Our Centre is a 48 place Long Day Care Centre/Preschool that provides a Preschool program.  We cater for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years of age and we operate from 7.00am to 6.00pm daily, Monday to Friday, approximately 49 weeks per year.

 
The Centre is owned and supported by Holroyd City Council with additional funds from the State Department of Community Services and are a non-profit organisation.  We aim to maintain high quality standards set by the National Quality Framework and we reflect on our practices regularly.
 
We have both qualified and experienced educators.  Our educators use a friendly and professional approach with the families and children who use our service and are very helpful.  Our educators believe in providing good role models for the children within the service and hold current First Aid Certificates and child protection training.

Holroyd City Council is the licensee of this  service and  is operated in accordance with the current Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011.

The Service has a Parents in Partnership group that provides an opportunity for parents, carers and guardians to come together in a  relaxed manner.   Suggestions for training, information and social evenings as well as ideas on service operation, planning purchases, fund raising and general comments are welcome.  Any fundraising events would then be organised by the staff and supported by the parents.

The Service has a waiting list which is managed by the Centre.  To go onto the waiting list you complete the online form on councils website www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au  or alternatively you can contact the centre for a paper copy to be sent out to you.  In accordance with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations priority of access guidelines, we will notify you when a position becomes available.

Our centre Philosophy is our foundation for inspiration to quality programming for children and families.

All children are unique individuals who are respected equally regardless of their gender, abilities, culture or religious beliefs.

We value and respect each child’s role in supporting and guiding their own individual learning and developmental journey.

Families are welcomed into a warm atmosphere, where they are encouraged to participate in the life of the centre and feel a sense of belonging. Through active communication and involvement, families are encouraged to develop mutual respect and participate in support networks.

The community plays a central and valuable role in the high quality care and the program we offer to our families and children through the support and inclusion of various services and their involvement.

The children are provided with opportunities to explore, discover and learn in a stimulating and safe environment.

The centre environment reflects a home like atmosphere, where children are provided with predictable and flexible routines which nurture each child’s individuality.

Our fees as of 4 July 2011 are:

• $75.00 per day
• $375 per week
  

Fees must be paid by the due date on the statement, keeping fees 2 weeks in advance at all times. If fee payment becomes overdue, then your child/ren's position within the service will be cancelled and referred to debt recovery.  Please Note: The only method of payment is BPay.

 

Enrolment fees: $35 per enrolment
Enrolment fees are payable to each of Council's Services.  The enrolment procedure must be completed when a child transfers from service to service therefore the fee is payable each time. Please note, the fee is not an annual charge if a child remains at the same service.  Enrolment fees are applicable on a per child basis and are non-refundable; they are paid to cover the cost of administration when enrolling.

 

Holding Fees:

Holding fees are applicable to secure your child/ren's position.  Two weeks fees or $50 (whatever is the greater) is payable as a holding deposit for care the following year.  This deposit can only be refunded if notice in writing is given to withdraw two weeks prior to the close of business at the end of each year and the position can be filled.  Existing parents have the fee credited to their current account.

 

Failure to Notify Fees:

Families should notify the service if their child is not attending but there is no failure to notify fee charged. Normal daily fees apply when the child/ren is absent - if absenteeism is over the allowable amount, full fees apply and Child Care Benefit (CCB) is not available.

We believe that open and honest communication is of extreme importance for the whole team - families, staff and children.  It is important that we share relevant information with each other, keeping each other updated on your child's well being. 

 

We do this in various ways - apart from general conversation on your child's arrival and departure, we also do daily meal/rest charts.  We have a nappy, toilet training  and bottle chart for the younger children also.

 

Each child has their own journal used to document their experiences throughout the year.  Journals provide information for reflection, assessment and planning. They enable meaningful and on-going partnerships between parents and caregivers.  Entries are made on a regular basis and families are encouraged to document any experiences about their child.

We program for children’s learning and development based on the approved curriculum, Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).

The Early Years Learning Framework principles are considered throughout our service and program. Educators reflect on their practices and children's learning to facilitate a stimulating environment for the children. The program is child centred and challenges children to become confident and independant learners. The educators offer a range of opporunities to nurture and enhance all areas of a childs development and wellbeing and take time to celebrate their achievements.

Our educators thrives on involvement from families and community members, supporting cultures and the acceptance of diversity. Children’s routines are individualised and flexible, allowing time for learning with programs focusing on the growth of the individual child’s overall wellbeing.

The menu is prepared in accordance with the guidelines set down by the NSW Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community Services by our Cook.
 
The Centre provides nutritious, well-balanced and varied meals and snacks for the children.  The Centre provides breakfast, morning tea, lunch with a second course, afternoon tea and late afternoon tea.  Water is available at all times throughout the day.  Children are offered both water and milk with morning tea and water with all other meals.  Juice is only offered when needed to balance the nutritional intake for a meal.
 
Parents are asked to make the Centre aware of any special dietary or cultural requirements so that we can cater for individual needs.  Menus are displayed outside the kitchen.
 
Parents are requested not to bring food into the Centre due to food allergies and food handling reasons (see Nutrition Policy).
 
If your child requires a bottle, we provide cow and soy milk.  Formula must be brought in already made.  Breast milk to be provided in bottles. 
 

Please use the link above to open our waitlist form or go to www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au to complete the online form

My son Brenton attended Guildford West Children's Centre from the age of 11months until when he went to school. They were and still feel like an extension of our family, the staff all knew Brenton well, they all showed genuine care, love and attention towards him. As a parent I felt total trust in the care that they provided. I knew he felt comfortable there which helped me and the guilt I often experienced as a full time working parent. I wrote this poem on behalf of Brenton as he moved onto 'Big School' about his experience at Guildford West Children's Centre, it is on a shelf with his photo at the centre. Kim Cooke

 

Remembering .. Brenton...

 

I started as a Teddy - my mummy was there with me,

She would peek through the windows, to watch you care for me,

 

I then became a Monkey in the true sense of the word (as you know),

I would run and jump and make a noise, yet you let me grow,

 

I matured into a Sea Creature and had special friends I just adored,

You all enriched my life so much and never left me bored,

Mummy couldn't watch me then or peek on through the door,

She told me I was safe with you and  would be loved for sure,

 

You nurtured my spirit, which at times was quite intense,

And you always made me feel unique, with such tolerance,

 

I'm growing into a little man and moving to big school,

My  mum and dad are very proud and think that I'm quite cool,

 

So when you see this photo and the twinkle in my eyes,

Remember a little of my mischief and more of my gentle side,

 

Thankyou for being so caring from the bottom of your hearts,

I will always remember the love you showed, right from the very start,

 

And thankyou for being so dependable for me to blossom and grow,

I'll be sure to tell my brother, the bestest place to go!

 

love and hugs

 Brenton Cooke

2006

 xxooo

 

I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to Guildford West Children's Centre (GWCC). My children, all three of them attended this centre. My youngest is still there and is in the pres-school age. I have been at this centre for approximately six years and both my children and I are very happy with the services. The staff are absolutely fantastic and so caring towards the children, as if the children were there own. I would highly recommend this centre to my friends and family.

 

This will be my son's final year at the centre and I would have to say, they will be missed. Well done GWCC you have built a great reputation and have definitely played an important role in my children's pre-school education. Thank you so much. Tanya Maroun