Built with purpose, passion and a belief in what childhood should be

 

Woombye Childcare first opened its doors in 1989, when the Duddle family recognised the need for an early learning service within the Woombye community.

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In 2002, William and Betty Canty and their family became the owners of WCK, with Nicola a director at SDN Waterloo in Sydney moving to the Coast to lead its educational direction. Over more than two decades, the family has invested time, energy and resources into creating something deeply meaningful for children, families and educators.

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Rather than pursuing growth for its own sake, we have continually reinvested in our environments, our team and their professional learning. The purpose has always been to give children a rich childhood filled with learning, creativity, nature, friendship and adventure—and to support educators to keep learning, questioning and growing.

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Nicola’s educational leadership draws on more than 35 years of early childhood experience, postgraduate study and extensive professional learning. Her studies have included a Master of Education with research into risky play, formal visual arts training and a residential Forest School course in Denmark. She has  travelled  with WCK Colleagues to Reggio Emilia, Singapore, Japan and throughout Australia to study educational environments, practices and pedagogy offering different possibilities for childhood.

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This commitment extends across the whole WCK team. Nature and visual arts specialists have worked alongside our educators, while respected practitioners and consultants—including Nature Weavers, Niki Buchan, Wildlings, Deborah Harcourt and Vivienne Walsh—have challenged and enriched our thinking. Connections with other early childhood services, including Milford Lodge, have created further opportunities to exchange ideas and learn together.

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We have never followed one philosophy or copied another service. Everything we have encountered has been questioned, considered and interpreted through our own children, families, community and beliefs. Over time, this has shaped the distinctive approach we now call the Woombye Way.

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Everything WCK is today has been built through years of hard work, curiosity and a genuine belief in what childhood can be. The greatest return is seeing generations of children, families and educators flourish—and knowing how much learning, joy and adventure WCK has brought into their lives.

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