Childcare Newcastle & Lake Macquarie

We're open Monday to Friday, 52 weeks a year, however, closed on weekends or public holidays. 

• Garden Suburb: 7 am to 6 pm
• Mayfield: 6:30 am to 5:45 pm
• Merewether Heights: 7 am to 6 pm
• The Junction: 7 am to 6 pm
• Toronto: 6:30 am to 5:45 pm
• Valentine: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm

We provide morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea in line with the Good for Kids Good for Life foundation.

Children are encouraged to drink water from their water bottles throughout the day. The water bottles will be refilled with fresh water as needed. Please note that cordial or juice is not permitted in the water bottles. We also have bubblers for the children in the outdoor playground.

Mealtimes provide excellent opportunities for children to develop self-help skills. Staff sit with children at mealtimes to offer support and encouragement as children acquire self-help skills in feeding, serving, pouring etc.

Whilst children are encouraged to eat, no child is forced to eat against their will. If we are concerned about your child's refusal to eat, we will discuss this with you to work out any possible strategies.

Our staff hold various qualifications in Early Childhood – ranging from the minimum qualification of Certificate III in Children's Services to Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood. But the most important qualification that our staff hold is not written on any certificate but clearly visible to a trained eye – and that is a true passion and commitment to providing the very best care and education for young children.

Effective communication between home and the centre ensures nothing gets missed. Whilst we love the daily communication at arrivals and departures, we also use an app called OWNA to keep families updated on their child's day, learning and development and centre happenings. The OWNA childcare app is free to download and gives families real-time access to their child's data. It is a two-way tool, allowing families to provide information and feedback to the educators.

Fees vary from centre to centre and depend on things such as the number of days in care, the age of your child, and your eligibility for any government subsidies. We recommend contacting the Centre Director of your nominated centre, who will provide you with a quote. Please click through to our Contact page for details of your closest centre.

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a payment offered by the Australian Government for which you may be eligible. To find out if you are eligible for CSS, visit the Department of Human Services website:

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy

Depending on your circumstances, there may also be other government funding available.

Starting in 2023, the NSW Government is providing funds to provide fee relief to families with children attending a preschool in a Long Day Care setting. This funding will be for families as a weekly reduction to their gap fee (after the Child Subsidy has been applied). The Preschool Fee relief is for children turning 4 years on or before 1st July 2023. We welcome this initiative from the Government as it recognises Long Day Centres' critical role in providing a preschool program.

For more information, please go to: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/early-years-commitment/affordable-preschool

In the first instance, you need to submit an online application form. The Centre Director will contact you once a suitable position becomes available. They will invite you to visit the centre to meet the educators, view the environment and ask any questions you may have. We want to ensure that you are comfortable with your decision. The Director will then provide you with an enrollment pack containing everything you need to know about the centre and enrollment forms. Once you return the completed forms, further visits can be arranged before your child's start date. We want to ensure a smooth transition, so feel free to visit as many times as necessary. Even after your child starts, we will support you every step of the way.

For All Children: 

• Two complete sets of spare clothing to suit the weather.
• Sun Hat (broad-brimmed or legionnaire style) for summer. 
• A jumper or cardigan in summer (just in case the weather gets cold). 
• At least two sets of underpants (more if your child is toilet training).
• Any rest time comforter if needed.
• In a drawstring bag or pillowcase, a small sheet and light blanket for rest time. Please note that pillows are not permitted in the cots for safety reasons. 
• Sunscreen (only if your child cannot use the one provided by the centre).
• A drink bottle filled with water (no juice or cordial).  

For babies and toddlers (0-3 years): All of the above, plus the following: 

• At least 6 disposable nappies per day (or training pants if your child is in the process of being toilet trained). 
• Nappy Wipes. 
• Any nappy lotion or powder, if necessary. 
• Fitted cot sheet and blanket. 
• Bottles. If your child is on formula, please send formula in pre-measured scoops and sterilised bottles containing cooled boiled water. We will make the bottles up at the centre. On arrival, bottles containing cows or breast milk must be placed in the fridge.

• Casual play clothes are best. Most of our activities are 'hands-on' and will include messy play, so clothing should be practical and comfortable. Children who are afraid of getting dirty or ruining good clothes will not benefit from a large part of their early learning program. 
• Shorts and a tee shirt in summer and a tracksuit in winter are the most practical as they allow children to climb, run and jump. No jewellery please. 
• Older children are encouraged to be independent in dressing and toileting. To help your child experience success in these self-help skills, please avoid buckles, belts and overalls. 
• Sturdy shoes with a closed toe suitable for climbing and active play are essential. Thongs and slip-on shoes are dangerous and not permitted at the centre. 
• Sun hats are essential, even on cloudy days. The risk of sunburn, although reduced, is still present on overcast days. Please ensure the hat protects your child's face, neck and ears (legionnaire style is best). Caps and hats with cords (due to the risk of strangulation) are not permitted. 

Labelling all your child's belongings, including all clothing, nappies, wipes, shoes, socks, sheets, drink bottles, hats, teddy bears, lunch boxes and drink bottles, is essential.

Shoes, socks, jumpers and hats are taken off and put on many times throughout the day. We must be able to identify what belongs to whom, so please label everything!