About Shellytots

Family owned and operated

ShellyTots is a family owned and operated preschool and long day-care centre.

We’ve been part of the St Ives community for 20 years, with a growing alumni of over 2000 children and families.

Childcare is such an integral part of family life and our centre is like a big family. At the heart of all families is the safety, security and growth of our children, just as it is at ShellyTots.

Every family that walks through our doors places a degree of trust and expectation of care that we always strive to uphold. It’s our commitment to each parent to guarantee that every child at ShellyTots is provided with the highest quality care, education, safety and is supported to feel confident and capable. We celebrate each child’s unique strengths and interests. We nurture creativity and the love of learning. We empower children to take risks, problem solve and express themselves. Together we build independence resilience and joy. Families are partners every step of the journey.

Inclusive

We celebrate the uniqueness of every child, family and culture. We believe that diversity enriches our community and strengthens a child's sense of belonging. Our learning environment embraces different languages, abilities, identities, traditions and family backgrounds, ensuring that all children feel seen, respected and valued.

Respectful

We promote respect in all interactions, teaching children to appreciate differences and treat others with kindness and understanding. Together, we create a welcoming space where everyone belongs, and every voice is honoured.

Collaborative

We believe in working closely with families, educators, services providers and our community to support each child’s growth and learning journey.

Our philosophy is our promise

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy reflects the values we share with the community we serve. We celebrate diversity and encourage respect for different traditions and cultures. Recognising that families are a child’s first and most influential teachers, we strive to build genuine partnerships based on mutual respect and open communication

We honour all types of families and welcome involvement from parents, grandparents, step-parents, foster parents, siblings, and others, creating a circle of care, trust, and support for every child and the entire ShellyTots family.

We are committed to creating an inclusive atmosphere where diversity is acknowledged with kindness and respect.

We believe that children learn and thrive in a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment. We therefore create a space where the child feels safe, valued and confident to explore and grow at their own pace.

Our Team

The team at ShellyTots is a dedicated group of passionate educators and staff, bringing a wealth of experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm to our centre. They embody our philosophy and deliver an educational program based on the EYLF's (Early Years Learning Framework) outcomes ensuring every child's interests are valued and extended.

Our educators advocate for children’s rights, foster inquisitive minds, and respect each child as a capable learner. We work closely with inclusion services to support children with diverse needs and provide ongoing professional development to ensure the highest standards in early learning education. Our team of experienced educators advocate for the rights and interests of the children. They foster inquisitive minds and respect children as capable learners.

We work closely with inclusion services to support children with special needs. The teachers at ShellyTots are a group of highly trained and passionate educators, who are motivated to provide the very best in quality Early Learning Education. We provide our educators with continual professional development in order to maintain the highest standard of education.

Nurturing Minds, Inspiring Bright Futures

Feel free to call us with any questions or to organise a visit to our centre. We can’t wait to meet your little Tots and share their learning journey!