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About

Giving your child the
strongest possible start.

Every child deserves the strongest possible start. That's what we're here for.

Little Child Big Mind is Panania’s specialist school readiness Pre-Kindy, built by Palmina Condina, a Literacy Specialist with 28 years of experience within the NSW Department of Education. Our approach combines explicit, evidence-based teaching with decades of classroom experience. Every educator here is still teaching in a New South Wales classroom today. We believe currency in the classroom is the whole point, because you cannot prepare a child for what you don’t know firsthand.

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Our Story

It began in the Kindergarten classroom.

It began in the
Kindergarten classroom.

Palmina Condina spent 28 years inside the NSW Department of Education, working from classroom teacher to assistant principal to senior education officer specialising in literacy. By the time she left, she was the person the system sent in when things needed fixing.

Across those years she saw the same pattern. Children arriving bright, capable and eager, yet without the foundational skills to thrive in their first weeks. Formal literacy instruction now begins in Week 2 or 3 of Term 1, and while most school readiness programs were never designed around that reality, Little Child Big Mind was for it from day one.

A method built on real classroom experience

A method built on real classroom experience

More than a learning centre

More than a learning centre

Our Approach

The Little Child Big Mind Method.

We believe every child deserves a strong start to their learning journey. Our programs are grounded in current educational research, including the Science of Reading and evidence around how children learn, and shaped by decades of real classroom experience. Every lesson is intentionally designed to develop the knowledge, confidence and learning behaviours children need to thrive in school.

What guides our teaching:

Evidence-informed practice

Our programs are grounded in current educational research, including the Science of Reading and evidence around how children learn, and shaped by decades of real classroom experience.

Purposeful learning

Every activity has a clear learning intention and builds in sequence, so skills compound rather than sit in isolation. Fine motor development is embedded in every session, because writing becomes a barrier if the hands aren't ready.

Whole-child development

We nurture literacy, numeracy, language, confidence, independence and self-regulation, because successful learners need more than academic skills.

Teachers who know the classroom

Our educators are actively working in a NSW classroom today, because we know that following a script and being a good teacher are two different things.

Evidence-informed practice

Our programs are grounded in current educational research, including the Science of Reading and evidence around how children learn, and shaped by decades of real classroom experience.

Purposeful learning

Whole-child development

We nurture literacy, numeracy, language, confidence, independence and self-regulation, because successful learners need more than academic skills.

Teachers who know the classroom

Our educators are actively working in a NSW classroom today, because we know that following a script and being a good teacher are two different things.

Evidence-informed practice

Our programs are grounded in current educational research, including the Science of Reading and evidence around how children learn, and shaped by decades of real classroom experience.

Purposeful learning

Whole-child development

We nurture literacy, numeracy, language, confidence, independence and self-regulation, because successful learners need more than academic skills.

Teachers who know the classroom

Our educators are actively working in a NSW classroom today, because we know that following a script and being a good teacher are two different things.

Meet the Founder

Meet Palmina Condina.

I’m a Literacy Specialist, passionate educator, a proud mum to two daughters, and the founder of Little Child Big Mind.

I spent 28 years inside the NSW Department of Education, working as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal and Senior Education Officer specialising in literacy, supporting schools and training teachers across the region.

I’ve dedicated my career to helping children develop the confidence, skills and love of learning they need to thrive. That is why I opened Little Child Big Mind in 2018, and why I still teach every day.

Why I created Little Child Big Mind

What drives me

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Why Families Trust Us

Trusted by families.
Backed by experience.

Our programs are designed and delivered by experienced educators who are passionate about helping children succeed. Our teaching is grounded in current educational research, shaped by decades of classroom experience, and focused on giving every child the strongest possible start.

134+ years combined experience

Led by founder and educator Palmina Condina, our team of qualified educators brings extensive experience across early childhood and primary education.

Aligned with the NSW curriculum

Reflecting the knowledge, skills and expectations children meet in today’s classrooms.

Grounded in evidence-informed practice

Our approach draws on current educational research, including the Science of Reading, and is shaped by decades of real classroom experience.

Hundreds of children supported

Trusted by families across the community to give their child a confident start.

93% of families arrive through word of mouth

Almost every family here was sent by another family who wanted them to have what their child had.

Every educator is qualified and currently teaching in NSW classrooms

Not just experienced, but current. It’s a difference that matters when you’re preparing children for the classroom they’re about to enter.

Hundreds of children supported

Trusted by families across the community to give their child a confident start.

134+ years combined experience

Led by founder and educator Palmina Condina, our team of qualified educators brings extensive experience across early childhood and primary education.

93% of families arrive through word of mouth

Almost every family here was sent by another family who wanted them to have what their child had.

Every educator is qualified and currently teaching in NSW classrooms

Not just experienced, but current. It’s a difference that matters when you’re preparing children for the classroom they’re about to enter.

Aligned with the NSW curriculum

Reflecting the knowledge, skills and expectations children meet in today’s classrooms.

Grounded in evidence-informed practice

Our approach draws on current educational research, including the Science of Reading, and is shaped by decades of real classroom experience.

FAQs

Your questions, answered.

What makes Little Child Big Mind different?

Who are your programs for?

Who teaches the children?

What is The Little Child Big Mind Method?

Do you follow the NSW curriculum?

Do you prepare children for NAPLAN?

How do I enrol?

How do I know which program is right for my child?

Get Started

Ready to give your child
the strongest start?

Give your child the best possible start to school.

Whether your child is preparing for Kindergarten or would benefit from extra support in literacy and numeracy, we’re here to help. We’d love to learn more about your child and guide you towards the program that’s right for them.

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Little Child Big Mind is a specialist school readiness centre based in Panania, NSW. We offer pre-kindy, tutoring, and holiday programs designed and delivered by educators actively teaching in New South Wales classrooms.

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