Early Childhood
Professional early childhood care service in Sydney providing a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow. The service is staffed by qualified and experienced educators who are dedicated to supporting children's development and wellbeing.
St John’s Preschool & Long Day Care
77 Queen Street, Auburn, NSW 2144
Our Auburn Childcare Centre located beside St John's Catholic Primary School delivers high-quality early childhood education and care programs for children aged 2 to 6. Our Toddler and Preschool Education Programs provide play-based learning opportunities to nurture young children during their formative years. Nutritious meals, nappies and wipes, and a school readiness program are provided.
7:00am – 6:00pm (Monday-Friday)
2 to 6 years old
We are proudly rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standards!
I believe from birth every child is unique, competent and capable. As a team, St John’s Preschool & Long Day Care Auburn takes a holistic approach to create and nurture secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships with children. These positive experiences give children a sense of belonging, the confidence to form friendships, be intellectually curious, and resilient members of society.
We value the family as the child’s first and most influential teacher and welcome the insight they offer into their child’s personality, culture, abilities and interests. Through collaborative partnerships with families, teachers can provide the best support and the most meaningful learning experiences for each child.
We respect the diverse backgrounds, views and values of the families who use our service. They have many personal skills and interests and we welcome their contribution to our service. We support each child to develop a strong and affirmed sense of themselves and their family, to accept differences and to develop an awareness of what is fair and equitable.
I hold the value of ‘service’, to build meaningful relationships and connections with our local community to extend children’s learning. I will promote and encourage the Catholic Precinct including the school, parish and local community which play a collaborative role in providing the best possible upbringing for our children.
Respectfully,
Cindy Adams
Director – Early Childhood Teacher
Speaks English, Cantonese, and Mandarin
Pricing
Toddler Room
$130
Preschool Room
$125
Our Philosophy
Children: We believe that the early childhood years is the most crucial time of a child’s life, therefore, we strive for each child to feel safe, secure and respected with their rights honored and protected. These elements are the foundations of our service pedagogy. “When children feel safe, secure and supported they grow in confidence to explore and learn.” (p.20 EYLF)
Educators: We believe each educator is to be valued and respected as an individual. Their skills, knowledge, values, beliefs and expertise are all fundamental to a collaborative professional working environment. Embracing this culture of acceptance within the team supports and encourages educators to develop and grow both personally and professionally. We believe building collaborative partnerships with colleagues both within the service and externally will create a welcoming and nurturing environment to work in. ‘Management, educators, and staff work with mutual respect and collaboratively, and challenge and learn from each other, recognising each other’s strengths and skills (NQS 4.2.1).’
Emergent Curriculum & Learning Environment: We believe that children learn best through intentional teaching and spontaneous experiences. The educational program aims to be both child-centred and inspiring to maximise opportunities to enhance children’s interests, knowledge, capabilities and skill development that is unique to each child. Choices about curriculum directions are based on children’s evolving interests, strengths and goals. Children are empowered to set their own learning as they participate in active peer discussions, sharing their thoughts, hypotheses and opinions about their world. Collaborative team teaching is an essential component of our program with detailed and regular observation of the child in various “learning contexts”. This is how we gain a true perspective of the “holistic child”. Our approach is reflective of co-operative planning where children, families and educators work together in the best interests of the child as partners in each child’s education and care, promoting a reciprocal exchange.
National Quality Standards & Early Years Learning Framework: We believe the National Quality Framework should be embedded in the educator values, beliefs and evident throughout our pedagogy. We believe these practices will ensure the wellbeing and future development of children whilst in our care as we focus on their early years. As educators we recognise the importance of professional growth and are committed to further training, skill development and career progression. ‘Professional standards guide practice, interactions and relationships (NQS 4.2.2).’
Community: We believe the young children of today are the future of our nation and the whole Catholic Precinct including the school, parish and local community play a collaborative part to provide the best possible upbringing for its’ children. The service aims to build meaningful relationships and connections with its community to extend children’s learning. “As children move into early childhood settings they broaden their experiences as participants in different relationships and communities.” (p 25 EYLF)
Families: We believe communication and collaboration between families and the service is of utmost importance, providing opportunities for engagement to cater to families varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Families are encouraged to be involved in all aspects of the service. Educators actively seek information and feedback to guide curriculum decision making and ensuring it is meaningful and relevant to all children and families. Both verbal and written forms of communication including meetings, surveys, emails and questionnaires are utilised by educators and families to gain knowledge of individual children’s interests and experiences,ensuring the curriculum planning is centred on relevance for each child. “Children are more likely to be confident and involved learners when their family and community experiences are recognised and included in the early childhood setting. This assists them to make connections and to make sense of new experiences.” (p 33 EYLF).
St John’s Early Childhood Service Philosophy
Child care subsidy calculator
A majority of the families are eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which can help in reducing the cost by up to 80%. We've created this Subsidy Calculator to check your eligibility and subsidy amount.
Frequently asked questions
Will the number of children attending OSHC be capped?
Yes, each service is licensed to operate with a maximum number of children based on the physical space available to each service.
Can I swap a permanently booked session for another as a one-off?
No, we are unable to cater to session swaps due to staffing requirements.
Will I be charged for permanent bookings that fall on a public holiday?
No, if your booking falls on a public holiday you will not be charged for this.
I need to terminate my care arrangements, how do I do this?
To cease care, you are required to provide 2 weeks’ written notice. If you are receiving CCS, please note that CCS is not payable for any absences after your child’s last day of physical attendance. Therefore, you are required to attend your last booked day of care to ensure that CCS is paid.
I booked a casual session but my child is unwell, what do I do?
It is important to notify your service via email if your child is not attending a booked session. Please note that as a casual booking, you will not be charged provided that notice is given prior to 5:00pm the day before.
I have a permanent booking but my child is unwell, what do I do?
It is important to notify your service via email if your child is not attending a booked session. Please note that if the absence falls on a day that is booked permanently you will still be charged for the session. For flexible care arrangements, please contact your service to discuss casual bookings.
I need a last minute casual booking, who do I contact?
We recommend that you contact our Customer Service team on (02) 9568 8628 to request a casual booking. Please note that such requests can only be accommodated if the service can operate within the legislated staffing ratios.
Can I make a casual booking?
Yes, your child is welcome to attend on a casual basis dependent on session availability at time of booking. Please email your service to request a casual booking.
Should I enrol even though I may not use the service?
Yes! It is free to enrol with SCECS and you will have peace of mind knowing that if an unexpected emergency arises, your child is welcome to attend our service based on session availability. If your child is not enrolled, you will not be able to use the service regardless of the circumstances.
How do I enrol?
Click here to access our guide to using Storypark Manage. The guide will show you how to enrol and request care.
How do I claim CCS?
To claim CCS you will need to make a claim with Centrelink via this link.
I have never claimed CCS, how do I know what my out of pocket cost will be?
To get an estimate of your family entitlements, use our CCS calculator found under fee information on your service webpage. This will allow you to view how much your gap fee could be.
Will we still be eligible to receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
Yes, SCECS is an approved Australian child care provider. CCS is paid directly to SCECS based on family entitlements. Families are required to pay the gap, also known as the out of pocket fee.
My child has a medical condition. Do I need to provide anything?
If your child only attends during Vacation Care you will need to provide the service with their medication for the . The service will require completed authorisation forms and medications prior to attending your first day of care. Please note that medication must be provided in its original packaging with prescription labels attached.
What do I need to bring to Vacation Care?
Your child should wear sun safe clothing, including a hat and enclosed shoes and pack a water bottle, morning tea and lunch. SCECS will provide sunscreen, breakfast, and afternoon tea. Please note that Vacation Care is a nut free environment due to allergies.
What does base fee mean?
Our vacation care fees have a base of $68.00 per day. However, depending on the type of activity taking place there could be an additional charge depending on what is involved. Please check your service program for the total fee for each day. Note: CCS is applied to the total fee.
How do I cancel a vacation care booking?
You are required to provide 7 days’ written notice to cancel a vacation care booking. If you do not provide 7 days’ written notice, you will be charged the full fee including any extra charges (minus any CCS if applicable).
How do I make a vacation care booking?
You must be enrolled with SCECS to attend our Vacation Care program. In order to make a booking, you will need to complete a booking form. The booking form can be found on your service webpage, along with the program. Upon receiving your booking form, the service will confirm in writing whether you have received your requested days.
Will you offer vacation care onsite?
Yes, if there is sufficient demand from families. If the demand is insufficient, families are welcome to attend any SCECS Vacation Care service that is most convenient for the family. Please note that you will not be required to re-enrol.
What is the quality of SCECS vacation care program?
The programs our qualified and experienced teams provide are specifically designed with each child and service in mind – you won’t find the same program at each SCECS service! A new program is carefully put together each vacation period, keeping our programs exciting and new. We offer a variety of fun experiences including games, drama, physical activity, cooking, craft, STEM activities, gardening and so much more.
How will you ensure the safety of our children?
At SCECS, safety of our children, staff and families is our number one concern. The Educator to Child ratio of 1:15 for OSHC services applies in NSW. This ratio means that for every 15 children in an OSHC service, there needs to be 1 Educator available. For example, for 30 children, 2 Educators working directly with the children.Our staff will be supervising at all times to ensure the safety of all. Risk assessments will be completed to ensure that any risks have been mitigated.
Our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety: SCECS is a Child Safe Organisation dedicated to the Protection of every child in our care. SCECS aims to create environments where children’s safety and wellbeing is the centre of thought, values and actions. This framework is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the rights of Children and aims to ensure that every child’s safety and wellbeing is maintained.
What is the ratio of children to staff?
In NSW, the educator to child ratio is 1:15. This ratio means that for every 15 children that are present, there must be one educator on supervision. However, at SCECS, we have a minimum of 2 staff regardless of whether there are less than 15 children present.
Do you provide breakfast and afternoon tea?
Yes, we provide a range of nutritional, healthy foods for breakfast and afternoon tea. We are guided by the Eat Smart Play Smart (ESPS) manual. Each session, we offer a mix of various in-season fruit and vegetables, wholemeal breads, and cereals, heart-healthy lean protein and low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese. We are an allergy aware service.
What daily routine and types of activities can our children expect?
We work with children and families to develop a new and exciting program each week to ensure that children’s specific interests are captured, making their time at SCECS as fun as possible. SCECS takes a child-centred approach to programming, and provides a mix of educational, play and leisure based programs. We encourage families to provide feedback and suggestions. Additionally, educators also conduct spontaneous activities based on the direction of the children throughout the session.
Do you provide homework support?
Yes, we understand that time at home is precious and to support our families, we set up a well-resourced quiet space and allow time in our afternoon routine for homework. We work together in partnership with the parents to support your child’s homework needs.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I send my child to long day care and preschool?
Educators and psychologists are in agreeance that the single most important period in a child’s development occurs from birth to age six. Evidence shows that participating in a high quality early education program delivers lasting health and educational outcomes preparing children for school and beyond.
What is the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)?
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes the principles, practices and outcomes essential to young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. It’s part of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. The framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development.Learn more on the ACECQA website
Are nappies provided for babies and toddlers?
Yes, nappies are included for 0-2 year olds. Children of other ages requiring nappies and who are not toilet training, should bring them along to the service.
Do the children receive meals?
SCECS provides breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack (when required).We provide for a qualified onsite Chef catering for each child and providing fresh, nutritious and healthy meals. Meal time is a special time for children and staff to come together and enjoy a diverse range of cuisines.
What are the operating hours?
Our services operate from 7:00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, 50 weeks a year. We’re not open on weekends or public holidays.
Can I join the waitlist if my baby hasn't been born yet?
Yes you can join the waitlist. We will require your baby’s surname and for their first name, write ‘baby’. We also require an estimated date of birth. Once your child is born, please contact us to update your details.
Can you cater for my child's disability?
At SCECS we are an inclusive environment who provides for children with additional needs and is available to every child. For specific advice on how we could best accommodate your child/ren, you should speak with the Director at the SCECS service you are interested in.
When do you start toilet training?
Toilet training usually occurs between ages of 18 months – 3 years. We work in partnership with families to encourage and implement toilet training when you feel your child is ready, based on their individual stage of development and need.
Will my child move rooms when they have a birthday?
Transitions into an older room are based on developmental readiness and availability.
What documents do I need to supply to show my child’s immunisation status?
The following are acceptable to prove immunisation:
- AIR Immunisation History Statement – those that are fully immunised for their age
- AIR Immunisation Medical Exemption Form – those that have a medical reason not to be vaccinated, or
- AIR Immunisation History Form – those that are on a recognised catch-up schedule
No other documents will be accepted and the enrolment cannot be confirmed without one of these.
My child is not immunised - can they be enrolled?
SCECS requires children to be fully up-to-date with their immunisations, or be on a catch up schedule, or have a medical exemption to be enrolled into care. Documentation supporting the child’s immunisation position, must be provided at the time of enrolment. Children who are not vaccinated will not receive the Child Care Subsidy and are not eligible for enrolment.
What qualifications do SCECS OSHC staff have?
All staff employed by SCECS must have a Working With Children Check (WWCC), and our Coordinator holds First Aid in Education and Care Setting, Child Protection and a Diploma of Children’s Services (or is working towards completion). SCECS actively encourages all educators to undertake first aid courses, and offers other professional development opportunities, including traineeships.
Our Locations
77 Queen Street, Auburn, NSW 2144
389 Port Hacking Road South,
Caringbah, NSW 2229
389 Port Hacking Road South, Caringbah, NSW 2229
135B Brook Street, Coogee, NSW 2034
1A Kimberley Grove, Rosebery, NSW 2018
96 Cartwright Avenue, Sadleir, NSW 2168