Information for parents.

This page collects the practical things families ask before enrolling. For policy detail (sun safety, behaviour guidance, sleep and rest, privacy) please see the centre policies.

What ages we cater for

Normanhurst Child Care Centre is a long day care for children 6 weeks to 6 years, across 3 age-grouped rooms: Possum (babies, 6 weeks to 2 years), Koala (toddlers, 2 to 3 years) and Emu (preschoolers, 3 to 6 years).

Hours

Open 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 50 weeks a year. We close for the standard public holidays and a short break over Christmas/New Year.

Fees and Child Care Subsidy

We are Child Care Subsidy approved. The amount your family receives depends on combined family income and is paid directly to us by Services Australia, reducing your weekly fee. From January 2026, the new 3 Day Guarantee means most eligible families get at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight regardless of activity. Use the Services Australia CCS estimator to check your eligibility, or call us on 02 9487 5455 and we'll walk you through it.

What's included

The daily fee covers everything: 5 meals cooked on site by Dianne our centre cook, the education program, sunscreen, a bucket hat, bedlinen, and disposable nappies and baby formula for Possum and Koala. There are no extras on top.

What to bring

A labelled backpack with a spare set of clothes (including socks and underwear), a labelled water bottle, and any comfort item that helps your child settle. Babies in the Possum Room: we provide nappies, bottles and standard infant formula. Only bring your own if your baby uses a specific brand of nappies, formula or bottles, or drinks expressed milk. We provide all meals, sun hats and bedlinen, so there is no need to pack food.

Settling in

Some children settle in days, others over weeks. Our educators are very experienced at supporting children through separation. Always say goodbye at drop-off; slipping out unseen leads to mistrust and more distress for your child. We will message you on the OWNA app once your child has settled, which usually happens within minutes of a quiet hand-over.

Toilet learning

Children in the Possum Room are in nappies and we change them with care. Toilet learning happens in the Koala Room, on each child's own timeline, in close conversation with you. There is no pressure to be ready by a particular date.

Rest time

The Possum Room runs on each baby's own routine, not a group one. In the Koala and Emu rooms, rest time is offered after lunch: children who need a sleep can have one on a comfortable bed; children who don't are offered quiet activities like books and drawing. The goal is a calm middle of the day, not enforced sleep.

Sickness and exclusion

Please keep your child home if they have a temperature, need pain-relief or cough medicine, have a coloured discharge from their eyes or nose, are vomiting, have diarrhoea, an unexplained rash, or are generally unwell. After a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, children should be symptom-free for 24 hours (48 hours for vomiting and diarrhoea) before returning. We follow current NSW Health exclusion guidance.

Food and allergies

Every meal is cooked on site by Dianne, our centre cook. The 4-week menu rotates through children's favourites and is approved by Munch & Move. We cater for allergies, intolerances and vegetarian diets directly in the kitchen, with dietary needs managed through the centre's meal routine. The centre is nut-aware.

Changing days or withdrawing

Family circumstances change. We ask for 4 weeks' written notice for any change to permanent days or for withdrawal, which lets us plan thoughtfully for your child's transition and for the group around them.

Need to know more?

The fastest way to get specific answers is to call the centre on 02 9487 5455 or book a tour at the bottom of this page.