The Benefits of Child-Led Learning in School Age Care

Child-led learning is an educational approach where children are given opportunities to take ownership of their learning and develop autonomy in the process. While school age care and early learning environments differ in many ways, they share overlapping principles. In early learning settings, educators often follow the lead of the child based on their emerging skills and interests. Within school age care, we can adapt this same philosophy for an older cohort of children and see engagement take shape in powerful ways. 

It’s important to clarify that child-led learning doesn’t mean saying, “Here, you run the program while I sit back and watch.” Instead, it involves getting to know the children at our service on a much deeper level. For example, you might have a child who loves nothing more than going home, throwing their bag down, and jumping straight onto the latest Roblox game.  Rather than steering them away from that passion, we can provide a wide range of experiences such as arts and crafts, sports, puzzles, and construction. When children see their interests reflected in the program, engagement follows naturally. 

Rather than becoming complacent and saying, “I’m offering this and if you choose not to participate, that’s fine,” child-led learning encourages us to think differently. By creating experiences where children can help shape ideas, provide input, and even build something alongside educators, we move beyond simply offering activities. We begin to create opportunities for genuine engagement.  When children are involved in shaping experiences, they become far more invested in them. 

"This level of ownership encourages deeper engagement, builds confidence, and helps children recognise that their ideas and interests have value.''

So, what does this actually do for children? Ask yourself what happens when children feel their ideas matter. When children see their interests reflected in the experiences around them, they begin to engage more meaningfully with the environment and the people within it. They develop confidence in sharing their thoughts, learn to collaborate with others, and begin to understand that they are capable of contributing something valuable to their community.

At YWCA Canberra’s School Age Care, our educators are committed to knowing your child as an individual, championing their interests, and creating an environment where they feel genuinely seen and valued. When children thrive, families feel it too. If you’re looking for a place where your child can grow in confidence, build meaningful connections, and look forward to coming back each day, we’d love to welcome them. Enrol today and see what happens when your child’s ideas are treated as the starting point, not an afterthought. 

Contact YWCA Canberra School Age Care

Fees 

Before school care: $29.37 (permanent booking) $31.55 (casual booking) 

After school care: $43.51 (permanent booking) $45.69 (casual booking) 

Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au 

Phone: 02 6185 2040 

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Chiara Will

Chiara is Director of School Age Care at YWCA Canberra, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a diverse range of leadership and management experience across the Early Childhood Education sector. Having held roles from Administration Officer to Centre Director, she brings a holistic skill base and a strength in solution-based approaches to learning. 

Prior to joining YWCA Canberra, Chiara led a team of over 25 educators, driving policy development, professional training and development, and contributing to Quality Improvement, Sustainability, Reconciliation, and Strategic Inclusion Action Plans. 

In her current role, Chiara leads the strategic development of processes and systems that ensure high-quality, safe, and inclusive environments for children. She mentors and empowers managers, leaders, and educators to deliver best-practice programs aligned with regulatory standards, fosters strong stakeholder partnerships, and guides the Quality Support Team in managing compliance and quality assurance across services. 

Shane McAlpine

Shane is Director of Children’s Services (ECEC) at YWCA Canberra, overseeing eight early learning services with 24 years of experience in the early childhood sector. He brings an extensive understanding of education and care, current practices, and regulatory requirements, with a robust approach to developing high-quality practitioners. 

Shane supports the day-to-day operation of educational practices and curriculum across all our early learning centres, with quality and pedagogical practice at the forefront. He plays a critical role in providing escalation support and mentorship to centre directors and educators alike. 

His professional passions include children’s rights, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion and teaching perspectives, and advocacy for the early childhood profession. He is an active representative on the ACT committee of Early Childhood Australia. 

As a father of two children who have experienced the early years system firsthand, Shane brings a deeply personal understanding of the challenges families face in balancing work and parenting. This perspective shapes his inclusive, stakeholder-centred approach to service delivery across every centre he works with. 

Katherine Hellwig

Katherine is the Executive Director of Children’s Services at YWCA Canberra, bringing over 23 years of extensive experience in delivering education and care in ACT and the surrounding areas of the city. Her career spans both not-for-profit and commercial providers, highlighting her versatile and adaptable nature. 

For over 11 years, Katherine has held an executive role within a not-for-profit organisation that experienced significant growth in its early education and care portfolio. Her responsibilities included managing programs and initiatives that fostered engagement within the local community. 

Katherine began her career as an educator, and this hands-on experience has given her a profound understanding of the critical role educators play in the lives of children and families. Her qualifications include an Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services, an Undergraduate Certificate in Service Management, and a Diploma of Leadership and Management. In 2018, Katherine was honoured with the Community for Children’s Award by the ACT Children’s Week Committee, recognising her dedication and impact on the community.  

Katherine is driven by a strong pedagogical belief that all children have the right to access quality early learning in their first five years of life. She focuses on delivering high-quality education and care in both early education and after school care programs, ensuring children receive the best start in life.  

Frances Crimmins

Frances Crimmins is the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canberra and has led the organisation since 2013, driving significant growth, high-quality integrated service delivery, and stronger corporate efficiency. Under her leadership, the non-profit organisation has become a courageous community advocate, ensuring the needs of vulnerable communities are seen, heard, and addressed locally and nationally. 

Frances brings a diverse background spanning the private and not-for-profit sectors across business, hospitality, healthcare, and community services. She remains a passionate advocate for policy initiatives addressing the root causes of women’s housing insecurity, homelessness, gender inequality, and gender-based violence. 

Frances also currently serves as Chair of Homelessness Australia and sits on the ACT Work Health Safety Advisory Council. Her former board roles include ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), WESNET, the ACT Ministerial Advisory Committee for Women, and Co-Chair of Anti-Poverty Week in the ACT. 

Her leadership has been recognised with an Edna Ryan Award (2015), ACT Leader of the Year at the Australian Leadership Excellence Awards (2016), and selection into the inaugural Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) program (2021). Frances regularly represents YWCA Canberra at the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women in New York. 

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