Childcare in Gungahlin: What Stepping Stones @ Yerrabi Ponds offers local families
Most parents visit three or four childcare centres before they decide. They walk in, look around, observe the educators, and try to figure out whether it feels right. It’s an instinct thing, and it’s usually correct.
Stepping Stones @ Yerrabi Ponds exists for exactly that moment. We’re a family-owned early learning centre at 327 Gundaroo Drive, Gungahlin, and we’ve built this place for the families of this community, not for a national portfolio. We care for children aged six weeks to five years, and we service families across Gungahlin, Nicholls, Harrison, Casey, Ngunnawal, and the wider north Canberra community.
A family-owned centre in the heart of Gungahlin
There are a number of early learning centres in and around Gungahlin, and many are operated by large national or international childcare chains. Stepping Stones is different. We are independently owned and operated, which means every decision made here is made by someone who genuinely knows this community, not by a board in another city.
Being family-owned means you will always be able to speak directly with the people responsible for your child's care. It means our team stays consistent, our relationships run deep, and our values aren't a corporate mission statement - they're the way we actually work, every day.
Our Centre Manager, Kiarra, has been part of this community for over a decade - and right now, while she's on maternity leave, Mimi is stepping in to lead the team with the same warmth and care families here have come to expect. That kind of continuity speaks to the culture we've built: it doesn't depend on one person, it runs through the whole team.
Programs for every stage, from six weeks to school
At Stepping Stones, we offer four learning environments, each designed to meet children where they are developmentally:
Nursery - 6 weeks to 18 months
Our nursery is a calm, sensory-rich space focused on secure attachment, individual routines, and the earliest foundations of learning. Babies at Stepping Stones are held, heard, and genuinely known by the educators who care for them.
Toddlers - 18 months to 3 years
Our toddler room is where independence starts to bloom. Children in this age group are learning language, building friendships, and discovering the world through movement and play. Our educators support each child's growing confidence with warmth, patience, and a deep understanding of toddler development.
Preschool - 3 to 5 years
Our preschool program is where children really come into their own. With a strong focus on inquiry-based learning, collaborative play, and building the social and emotional skills that matter most, this is where curiosity is taken seriously, and children are supported to become capable, confident learners.
School Readiness - the year before big school
In the final year before primary school, children in our School Readiness Program develop the independence, resilience, communication skills, and confidence they need to transition successfully. We focus on the whole child, not just academic readiness, so that starting school feels like an exciting next step rather than a daunting one.
A day at Stepping Stones
Every day at Stepping Stones follows a rhythm that balances care, play, learning, and rest. Children arrive at a settled, welcoming environment. From there, mornings are typically active - outdoor play, group experiences, and child-led exploration. Afternoons are quieter, with rest, stories, and smaller activities.
The learning woven through all of it is inquiry-based; built around each child’s own curiosity rather than a fixed programme. If you’d like to understand more about what that looks like in practice, our article on inquiry-based learning goes into the detail.
Serving Gungahlin families from Yerrabi Ponds
We are situated in Yerrabi Ponds, one of Gungahlin's most emerging and connected neighbourhoods. Families come to us from across the Gungahlin district, including Nicholls, Harrison, Casey, Ngunnawal, Palmerston, Franklin, and the surrounding areas of north Canberra.
Gungahlin is a growing community, and the families here are thoughtful about the choices they make for their children. We've built Stepping Stones to meet that. Our environment is calm, considered, and purposeful - every space has been designed with children's wellbeing and learning in mind.
We're also close to the natural environment that makes this part of Canberra so special. The Yerrabi Ponds wetlands and Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary are nearby and will play a role in our upcoming Bush Kindy program, bringing nature-based learning into the daily rhythm of our preschool and school-readiness children.
What's included when your child enrols
We believe childcare should be an easy, seamless transition for families. When your child is at Stepping Stones, you don't need to think about the extras. We provide:
Nutritious meals made fresh in-house daily
Nappies and wipes
Educational resources and play materials
Flexible hours to suit your family’s routine
Daily updates through our parent communication app
We also accept the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs for eligible families. If you'd like to understand what you might pay after subsidy, the Services Australia CCS estimator is a useful starting point.
Ready to find out more?
We're currently taking enrolments for children aged six weeks to five years. Places are limited, and we'd love to show you around. The best way to get a feel for Stepping Stones is to visit, meet Mimi and the team, see the spaces, and ask as many questions as possible.
Or call or email us on (02) 6242 7644 or at admin@steppingstonesyerrabi.com.au. We look forward to meeting your family.
Reviewed by Fiona O'Donnell, Approved Provider and founder of Stepping Stones @ Yerrabi Ponds. Fiona has over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, including international research and advocacy for children's rights. She holds approved provider status under the National Quality Framework.
