Dimboola Early Learning and Care Centre
The Dimboola Early Learning and Care centre caters for a variety of care and learning experiences for children aged 0 to 6 years old, including special needs children, and also provides community and family services. Located within an educational precinct, the planning reflects contemporary directions in early learning pedagogy.
Project Details
Architects
Kneeler Design Architects
Address
30-56 Johnstone Street Broadmeadows, Victoria 3047 Australia
Submitter
Robert Bienvenu
Cost
$ 3,436,272.00
Photographer
Silvi Glattauer
Project Overview
The Dimboola Early Learning Centre comprises three distinct user groups.
• Kindergarten programs, long day care, as well as maternal health & play services.
• Out of school hours care and children’s and family services.
• Full integration into preschool for children with special needs supported by a play based integrated therapy program within a dedicated room.
The Dimboola Early Learning and Care Centre is part of a broader education precinct. It facilitates the educational philosophy of life long learning through its engagement with the very young and the wider community. The main street address is to Johnstone Street, and pedestrian access is provided from the Junior, Senior and the Special Development School campuses. At the entry to the building, community and consulting rooms are available for the broader school or public use, while the early learning children are accommodated beyond a secure point.
Planning of the centre reflects commitment to contemporary directions in early learning pedagogy. Spaces are planned to facilitate a multi-disciplinary approach, project based learning, team care and teaching, and the opportunity for small or large groups of children to congregate or disperse as required. Each learning community comprises a variety of flexible spaces; larger and smaller, indoor and outdoor, and well equipped for both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ project activities. The children’s rooms connect to a smaller scale retreat at each end of the building, giving a quiet play space to older children and a place for comfort for the youngest. Shared facilities such as kitchen, laundry and staff needs have been located centrally.
Communal spaces such as the foyer, internal courtyard and meals/ gathering space are the central hub of the Centre and act as the pivot for the two wings of children’s rooms. These wings enclose the play space which is a learning environment with vegetable gardens, water tanks, water play and varied textures and materials. The outdoor play area is directly accessible from all children’s rooms, which are amply glazed to enable visual supervision. Large covered areas provide shade and shelter, allowing for outdoor activities to occur throughout the year.
