1. Purpose

• Community Preschool: Focuses on education for children aged 3–5 years, preparing them for school through play-based learning in a nurturing environment.

• Long Day Care: Provides all-day care for children from birth to 5 years, blending care and education to support working families.

2. Hours

• Community Preschool: Runs during school terms and hours, such as 9 am to 3 pm.

• Long Day Care: Offers extended hours, typically from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, providing flexibility for families.

3. Fees

• Community Preschool: With Start Strong funding, families can access up to 2 days of preschool at Valley Preschool at no cost for children aged 3–5 years. Additional days are available at low fees, making preschool an affordable option for families.

• Long Day Care: Fees are generally higher, but families can apply for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to help reduce costs.

4. Community Focus

• Community Preschool: As a not-for-profit, Valley Preschool invests in creating a strong sense of community and belonging, with families actively involved in their child’s learning journey.

• Long Day Care: While still community-oriented, long day care centers cater to a broader range of family needs and schedules.

Valley Preschool is open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday to Thursday, during the school term. Our schedule aligns with school terms, offering a consistent routine for children and families.

Yes, of course! We encourage families to visit and experience Valley Preschool before enrolling. You can call or email us to arrange a time, or simply fill out the enquiry form on our website. We believe it’s so important to visit, meet our wonderful staff, and explore our beautiful environment to see if we’re the right fit for your family. We look forward to welcoming you!

At Valley Preschool, we are deeply committed to providing high-quality education, care, and supervision for every child. Our educator-to-child ratio follows the 1:10 requirement, and we make every effort to remain above this wherever possible. Maintaining higher staffing levels allows us to offer more attentive support, build strong relationships, and create a calm, nurturing environment where each child can feel safe, valued, and supported in their learning.

Start Strong is a NSW Government initiative that provides funding to support children aged 3 and over to access quality preschool education. It offers up to 600 hours of subsidised preschool, which works out to 2 days per week over 4 terms (10 weeks each).

At Valley Preschool, families can choose to allocate their Start Strong funding to us. If you do, your child can attend 2 days per week of subsidised care.

If your Start Strong funding is allocated to another service, our daily fees will apply:

• $50 per day for equity-eligible children

• $55 per day for non-equity children

Please note that there may be a need for fee increases during the year depending on varying factors.