What Does an Educational Leader Do at Kool Kidz Childcare?

When you drop your little one off each morning, you see a day filled with activities, play, learning, storytime, and big smiles. But what you don’t always see is the careful planning, supportive mentoring and leadership happening in the background to make each of those moments meaningful.

At Kool Kidz Childcare, Educational Leaders play a vital role in shaping quality early learning experiences for every child. We sat down with Tash, the Educational Leader at our Charlemont centre, to find out what really goes on behind the scenes, and why this role matters so much to your child’s development.

From Early Childhood Teacher to Educational Leader

Tash has spent 11 years working across early childhood and primary education. She began her career in early learning, completing her Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education, moved into primary teaching, and then returned to early childhood after becoming a mother.

“The difference between early childhood and primary education was what brought me back,” Tash explained. “I enjoy focusing more on child-led programs with a curriculum, versus a standard curriculum that’s applied to everyone without taking the individual child into consideration.”

It’s this passion for individualised, child-led learning that led Tash into her current role as Educational Leader, a step up from her time as an Early Childhood Teacher, and one that’s given her a much broader view of how quality education comes together.

What Inspired Tash to Step into Educational Leadership?

For Tash, her primary goal is to make an impact because, quite simply, children are our future.

“They will lead us someday,” she explained. “Let’s build them up so they can succeed in life. What we do is so powerful and meaningful. We have such a huge impact on how a child develops, and it has a huge impact on the world.”

As an Educational Leader, Tash’s focus has shifted from working directly with children every day to building the capacity and confidence of her educator team.

“Being a teacher isn’t just coming to work and playing with children, you are actively shaping the future, and teachers need support,” she said. “I provide the support they need to be leaders in their room.”

A Morning in the Life of an Educational Leader

Long before you arrive at the centre, Tash is already at work.

Her day starts by checking in with every educator, room by room, making sure each team feels supported and set up to succeed.

“I consider myself their hype girl,” Tash said. “Once all the rooms are supported, I check in with teachers who are planning or programming and determine if they need resources, whether that’s with inclusion or with an additional educator.”

Tash also works closely with families, helping to develop wellbeing plans that support each child’s individual learning strategies or referrals to services such as speech therapy.

So, while you’re on the way to one of our centres, your Educational Leader has already been working to make sure the day ahead runs smoothly for your child and for your child’s educators.

The Behind-the-Scenes Work Parents Don’t Always See

Tash and her team are currently reviewing and refining programming across the centre, making sure every learning experience is intentional and meaningful.

“Once a month, every room leader makes a plan for their room,” Tash explained. “Each child has their own individual learning goal, and that program highlights how we can best support the child to achieve those goals. It’s based on the curriculum, as well as the individual child’s interests, and aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework.”

Our programming is built on our Kool Beginnings Curriculum, so when your child is building with blocks or painting a picture, they aren’t just playing. We build a carefully considered learning experience linked to their personal development goals.

Leading and Mentoring the Team

A big part of Tash’s role is building strong, trusting relationships with her team of educators.

“I sit down with the room team to make sure I’m supporting each room and every teacher and leader,” she said. “I also get on the floor and help out, so the educators know I’m relevant. It’s important for me to build rapport with the team, and I’m able to mentor better because I’ve built that relationship.”

This hands-on approach means feedback and support feel genuine, not top-down, and it’s something Tash sees as central to good leadership.

“Instead of a hierarchical leadership function, I think leaders need to know the room to lead the room,” she said.

Even if Tash isn’t in the room with your child every day, her influence is felt in every activity, every goal and every milestone.

“I’m influencing every child’s outcome because I’m so involved in the programming, and making sure we’re driving learning based on every child’s goals and interests,” she explained.

A Fresh Approach to Connection

One of the most exciting changes Tash has introduced is a move away from digital programming towards physical learning journals.

“We capture too much on iPads,” Tash said. “Having a journal that’s not as tech-heavy means we’re capturing real moments in time, making it more personal and more accessible.”

Kept at the front of each room, these scrapbook-style journals include photos, children’s drawings and reflections from educators, creating a living record that children, families and educators can all look back on together.

“It’s much more child-friendly and inclusive,” Tash explained. “It works for all ages, so even babies can make their mark!”

Why This Matters for Your Family

Choosing the right childcare is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your child’s early years. Knowing that a dedicated Educational Leader like Tash is working behind the scenes mentoring educators, refining programs, and keeping every child’s individual goals front and centre offers real peace of mind.

“The most rewarding part of my role is when someone comes to me, and we come together as a team to build an outcome, so they feel supported,” Tash shared. “I love the collaboration and how, working as a team, we’re always focused on the bigger picture: the child, and what they need.”

At Kool Kidz Childcare, early learning is thoughtful, intentional, and always centred on your child.

Book a tour at your local centre today to find out more about enrolments and meet our educator teams.