child is absent and a fee is charged, subject to the rules. Generally, each child has 42 allowable absence days per financial year; further subsidised absences require qualifying circumstances and may require evidence.

Please contact the centre before changing your booking. Additional care depends on available places in the appropriate room. Whether a booked day can be swapped, what notice is required and whether charges apply must be confirmed with Smart Start. Your enrolment agreement and the centre’s current booking policy set out the applicable conditions.

No. Queensland’s approved kindy program is for children who turn four by 30 June in the year they attend, generally for 15 hours a week over 40 weeks. Free Kindy does not automatically cover a full long day care booking. Ask Smart Start to confirm eligibility, participation and any remaining care fees for your family.

Please speak with your child’s educator about everyday routines, questions or changes at home that could affect their day. For matters needing more time, ask to arrange a conversation with the relevant team member. The centre can explain its current channels for notices, day-to-day updates and urgent contact, and how to raise a concern.

Grandparents can collect your child when the required collection authorisation is in place and any applicable legal restrictions are respected. Please arrange this with the centre beforehand, keep authorised contacts current and ask the collecting person to bring photo identification. Contact the centre directly if plans change so staff can confirm the arrangements.

Your knowledge of your child helps create continuity between home and care. Share their interests, family traditions, home language and important changes with educators. Ask about opportunities to contribute ideas or participate in the centre community. Together, these conversations can help learning reflect your child’s background, strengths and developing interests.