A place for every child to thrive

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A place for every child to thrive ❋

A calm, playful space where children can be themselves, and families can breathe

I’m delighted to open the doors to a fortnightly playgroup, at my home studio.

This is a gentle, welcoming space for connection, play, and growth; where children are free to explore, and families are supported to simply be.

There’s no cost to attend. Just an open invitation.

If this feels right for you and your child, I’d love to welcome you.
Simply click the button below to register and join us, or learn more here.

Register here
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Download Ali's Brochure

❊ Support Services

How I support your little person to thrive

Is your child facing difficulties in areas such as behaviour, social interactions, learning and development, or emotional resilience? Let's explore how I can provide personalised guidance to help your little one thrive.

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1:1 Individual Therapy

One-to-one sessions create space to truly see each child. Through gentle observation and play, Ali takes time to understand the why behind behaviour, tailoring support to the child’s unique sensory world, nervous system, and developmental needs.

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Small Groups

Small play therapy groups of four offer connection without overwhelm. Set in calm, natural environments with a balance of outdoor and indoor play, these sessions help children practise regulation, social skills, and confidence in ways that feel safe, playful, and supportive. Sessions also include regular excursions and opportunities for children to catch public transport.

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Parents & Educators

Supporting children means supporting the adults around them. Ali works closely with parents and educators to build understanding, confidence, and calm; helping caregivers feel more resourced, less overwhelmed, and more connected to the children in their care.

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Hi, I’m Ali.

With over 25 years of experience, Ali is a compassionate Early Education Teacher and Play Therapist who has supported children and families in Australia and abroad. Her work spans schools, kindergartens, homes, and childcare settings, always grounded in care, curiosity, and respect for the individual child.

Ali holds a Bachelor of Education specialising in Early Childhood and a Diploma of Children’s Services, and her work has been recognised nationally, including being named a Regional Winner in the Family Day Care Australia Excellence Award in 2021 and 2024. At the heart of Ali’s approach is a belief in learning through play.

By understanding each child’s developmental stage and sensory world, she creates personalised, play-based support that feels safe, natural, and meaningful. Working closely with families and caregivers as a key partner, Ali helps shape thoughtful interventions that support children to grow, regulate, and thrive... together.

B.Ed (EC) Dip Chns services, Senior Playwork Practitioner, Certified What’s the Buzz facilitator, Social Thinking methodology, Dip. Counselling (current student)

Contact Ali

Ali’s work is grounded in deep respect for each child’s individual experience. She brings a relational, neuro-affirming lens to every interaction, ensuring children feel safe, seen, and celebrated. Her play-based approach is not only developmentally sound but emotionally attuned—prioritising safety, trust, and joy.

- Literacy Intervention Teacher

❊ Newsletter

Every month, I share information that builds bridges of connection with children and their families.

I believe it is the key to unlocking the door to their full potential. If that sounds good to you, sign up now...

A young boy holding a lizard and smiling at an older woman with short, gray hair who is laughing and covering her mouth with her hands. They are indoors with wooden and brick flooring, beside a terrarium with sand and a small animal, likely a reptile.
A house with black metal siding has an open sliding glass door leading to a room with green interior walls. Inside, there is a white table with toys and decorations, and open cubbies underneath. The house is surrounded by greenery and plants, with a weathered wooden deck and a garden area in the foreground.

Kind words from our tribe

  • - Amy

    Ali has provided life changing opportunities for my children, supporting their personal goals in a rich and nurturing setting both alongside peers and in our home.

    They have improved in so many areas from social to regulation and communication as a result of such responsive and inclusive education. We are delighted to celebrate their progress and watch them thriving as they transition to kindy and school.

    We are forever grateful! 

  • - Anita

    Ali has been an incredible influence on my child's behaviour, and I couldn't be more grateful for her nurturing approach. Since Ali started working with M, my husband and I have noticed improvements in her behaviour choices and self-regulation strategies.
    Ali has the unique ability to connect with children on such a personal level, which has created a safe and supportive environment for my child to express themselves and learn. Ali's approach is not just about educating the educators that work with M, but also about understanding the underlying reasons for her behaviours and guiding M toward more positive choices.

    Overall, Ali's impact on my child's behaviour has been a beautiful relationship to experience. I would highly recommend Ali to any parent looking for a nurturing and positive influence in their child's life.

  • - Shyla

    I am immensely thankful for the incredible support Ali has provided to my daughter in enhancing her social skills. From the outset, Ali’s friendly and approachable demeanour made my daughter feel comfortable and eager to participate in the sessions.

    Through personalised strategies and consistent encouragement, Ali has helped my daughter navigate social interactions with greater confidence and ease. The progress my daughter has made is evident in her improved ability to communicate and connect with her peers, both in and out of school.

     I wholeheartedly recommend Ali to any parent seeking support for their child’s social skills development. Ali’s commitment to her work and her clients is truly commendable.

  • - Jaimee

    G is genuinely thriving under the curiosity and expertise that Ali brings to their therapy sessions together. Sessions are dynamic, flexible to G's interests and goals, and facilitate the perfect amount of challenge to engage and extend G's development. Ali's communication is open, professional and friendly with myself (parent) and other stakeholders. Ali provides such a unique service through Thrive, that I highly recommend to anyone seeking the best for their young learners.

  • - Erin

    Ali's early intervention therapy has helped my child reach and exceed developmental milestones. Her therapy has been effective, fun and rewarding. We really look forward to our weekly “play dates” and learning new play techniques to use throughout the week. Ali has empowered us to help our child become independent, resilient and successful.
    Thank you so much Ali!

  • - Emma

    Working with Ali has been an absolute game-changer for us. Her collaborative, strength-based, neuro-affirming approach has fostered remarkable improvements in managing C’s anxiety and his navigation of social situations in particular.

    Ali's support in advocating for C at school has been invaluable, working hand-in-hand with educators to help them understand his challenges and implement effective strategies. Beyond understanding C's needs, Ali also prioritises understanding our family's needs, crafting and implementing strategies that will work for us within our crazy high needs family. 

  • - Anita

    Ali possesses an exceptional blend of professionalism, empathy, and expertise that sets her apart. Her commitment to understanding our child’s unique needs and tailoring a personalised treatment plan was evident from the start.

    What truly stands out is Ali's ability to create a warm and trusting relationship with our child. Her patience, kindness, and support provided a safe space for our child to express themselves and work through difficulties in their regulation and behaviour.

    Thanks to Ali's guidance, our child has shown improvements in social interactions and emotional regulation, and we continue to see the relationship between Ali and our daughter flourish.

  • - Jodie, Steve, I & P

    Thank you for all you do, The girls love Ali days and generally we need to have a countdown until the next one. We love how well P has settled in, Thank you also for your support and guidance with I this year – she has grown so much. 

  • - Lauren & O

    We just wanted to acknowledge your outstanding contribution towards O’s development.
    We could not ask for more than everything than you are! The experiences, knowledge, adventures, skills, values and friendships you have provided are second to none and we will value you for our lifetime.

    Your warmth, support, kindness and cheerful morning ‘’yoo hoo” will undoubtedly be missed. We hope to see you in the not to distant future, Thank you for everything you have done for O and for us! One of the best decisions in O's life so far is you!

  • - Hayley

    Beautiful Ali, Thank you for being such an important part of our village in raising N. We found a hero in you and words are powerless to express our gratitude.

  • - Emily, M, G & B

    We found Ali through dear friends and were looking for opportunities to prepare our daughter for kindy and school. Ali's approach to learning and fostering curiosity, problem solving and becoming was invaluable not just to our daughter but also to us as parents. We have learnt so much from Ali's approach to children and are so grateful to have her in our lives. Ali is genuine and has an amazing intuition matched by experience and evidence based knowledge. Both our kids have thrived at 'Ali's' and love rejoining the group any chance they get.

  • - Aimee & Paul

    There simply aren’t enough words to ever truly express just how thankful we are for everything you have done for our girls and our family. We are beyond blessed that you were recommended to us 3 years ago and that we have had you as such an important part of our village for that time.

    Watching our girls thrive under your care and with your guidance and knowledge means so much to us. This journey has certainly been a rollercoaster, but we walk away with such beautiful memories we will cherish forever.

    Thank you for opening up your family home to care for our little people in a way we never knew was possibly before we met you. You are a true inspiration, and we know the little people that now get to have you as part of their lives are beyond lucky.

  • - Christina

    We got L's audiology assessment done, and it turns out Ali was right!

    How great is Ali for spotting that. 

    This notice came after Ali spotted some audio processing issues with a child after spending several hours with them. This nuanced and intense service Ali offers allows for noticing potential comorbidities and recommending further testing and assessment.

  • - Lisa, Dan, R & R

    We can’t thank you enough for the wonderful care you have provided for both our kids these past 5 years. Our kids feel so safe with you and that is all we could have ever wanted.

    Thank you for helping us build a beautiful community, for helping R & R grow in confidence, connection, for believing in them, being such a strong role model to them.

    We are so sad this journey is ending but we know you’ll keep making a huge difference in the lives of kids and their families who need someone to cheer them on and help them reach their full potential.

  • - Carol & Lindsay

    Our greatest thanks for all the experiences, learning and caring skills you have given to the girls (and ourselves) over the last 3 years.
    We appreciate everything you have done as a significant and wonderful part of I & P’s early life.

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Let's Work Together

Please complete the form below. Once submitted, you’ll be directed to a link where you can book a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation.

❊ FAQs

You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers

  • Our group sessions run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM with a maximum of four children, with Ali as the teacher and play therapist.

    Each day and session is dynamic, with no one session ever being the same. The children are the drivers of the curriculum. We start our day with a play plan where we talk about our ideas for our play and learning within that day, and formulate the rhythm and flow of the day from the children’s ideas.

  • Please bring a full change of clothes including socks and underwear, lunch and recess snacks, and a drink bottle full of water.

    If your child is toilet training, please include three or four sets of underwear and additional pants to facilitate this. If your child is in the in-between stage, please include a number of pull-ups and their own specific wet wipes.

    If your child has their own sunscreen they would prefer to use rather than the sensitive skin version Ali uses, please bring a clearly labelled bottle with the child’s name on it so that can remain on-site.

    If your child has preferences about the hat they wear, please bring a full wide-brim hat, or they are welcome to use one of the hats available on-site.

    If your child has any medical conditions, the following must be provided before their first session:

    Asthma: A doctor-completed asthma care plan with the child’s photograph, all required medication, and a spacer if needed.

    Anaphylaxis: A doctor-completed anaphylaxis action plan, the anaphylaxis medication, and a dose to remain on-site.

  • Sessions run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

  • As much notice as possible is appreciated. Our policy is that two full business days notice is required for any cancellation.

    Full terms and conditions are available on request.

  • Ali provides anaphylaxis, asthma, and allergy medication on-site. However, no other medication is provided.

    If your child has medication to support ADHD or behaviour management, families are welcome to come and administer the dose as necessary during the day. This may mean meeting the group on an excursion or coming to the site to administer the medication.

    This medication cannot remain on-site in the child’s bag — it must be brought in by the parent, administered, and then removed.

    It is worth noting that due to the small group size and calm environment, children who are on medication to support behaviour management and impulse control often do not require it on the days they are here.

  • Yes. Ali is in the therapy space the majority of the time. However, at times where Ali is undertaking additional professional development or is unwell, Ali’s staff member and educational advocate, Jaimee McHugh, will be brought in to run the sessions.

    Families will be given as much notice as possible, with the option to either opt out of the session or continue.

  • Over nearly 30 years of working with children across many environments — including nannying both in Australia and overseas, working in childcare centres, progressing to assistant director, teaching in preschools, doing relief work in schools, and running a highly successful and award-winning family day care service — Ali has developed a deep passion for children’s wellbeing.

    Ali is passionate about supporting young children to learn to live an authentic life and celebrate their diversity as a rich part of the tapestry that makes them so unique and skilled in so many different areas.

    Equally important is supporting parents to deeply understand their children and the way their children’s brains work. Alongside the family, Ali works to develop strategies that support the entire family’s wellbeing. It is not focused solely on the child — understanding that a child is part of a community, and that a family is a community, means working so that everybody’s wellbeing is high. This includes sharing support and strategies with families through detailed notes after every session, whether that is a one- on-one or group session.

    Ali draws inspiration from Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Steiner, social learning theory, the What’s the Buzz program, and ongoing studies including a Diploma of Counselling, combining the best of these philosophies and theorists into an approach that is highly attuned to each individual child’s needs.

  • Yes! We regularly go on excursions, whether that means walking up to Ansty Hill, using our local creek systems, or catching public transport to local playgrounds and community events. We also enjoy visits to the zoo, the museum, and theatre productions, among other activities.

    Our excursion program is rich and varied, driven by the children’s interests and learning needs.

  • No. There are no additional expenses to families. Thrive with Ali Fleming absorbs all additional costs associated with the program.

    Most terms we bring in outside providers such as yoga teachers, music therapists, or support workers who are highly skilled in areas such as carpentry and other specialties, to work alongside our group so that the children can learn additional skills across a range of areas.

    All additional support services are fully supervised, and anyone who comes to work alongside the children and Ali has full screening history, including a Working with Children Check.

  • In Tea Tree Gully, South Australia 5091