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Bespoke provider Little Navigators is the new name synonymous with quality
Freya Lucas
Feb 11, 2025
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Little Navigators Early Learning launched in late 2024 with its first bespoke centre in Everton Park, Brisbane, but the early learning provider is already making a significant impact, fast becoming known for its nurturing, safe, and engaging environments for children from six weeks to five years.
Co-founded by ex-Guardian Senior Executives Nicki Garrett and Helen Baker (shown below)—who each bring a wealth of early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector experience to their roles—Little Navigators has a focus on joyful child-led learning, outdoor play and nature exploration, and a research-backed curriculum that excites and empowers curious minds.Little Navigators Everton Park caters to 75 children across five age-related rooms in a modern, spacious, and sun-lit setting. Surrounded by nature, the centre's outdoor area is complete with crawler-friendly surfaces and space for adventurous play; with an in-built trampoline, sandpits, and a progressive playground to spark imaginative and interactive exploration.
“We are beyond excited about the launch of Little Navigators,” Director and Co-Founder Nicki said.
“We’ve spent a considerable amount of time conceptualising, envisioning, and curating the Little Navigators offering and to see all of that hard work come to life in our Everton Park centre is truly incredible.”
Nicki has dual experience in business and finance, and the world of early learning. As an inaugural Apiary Fellow, she brings her prior experience as Head of Development and Growth to Little Navigators, along with Helen, who has worked in early learning for nearly 30 years.
“There is nothing that Helen hasn’t seen, fixed and improved in the childcare sector,” Nicki explained.
“She is a passionate advocate for educators because she believes this is the best way of delivering optimal learning outcomes for children. She is driven by a passion to create a real difference in the sector, starting from the ground up.”
A new standard for educator care and wellbeing
The wellbeing of educators has driven much of the concept and design of the new service, she continued.
With dedicated work and relaxation areas, spacious and modern educator amenities, in-house professional development opportunities, ample programming time allocated to educators, mentoring programs, and ongoing training and support, Little Navigators is setting the new standard for employment in the early learning sector.
“For many children, educators become an extension of their family – a part of their village. We've fostered that same sense of family within our team too, making it a core value that guides everything we do for our educators,” Helen said.
A special space for children Understanding that learning for children transcends traditional aspects of learning colours and letters, the pair have paid special attention to design, pedagogy and practice aspects which will ignite curiosity, build confidence, and foster social and communication skills.
“With 90 per cent of brain development occurring before five years of age, our mission is to inspire a lifelong love of learning in every child who walks through our doors,” she continued.
There are a number of aspects which the pair believe help Little Navigators to stand as ‘a cut above the rest’, including:
- Local, well-respected educators that are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for curious minds.
- Child-led learning: A research-backed curriculum – led by each child’s own development – that incorporates music, literacy, play-based learning, and nature exploration
- All inclusive offering: Nappies and wipes, chef-prepared meals and snacks, take-away treats, and a full laundry service are all provided.
- Safe, nurturing centres with extra educator support: Little Navigators operates above legislated educator ratios to ensure its educators can give children their undivided attention throughout the day and to provide the best support for busy families.
- Dedicated learning libraries in each room to nurture curiosity and fuel a passion for literature.
- Community-minded focus: Little Navigators offers an ongoing program of events that celebrate diversity, sustainability, and foster meaningful connections through the local community.
- Incursions and excursions: Children take part in a wide range of exciting additional experiences like music mornings and swimming lessons.
- Community garden: Hands-on, real-world play takes place as budding young gardeners help to take care of Little Navigators’ community garden and use their ‘produce’ in the in-house commercial kitchen.
- Sustainably-focused & custom-built centre: Thoughtfully designed spaces that work in harmony with nature and incorporate water tanks, solar panels, and natural light.
As well as curating engaging spaces for children, and a seamless experience for families and carers, Little Navigators is also deeply committed to the wellbeing and career progression of its staff and educators.
”Our extensive experience in the sector has highlighted what works and what can be made even better in early learning,” Nicki added.
“We're leveraging this knowledge to develop 'best of breed' centres that not only put children and families first, but also champion our educators. Educators are the backbone of a successful centre and we’re creating a culture that celebrates and amplifies their impact.”
Little Navigators is taking its boutique offering to Melbourne this year with a series of launches slated across the southern state in 2025 and 2026, the first being in Hadfield in early 2025.
As well as its own branded centres, Little Navigators also proudly owns and operates several boutique local early learning centres in Queensland, including Rising Stars Redbank, Regents Park, and Redbank Plains Child Care Children's Centre.
Learn more about Little Navigators here.
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