How to choose a childcare centre
What to look at on a tour, which questions reveal the most, and the answers that should give you pause.
Resources
Help for the decisions parents have to make
Choosing care, settling in, getting ready for school. The things we get asked about most, gathered in one place.
Guides
Start with these
Settling your child into care
Orientation visits, the first goodbye and what a normal settling-in period actually looks like.
Is my child ready for school?
What school teachers actually look for, and how to support it in the year before school.
Understanding fees and subsidy
CCS explained, the 3 Day Guarantee, and what's included in a Beach Kids daily fee.
Official sources
Where to check the facts yourself
Services Australia. Child Care Subsidy: eligibility, rates and how to claim.
ACECQA: the National Quality Framework and public quality ratings for every approved service in Australia.
Starting Blocks: independent government guidance on choosing and starting child care.
Australian Government immunisation information: requirements relevant to enrolment.
Family wellbeing
Trusted support when your family needs it
These services provide support and information. For an immediate emergency, call 000.
Lifeline: crisis support on 13 11 14.
Parent Line NSW: support for parents and carers on 1300 1300 52.
PANDA: perinatal mental health support on 1300 726 306.
Kids Helpline: support for young people and families on 1800 55 1800.
13YARN: crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on 13 92 76.
1800RESPECT: domestic, family and sexual violence support on 1800 737 732.
Local
Growing up on the Tweed Coast
Nature play doesn't need a program. Rock pools at low tide, the estuary boardwalk, the headland walk and the dune tracks are all free, and all within a few minutes of both campuses.
Our best advice: go slowly, let your child stop where they want to stop, and resist the urge to name everything for them.
Book a tour
The best way to know is to walk through the door
Tours run during the day so you can see the classrooms as they really are, busy, calm, noisy, happy. Bring your child. Ask us anything.
