Ashlee Bailey

Centre Manager - Chelsea World of Learning 1

“You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.” ~ Clay P. Bedford

I began my career in early childhood education and care in 2007 and started working at Chelsea World of Learning 1 in 2010. I hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and I’m trained in Child Protection and First Aid. I also have a certificate in Raising Good Kids by Dr Kaylene Henderson. I have worked in the early education setting in a few different roles but have spent most of my time looking after children under two and a half years. I was a room leader for five years in the baby’s room and toddlers’ room before I stepped into my role as Centre Manager in 2015. 

I have been working in this amazing field for over 13 years, it has been an amazing journey and brings me happiness each day. My Mum was the one that inspired me to follow this path. I have always loved interacting and looking after younger children from a young age so began following this path while still at Secondary college. After my first placement I knew this was the field I was meant to be in.

I think one of the key learning benefits we can offer children at our early learning centre is that they are able to explore a large variety of experiences with children of their own age and level throughout their day. This is not always something that can be offered to all children at home and those first interactions and friendships that are built from a young age as so important. Children learn the most through play, interaction, and guidance. This is something we offer every day while interacting in experiences that engage them.

We have long-serving, multicultural team members who reflect our local community. Many have been with the centre over five years. It’s the sort of centre where everyone knows all the children, no matter which room they are in. We are such a close-knit team; it feels like one big family. Most of our team are also parents who have either been through our centre as well so we understand the importance of having a strong and supportive relationship with the centre and educators.

Our team ensure all children are looked after to a high standard while in our care. This includes ensuring all our environments are safe and secure for the children to explore, ensuring all team are upskilling and updating their training regularly around children’s safety and that their daily needs are met with professionalism, care and dignity. My safety statement is “To ensure all children are safe, secure and cared for while in my care. To ensure all children have the opportunity to grow into the person they are meant to be while being supported, encouraged, valued and appreciated for who they are.”

I work on building a good relationship with our families by ensuring we are always available as much as possible and are happy to support them in as many ways as we can. weather it’s advice about the enrolment, orientation etc or personal experience as I have also had my own 3 children go through early education, so I know as a mum how important this time is.

We show our support for families in many ways over the year. We hold an annual date night for families towards the end of the year, we hold many different in centre events for families to come in and interact with their children and other parents such as Father day, Mother’s day, Grandparents day and our annual Halloween party for the children and families. Over the year we also offer morning tea for families at different points as well.

Starting at a new centre can be very stressful for parents so during the tour we take our time to discuss the paperwork that will need to be completed if they choose to attend us or a sister centre. We inform them that if they need help to complete the forms please do not hesitate to call us and we are more than happy to help walk them through the steps. We have a template and examples of how to complete their CSS once the original process has been started and completed their CWA with the centre.

Welcome to Chelsea World of Learning 1.