389 Port Hacking Road South, Caringbah, NSW 2229
Our Caringbah childcare centre, Our Lady of Fatima Preschool and Long Day Care, delivers high-quality early education and care programs for children aged six weeks to 6 years.
The centre is located within the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School at
389 Port Hacking Road South, Caringbah NSW 2229, and operates extended long day care hours from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays.
We provide nutritious meals, nappies and wipes, cot sheets, hats and sunscreen for the
convenience of families.
Enquire today to meet our dedicated team of professional educators, learn more about our Caringbah childcare service and see our nursery, toddler and preschool rooms in action!
Hello, I'm Amie, Centre Director and Educational Leader at Our Lady of Fatima Preschool and Long Day Care Centre in Caringbah.
With over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, I am deeply passionate about supporting children in a child-centred, holistic, play-based learning environment that values strong relationships between educators, children, families and the community.
I warmly invite you to join the Our Lady of Fatima Preschool & Long Day Care community. We look forward with excitement to the milestones and discoveries that await!
At Our Lady of Fatima, our approach to early education is inspired by a project-based approach, understanding children and educators as co-constructors in learning. We embrace the 'Hundred Languages' of the child, facilitating their growth and development through
play-based learning, hands-on exploration, children's interest projects, creative arts and more.
Our team of passionate educators is our most valued and important resource. Their knowledge, experience and passion drive our high-quality educational programs. Each educator brings unique practices and passions that aim to inspire and act in the best interest of all children.
We value strong partnerships and communication with families, as these are vital in providing quality care and delivering the best outcomes for children. Through actively engaging parents, families and the community in children's learning and valuing their insights and contributions, we can enhance children's learning experiences.
At Our Lady of Fatima Preschool and Long Day Care, our approach to learning is inspired by a project-based approach, viewing each child as an innately curious and capable learner.
Our learning environments, often referred to as the 'third teacher,' are carefully crafted to spark exploration and creativity while our educators act as facilitators and co-learners.
Driven by the children's own passions and interests, our approach celebrates the diverse ways that children learn and express themselves.
Learning is holistic, focused on children's complete development, integrating their physical, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth.
We believe in collaborative project-based learning, integrating the insights of children, families and educators to create an enriching and responsive educational journey that is tailored to each individual child.
Inside Our Lady of Fatima Preschool and Long Day Care, you will find four vibrant learning spaces with abundant resources, interactive learning displays, and links to children's homes and cultures, to ensure all children feel a strong sense of belonging.
Classrooms are airy and bright, open-plan, and spacious, with designated areas for literacy, art and craft, construction, loose parts play, a home corner, dress ups, a reading nook, sustainability and more.
A wide variety of learning resources are available to the children each day and the activities are regularly rotated to ensure the environment is stimulating and interest-based.
Beyond the classroom, our Caringbah childcare centre offers two dedicated outdoor areas enriched with native plants, two sandpits, a mud kitchen, water play, picnic tables, climbing equipment, double slide, climbing wall, stage and podium, nature walk, soft mats, bikes, construction, exploration tables and a range of sports equipment.
Our outdoor environments are set up daily with engaging activities and resources to foster the development of gross motor skills, encourage exploration, and extend children's interests beyond
the classroom.
Children also participate in daily Munch and Move activities and planned sport to develop fundamental movement skills.
Our Caringbah Nursery Program for children aged six weeks to two years focuses on providing young children with nurturing, responsive and caring relationships that provide the essential foundations for learning and growth.
At the heart of our nursery program lies the belief that babies are competent, curious and eager learners who thrive in learning environments that support movement, curiosity and connection.
Learning activities in our Nursery Room are hands-on and encourage children to explore with all their senses. Through music and movement, storytime, open-ended play, group projects, sensory exploration, and games, our youngest learners gain an understanding of themselves, their world and their place within in.
Each child's journey is unique, and our dedicated educators work in partnership with children and families, to achieve the best outcomes for every child.
Our Caringbah Toddler Program for children aged two to three is thoughtfully designed with a focus on interactive learning experiences that encourage exploration, hands-on learning and self-expression.
Educators attentively listen to and observe the children, using their interests as a springboard for meaningful projects and activities.
Through group learning experiences, open-ended play, discovery and exploration, interest-based projects, art and craft, dramatic play and responsive relationships, toddlers are empowered to communicate, connect and discover the world around them, fostering a deep-rooted love for learning.
Key Learning Areas Include:
Our Caringbah Preschool and School Readiness Program for children aged three to six provides children with dynamic learning experiences that fuel children’s curiosity, sense of wonder, inquiry and problem-solving skills.
Our educators, acting as guides and collaborators, take cues from each child's unique interests, weaving them into engaging projects and activities that nurture both creativity and foundational academic skills.
Through interest-driven exploration, individual and group projects, art, construction and peer interactions, our preschool children are nurtured to become confident, inquisitive and prepared learners who are ready to thrive in Primary School.
Key Learning Areas Include:
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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.
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.
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. There are five learning outcomes defined by the EYLF:
The National Quality Framework (NQF) was the result of an agreement between all Australian governments to work together to provide better educational and developmental outcomes for children. The NQF introduced a new quality standard in 2012 to improve education and care across long daycare, family daycare, preschool/kindergarten, and outside school hours care.The National Quality Standard (NQS) is a key aspect of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and sets a high, national benchmark for early childhood education and care.The NQS brings together the 7 key quality areas that are important to outcomes for children:
Learn more on the ACECQA website.
Yes, SCECS provides nappies for children who are not yet toilet trained.
SCECS provides breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack each day. We employ a qualified onsite cook/chef, catering for each child’s dietary needs 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.
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.
Yes, you can join the waitlist. We will require your baby’s surname and for their first name, you can write ‘baby’. We also require an estimated date of birth. Once your child is born, you are required to contact us and update your details.
Your Wait List Application / position for care will be allocated in line with the Priority of Access guidelines at the service.
We adhere to the Commonwealth Government's Priority of Access guidelines;
Priority 1: a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect
Priority 2: a child of a single parent or parents who satisfy the work/training/study test under Section 14 of the 'A New Tax
System (Family Assistance) Act 1999'
Priority 3: any other child.
Within these main categories, priority should also be given to the following children:
‐ children in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
‐ children in families which include a disabled person
‐ children in families which include an individual whose adjusted taxable income does not exceed the lower income threshold, or who or whose partner is on income
support
‐ children in families from a non‐English speaking background
‐ children in socially isolated families
‐ children of single parents
We recommend placing your child’s name on a waitlist early to ensure that you do not miss out on a place. You should also confirm your requirements as regularly as possible.
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.
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.
Toilet training usually occurs between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. We work in partnership with families to encourage and implement toilet training when you feel that your child is ready, based on their individual stage of development and signs of toileting readiness.
Families are encouraged to pack the following items, labelled with their name:
We suggest dropping your child off prior to 10 am to assist your child’s connection to the service and familiarity with the routine of the day.
We recommend families to visit a minimum of 1 to 3 orientation sessions with your child. This allows your child to get use to the routine, educators and learning environment. It also allows us the time to get to know your child/ren and how best we can support their learning and development prior to formally commencing at the service.
Every child will be different. Some children settle in quickly, while others may take longer. Children who attend 3+ days per week are more likely to settle sooner than children who attend less often. Our caring team of educators will work with you and your child to tailor the enrolment and make the transition smooth.
Submit an online ‘’Waitlist" from the SCECS website. Click here to access our guide to using Storypark Manage. The guide will show you how to enrol and request care.
Once a position becomes available the service will make contact and organise orientation sessions with you and your child.
Yes, each service is licensed to operate with a maximum number of children based on the physical space available to each service.
Unfortunately, we are unable to cater to session swaps due to staffing.
If your booking falls on a public holiday you will be charged for 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.
It is important to notify your service via email or phone 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.
Transitions to older rooms are based on developmental readiness and availability, not just age. Please speak to your service Director if you have any questions.
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.
The following are acceptable to prove immunisation:
No other documents will be accepted and the enrolment cannot be confirmed without one of these.
The following are acceptable to prove immunisation:
No other documents will be accepted and the enrolment cannot be confirmed without one of these.
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 are not entitled to receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and are not eligible for enrolment.
What documents do I need to supply to show my child’s immunisation status?
The following documents are acceptable to provide immunisation:
No other documents will be accepted, and the enrolment cannot be confirmed without one of the above documents.
