NSW child care centres, KindiCare ratings revealed for 2024

The top rated and underperforming childcare centres across NSW have been revealed. Search and see the list and watch our exclusive videos.

NSW is home to half of the country’s highest rated top 10 childcare centres, but has a far lower proportion of services in the ‘outstanding’ category than Victoria.

The results from the KindiCare Quality Index, which rated 17,680 childcare services across Australia, are based on the results of previous and current government official inspections, as well as online reviews.

Out of 5979 childcare services in the state, 3.6 per cent – or 216 – were rated ‘outstanding’, but six per cent – 359 – could not be rated, mainly because they had not had an official inspection yet.

Almost six in 10 received a ‘very good’, ‘excellent’ or ‘outstanding’ classification, while 9 per cent – or 544 – were rated ‘fair’.

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk said centres with a rating of ‘fair’ typically provided early learning services that were well below the national average.

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Two of the lowest rated centres in the state are no longer registered with Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), responsible for setting standards.

St Joseph’s Outside School Hours Care in Coraki was the fifth lowest ranked centre in the state.

Principal Brendan Moloney, did not want to comment on the KindiCare ratings, but said the service is working hard at improving its ACECQA ratings.

The area of Coraki was hit by floods in 2022.

“If you know anything about the area you would know the circumstances that we’ve come through,” Mr Moloney said.

“Extensively impacted by floods and so forth … so that’s been challenging. We’re doing the best we can to reach those standards.”

The Daily Telegraph contacted the lowest five ranked performers, but did not receive comment from the other four.

Belrose Childcare Centre is the state’s highest ranked childcare centre, according to KindiCare. Educator, Cathy Chiddy with Eddi and Madelene Photo credit: Karen Watson, Northern Beaches Council

NSW produced some of the highest ranked centres, including Belrose Community and Children’s Centre on the Northern Beaches, rated third highest in Australia.

It received an ‘outstanding’ KindiCare Rating of 9.9, and has had two consecutive Excellent ratings from ACECQA.

Here, preschoolers work on their emotional intelligence through the gender-neutral Kimochi ‘feelings’ program, designed to teach children how to manage their own feelings, as well as understand the emotions of others.

Kids also attend a committee, called Meeting of the Minds, to have a voice on how the service is run, such as helping to pick which playground equipment to purchase.

Rochelle Clancy, Manager of Northern Beaches Council Early Learning Centres said the children were asked to participate in a study of all-ability swings at local parks, and trialled a number of them.

“The children then discussed the different swings at the Meeting of the Minds, before deciding on which swing they thought would be best used as an all-ability swing,” Ms Clancy said.

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk said centres with a rating of ‘fair’ typically provided early learning services that were well below the national average. Picture: Supplied

Mr Balk, who runs a childcare comparison app, said subscribers to his platform are treated equally with all other services in the KindiCare Quality Index and do not receive any boost, as part of the rating process.

“The KindiCare Rating is based on publicly available information including previous and current assessment and ratings under the national quality framework from ACECQA as well as reviews provided by families on KindiCare direct as well as Google reviews,” Mr Balk said.

He added that the average inspection rate is every two years and 11 months. The KindiCare rating degrades after three years, rewarding those that have regular inspections.

Services can request an inspection, although they may have to wait, especially in remote or rural areas.

He said the aim of the list is to help parents make an informed choice about child care and “to recognise the outstanding services across the country that go the extra mile every day to look after our youngest children”.

He said with the cost of living crisis and childcare fees costing some parents as much as their mortgage, choosing the right centre was more important to parents than ever.

HIGHEST RANKED

Belrose Community & Children’s Centre, on the Northern Beaches is the highest rated centre in NSW.

Belrose Community & Children’s Centre, BELROSE

Goodstart Early Learning West Pymble, PYMBLE

Cooks Hill Pre-School, COOKS HILL

Tillys Play and Development Centre - Greta, GRETA

Guardian Childcare & Education Blackwall, WOY WOY

I Steam Ahead, BROOKVALE

Punchbowl Public School Preschool, PUNCHBOWL

Goodstart Early Learning Moree, MOREE

Goodstart Early Learning Quakers Hill, QUAKERS HILL

Goodstart Early Learning Taree, TAREE

LOWEST RANKED

Kids Fun Club Clovelly, CLOVELLY

Jilly’s Early Childhood Development and Educational Centre Pty Ltd, ROSSMORE

Great Western Family Day Care, GREENDALE

Terrific Tots, HAMLYN TERRACE

St Joseph’s Outside School Hours Care, CORAKI

KINDICARE RATINGS EXPLAINED

Outstanding

Scored 9.5 and above, and in the top 3 per cent nationally.

Excel in environment, culture, educators and curriculum.

Excellent

Score 9-9.5. Very high quality education and care.

Consistent high feedback. Only 11.5 per cent of services achieve this category.

Very good

Score 8.5-9. Very good parent feedback. 97 per cent of services meet or exceed the national quality standard.

Good

Score 7.5-8.5. Typically meet national quality standards in all or most areas.

Fair

Score 5-7.5. Services often have limited or poor reviews from families. Sometimes a

new centre’s first review.

Poor

Score 5 and below. Limited or poor family reviews.

Not Rated

Operating less than three years and have yet to be formally assessed.

Source: KindiCare

Originally published as NSW child care centres, KindiCare ratings revealed for 2024