Overview
We offer both long day care (7am to 6pm) and preschool hours (9am to 3pm) in the same centre. Same educators, same classrooms, same approach. Families pick whichever fits the working week, or mix the two.
40 children is small by Sydney standards. Our scale is the whole point. Every educator knows every child. Many of our families come back with a second or third sibling, so the lead educators have known the family for years before the next child even starts.
Hours & days
- Long day care: Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 6:00pm
- Preschool hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm
- Open: 50 weeks per year (closed for 2 weeks across Christmas and New Year, and public holidays)
- Enrolment options: 2, 3, 4, or 5 days per week
Fees & Child Care Subsidy
Our 2026 fees:
| Option | Hours | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool hours | 9:00am to 3:00pm | $135 |
| Long day care | 7:00am to 6:00pm | $152 |
Fees include afternoon tea, the full educational program, and free nappies for children under 3. Morning tea and lunch come from home (our suggestions here).
We are a CCS-approved service. Most families significantly reduce the daily out-of-pocket cost through the Child Care Subsidy.
Age groups and classrooms
2 classrooms, both grounded in the same Reggio-inspired approach.
- Joeys. Our younger group. Calm routines, lots of sensory and play-based exploration. Long stretches outside.
- Koalas. Our older group. Project work, real materials, the documentation practice you would expect from a Reggio-inspired room. Building toward big school in their last year.
Each classroom is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher with support from experienced educators. Staff-to-child ratios meet or exceed the National Quality Standard.
What makes us different from other St Ives childcare centres
There are good options in St Ives Chase. Here is honestly how we are different.
- A small, family-sized centre for up to 40 children. Every educator knows every child by the second week.
- A director who trained in Italy. Tina spent time at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Reggio Emilia in April 2025 with the Reggio Australia Study Group. She brought ideas home that have changed the way we document children's thinking.
- A real outdoor classroom. Mature gum trees, a sandpit, a worm farm, a vegetable garden. Children spend most of the day outside.
- Educators who stay. Continuity is rare in early childhood. It is one of the things our families mention most often.
- Reggio Emilia in practice, not just on the brochure. Real materials. Real questions. The hundred languages of children, taken seriously.
Location
120 Warrimoo Avenue, St Ives Chase NSW 2075
Easily accessed from:
- Gordon (a short drive)
- Pymble (a few minutes away)
- Turramurra (a short drive)
- Wahroonga (a short drive)
- Warrawee, Belrose, Forestville, Frenchs Forest and St Ives Chase, all close by
Easy access from Mona Vale Road. Street parking is available, and a circular driveway at the front makes morning drop-off straightforward.
How to enrol
- Book a tour. Come and see the centre, meet our team, ask your questions.
- Submit an enrolment form. We'll send you one after your tour.
- Pay the holding deposit once your place is confirmed.
- Apply for the CCS through myGov if you haven't already.
- Orientation a week or two before your child starts, you and your child visit together for a short session so it feels familiar on day one.
We have some availability for 2026. Book a tour or call us on 02 9449 8829.