Where curiosity has a home: Nido Early School Hawthorn East opens its doors
07 Sep 2026Families in Hawthorn East and surrounding suburbs now have access to a remarkable new early learning environment. Nido Early School Hawthorn East has opened its doors on Monday 7 September, offering families and children a boutique early learning experience within a space that blends the heritage charm of a Federation home with a contemporary learning environment.
Located at 1093 Burke Road, the new centre now welcomes children from six weeks to school age, with capacity for 62 children across four classrooms, three outdoor learning environments, a central piazza for gathering and activity and a dedicated atelier art studio.
Design as the Third Teacher
At the heart of Nido’s philosophy is a belief drawn from the world-renowned Reggio Emilia approach: that the environment itself is an educator. Alongside families and teachers, the physical space is considered the “third teacher”, one that speaks through light, texture, scale and how the space invites interaction.
Every detail of Nido Hawthorn East has been shaped by this approach. Natural materials, thoughtful spatial planning and clear sight lines support both calm environments for children and effective supervision for educators. Spaces are designed to encourage interaction and independence, without overwhelming or directing behaviour.
Outdoor environments have also been designed as an extension of the learning experience. Dedicated messy play areas support hands-on exploration and sensory learning, while kinder yards centred around mature heritage trees create natural shade and a strong connection to the site’s history and landscape. Seasonal outdoor spaces will evolve throughout the year, creating ongoing opportunities for discovery, alongside a purpose-built playhouse designed to encourage imaginative and social play. Plans are also underway for raised garden beds and a community garden, where children will be able to grow and care for vegetables and herbs.
The result is a space that feels simultaneously like a home and an adventure, designed to blur the boundary between the two.
A Personal Legacy, Reimagined Through Design
For Vantage Architecture Director John Kachami, the project is more than a design brief – it’s deeply personal. The Hawthorn East site is where he grew up, shaped by a family legacy grounded in education. His grandmother established her own school in Lebanon, later continuing that work in Australia, while his mother Nayla went on to run childcare centres for decades.
While Kachami chose a path other than education, the influence is clear. Designing early learning environments has become a natural extension of that upbringing, a way of contributing to education through the built form. His work is centred on creating spaces that support what he describes as “the learning moment”, where children discover things for themselves, guided not by instruction, but by environment reflecting the philosophy shared by Nido.
At Nido Hawthorn East, that philosophy is evident in every detail. The design prioritises quality over density, stepping away from the more commercially driven models that dominate the sector. Instead, the focus is on creating calm, analogue-inspired environments that foster curiosity, independence and a sense of belonging.
Kachami ensured the external architecture and internal learning environments speak to one another, resulting in a cohesive space that supports both educational philosophy and child development. Together with the Nido team, Kachami brought to life a design philosophy that has become a long-standing hallmark of Nido services across Australia.
The outcome is not simply a childcare centre, but an environment designed to inspire growth, exploration and connection.
The Piazza and the Atelier
At Nido Hawthorn East, the design is anchored in two distinct but connected spaces: the piazza, representing the new, and the atelier, housed within the original heritage home. Together, they reflect a balance between contemporary learning environments and the character of what came before.
The piazza forms the central entry to the building, marked by a vaulted arch that creates a welcoming public threshold. It brings together three teaching spaces for younger children and acts as a shared hub where children, educators and families move through the day together.
The atelier sits within the heritage portion of the building and combines office space with a large teaching environment for older children. Designed as a dedicated art studio, it allows for uninterrupted creativity, giving children the freedom to explore ideas and emotions through a range of materials without needing to reset between activities.
“Every child arrives knowing how to learn”
Cal Zwart, Centre Director at Nido Early School Hawthorn East, says the environment plays a central role in shaping each child’s experience.
“We know choosing an early learning environment is one of the most significant decisions a family makes. Our focus is on creating a place where children feel safe, seen and excited to explore, and where families feel genuinely supported every step of the way.
“At Nido Hawthorn East, we believe every child’s learning journey is unique. Our role is to create an environment where they can explore, grow and thrive at their own pace.”
A Centre Designed for Community
Nido Hawthorn East has also been shaped with the local community in mind. Plans already underway include music programs, visual arts, language programs, and a rich calendar of excursions and authentic local partnerships – all grounded in the belief that real learning extends beyond four walls.
Families from Hawthorn East, Hawthorn, Auburn, Balwyn and Deepdene are warmly invited to join the waitlist and centre tours are now available to book.
Enrolment & What Nido Offers
The centre operates from 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday, and offers:
- No enrolment or administration fees
- Expert support with the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
- Flexible orientations tailored to each family
- A generous 50% holiday discount
- Public holiday swap days
Families are invited to explore Nido Hawthorn East and experience how its design has been carefully considered to inspire each child’s learning journey.
