Parent information

Unsure what to expect when enrolling in childcare? Our parent playbook has the helpful information you need to guide your family through the process and answer any questions.

At SNS, we pride ourselves on investing time in our people and centre, so all children get the best education and support. We care for children from six weeks old to school-aged in an environment where your child can feel at home. Learn what to pack for the first day, childcare costs, Government subsidies you may be entitled to, safety and security procedures, and more.

Download Parent Handbook

FAQs

Why is early years education important?

The early years are fundamental to a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development. It’s when they absorb and mimic everything around them, making it a vital time to give them the tools to flourish.

Your child learns to interact with people and their surroundings through early education. They’ll develop school-readiness skills and routines that enable them to settle into new environments comfortably. We support your child with quality programs that specifically target these early years and give them the best start to life.

What is play-based learning?

Play-based learning fosters a child’s natural curiosity to learn. The framework teaches them to learn through play and leisure, providing the best vehicle for stimulating brain development and teaching them a strong sense of identity.

With play-based learning, your child develops:

A love for learning
Effective communication skills
Connections with their world
Confidence and involvement with their learning

Our staff are trained to watch your child’s progress and understand their needs. We actively observe and adjust activities to capture their unique ideas and intentions. This valuable information allows us to form a customised play-based learning experience.

Is there a difference between childcare and early learning educators?

Child care is about providing care that meets the basic early learning needs of children. Child care services include day care and after school supervision and focus on the safety and nurturing of your child.

Early education goes beyond simple care by supporting your child’s development and encouraging them to be active learners.

What’s included at SNS Childcare Centres?

Our childcare and early learning services include the following:

Nutritious home-cooked food prepared according to the Get up and Grow program
Healthy snacks and drinks
Engaging and entertaining programs
Quality learning resources aligned with the National Quality Framework
Regular updates via our all-in-one online portal
Sunscreen and hand sanitiser
Events, cultural celebrations, special guests and new experiences such as farm animals at the centre, fire brigade visits and more
Open door policy so you can be involved in your child’s development and learning experience at any time

If your child has unique needs, dietary requirements or is living with a disability, please let us know so our staff can cater accordingly.

Why SNS Childcare?

Finding the perfect child care and early learning centre is challenging. There is a lot to consider, from location and price, to the safety of your child, educators and carers, learning programs and the general feel of the centre.

SNS understands the benefits of creating a positive early childhood experience. We go beyond care and education by building strong relationships between families, children and educators.

We know the importance of long-term staff who are approachable and dependable. Most importantly, staff who are qualified. Our educators have a current Working with Children check and either a Certificate III or Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Learn more about why we’re the right fit for you.

How much is day care in Australia?

Knowing how much childcare and preschool costs is a big factor for parents. Contact our centres to learn about our complete fee structure and discounts on offer.

How much childcare subsidy do I get?

The Federal Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) makes premium early education and care more affordable for families.

If you’re entitled, you can choose how to use your subsidy payment to optimise the hours that best suit you and your family’s needs.

Calculate your childcare subsidy.

Is there a waitlist to enrol?

What infection control methods do you have?

Your child’s health is important to us and we have various methods in place for infection control in childcare.

Some strategies we use are:

Immunisation of children and staff
Safe work practices for high-risk activities including nappy changing, toilet training, food preparation and handling bodily fluids
Good hand hygiene including frequent washing and sanitising
Record keeping of symptoms for unwell children – if your child is sick, our staff will immediately notify you
Staff training for infection control policies and procedures
Exclusion of sick staff and/or children
Regular cleaning of toys, play equipment and facilities
Supervised interaction with other children and animals
Frequent disinfecting
Cough and sneeze etiquette ie: reminding children to use tissues, dispose of them immediately and wash hands afterwards
Use of safe cleaning and disinfecting products