Local preschool long day care & childcare options for children in Northern and North West Sydney

Childcare: Long Day Care (LDC) Centres

Long Day Care centres are open long hours - usually 10 to 12 per day from Monday to Friday which allows flexibility to drop off and pick up children later - often from 7am up to 6.30pm.

Children are grouped in areas according to age with a maximun 8:1 ratio for children 2-3 years old category and 10:1 for 3-6 year olds.

Costs are higher than family day care, often being around $60-$70 per day in this area for the 2-5 age group. Government subsidies may be available depending on your circumstances. Check your eligibility with the Family Assistance Office or read the section below on childcare benefit.

Carers may be varied with staff turnover and shifts being worked and so several staff members will be caring for your child. These factors are variable and you may want to discuss this with the LDC centre.

All centres have to be licensed by DoCS. LDC centres may apply for accreditation by NCAC - check on the website or with the centre themselves if they are accredited.

Local Long Day Care Centres can be found in the My Local Guide Business Directory. Information on Council-run childcare centres is available from the erspective Councils' Children's Services departments (phone numbers below). Or you may use the search facilities of the NCAC or Care For Kids websites :

Hills Shire Council Ph: 9843 0193

Blacktown Council Ph: 9839 6000

Parramatta Council Ph: 9806 5050

NCAC Childcare Services - search

Care For Kids - search.

Child Care Benefit

The Family Assistance Office is able to advise you as to whether you qualify for childcare benefit. Generally all approved care is eligible as are registered carers, but the amount of child care benefit varies. Use the Family Assistance Office website or call 13 61 50 for further information.

Basically, children in approved care will be eligible for benefits up to 24 hours per week, or up to 50 depending on the work/study eligibility test and may be eligible for maximum benefits depending on your circumstances. The Childcare access hotline 1800 670 305 can give you contact details for approved childcare in the area.

Using registered care automatically makes you eligible for only the minimum childcare benefit. Approved care is generally all family day care and long day care childcare centres, whereas registered care is generally nannies, grandparents, relatives & friends who are registered as carers with the Family Assistance Office.

Refer to the Government funding section for further information.

Childcare: Long Day Care (LDC) Centres

Child Care Benefit