Blacktown childcare: One third of centres fall short of national standards
Up to 80 childcare service providers in the Blacktown region have fallen short of the national standard, latest data has revealed. SEE HOW YOUR CHILDCARE CENTRE RATES HERE.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Decaying asbestos found in dozens of Blacktown schools | Full list here
- Construction to begin on ‘world-first’ Grace’s Place in Doonside
More than a third of childcare centres in the Blacktown region have fallen short of national standards, according to the latest data.
A recent report from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) shows up to 80 childcare service providers in the Blacktown Local Government Area are “working towards” the standard in one or more categories, ranging from education, to health and safety and staffing.
According to the authority, services are assessed by their state regulatory authority and rated against the seven categories that fall under the national quality standard.
Of the 210 services with the Blacktown LGA, 74 were rated as “exceeding” the standard, while 56 were meeting the national quality standard.
The data includes all children’s care services including preschools, day care centres, before and after school care centres.
The Department of Education, which is the NSW authority charged with inspecting the centres, said that preschools which had been classified as “working towards” were still safe.
“A centre awarded the ‘working towards’ rating is a safe education and care program with one or more minor areas for improvement,” a spokesman said.
“Centres that are lacking in certain quality areas are more frequently inspected that other centres. The department will continue to work alongside the service to ensure improvement in relevant areas is achieved.”
Noah’s Ark Preschool in Quakers Hill achieved a high rating, exceeding the national standard, and director Carinne Wood said it was concerning to see many other centres prioritising profits.
“If (the services) are privately run, they’re usually running them for money and to make a profit,” Ms Wood said.
“If you’re there to make money, it’s the quality that suffers.”
Ms Wood said a high staff ratio and above standard staffing qualifications were key to her centre’s performance.
She said it was concerning to see other centres still working to meet the national standard.
“It frustrates me — they don’t seem to care, they don’t get closed down, they just keep functioning and they’re not really improving,” she said.
“That’s what the whole system was about, quality improvement.”
Australian Childcare Alliance vice-president Nesha Hutchinson said excessive paperwork was one of the reasons many centres found it hard to stay compliant.
“There is a significant burden on services in terms of red tape and paperwork and bureaucracy,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Top-rated providers (A-Z)
All Areas Family Day Care Minchinbury, Cuvee Pl, Meeting NQS
Alpha St Preschool Blacktown, Alpha St, Meeting NQS
Aurora Early Learning Centre Blacktown, Flushcombe Rd, Exceeding NQS
Balmoral St Preschool & Occasional Care Blacktown, Balmoral St, Exceeding NQS
Best Early Learning Centre Seven Hills, First Ave, Exceeding NQS
Bidwill Public School Preschool Bidwill, Bunya Rd, Exceeding NQS
Blacktown Anglican Child Care Centre Blacktown, Richmond Rd, Exceeding NQS
Blacktown Road Children’s Centre Blacktown, Blacktown Rd, Meeting NQS
Bounty Early Learning Centre Seven Hills, Fuller St, Meeting NQS
Bright Beginnings Learning Centre Glendenning Pty Ltd, Ainsley Ave, Meeting NQS
Camp Australia Lynwood Park Public School OSHC Blacktown, Turner Rd, Meeting NQS
Camp Australia Rooty Hill Public School OSHC Rooty Hill, Westminster St, Meeting NQS
Catholic Early Learning Centre Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, Blacktown, Orwell St, Exceeding NQS
Catholic Early Learning Centre St John XXIII Parish Stanhope Gardens, Perfection Ave, Exceeding NQS
Catholic Out of School Hours Care John XXIII Primary Stanhope Gardens, Perfection Ave, Exceeding NQS
Catholic Out of School Hours Care Mary Immaculate Quakers Hill, Barnier Dr, Exceeding NQS
Catholic Out of School Hours Care St Andrew’s Marayong, Breakfast Rd, Meeting NQS
Catholic Out of School Hours Care St Francis of Assisi Glendenning, Stone St, Meeting NQS
Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centre Blacktown, Kent St, Exceeding NQS
Country Life Child Care Centre Schofields, Durham Rd, Meeting NQS
Creative Garden Early Learning Kellyville Ridge, Conrad Rd, Meeting NQS
Cubbyhouse at Kings Langley, Kings Langley, Isaac Smith Pde, Meeting NQS
Dawson Public School Preschool Dharruk, Stuart Rd, Exceeding NQS
Doonside Public School Wingarra Preschool Doonside, Kildare St, Exceeding NQS
Eastern Creek Public School Preschool Eastern Creek, Rooty Hill Rd South, Meeting NQS
Exploring Hub Early Learning Centre Blacktown, Russell St, Meeting NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Blacktown, Allawah St, Exceeding NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Glenwood, Forman Ave, Exceeding NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Glenwood, Glenwood Park Dr, Meeting NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Hassall Grove, Monica Ave, Exceeding NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Kellyville Ridge, Armour Ave, Meeting NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Oakhurst, Florence St, Meeting NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Plumpton, Rooty Hill Rd North, Exceeding NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Quakers Hill, Bali Drive, Exceeding NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Seven Hills, Best Rd, Exceeding NQS
Goodstart Early Learning Woodcroft, Lakewood Dr, Exceeding NQS
Grace Village Early Learning Huntingwood, Huntingwood Dr, Meeting NQS
Great Beginnings Marsden Park, Hollinsworth Dr, Meeting NQS
Grow Early Learning Centre Blacktown, Irelands Rd, Meeting NQS
Happy Days Kindergarten Blacktown, Julie St, Exceeding NQS
Happy Hours Pre-School Kindergarten Seven Hills, Harwood St, Meeting NQS
Helping Hands Bert Oldfield Seven Hills, Oldfield Rd, Exceeding NQS
Holy Family Children’s Centre Long Day Care & Preschool, Quakers Rd, Meeting NQS
Honey Tots Preschool & Long Day Care Marayong, Harrow St, Meeting NQS
Hopskotch Kindergarten Schofields, Pelican Rd, Exceeding NQS
Hunny Pots Early Learning Centre Glenwood, Currawong St, Meeting NQS
It’s A Small World Childcare Centre Seven Hills, Williamson Ave, Meeting NQS
Jelly Fish Child Care Centre Quakers Hill, Maslin Cr, Meeting NQS
Jigsaw OOSH Vardys’s Road Pty Ltd Kings Langley, Vardys Rd, Meeting NQS
Jump Start 4 Kids Blacktown, Harold St, Exceeding NQS
Kellyville Ridge Preschool & Long Day Care, Kilby St, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Doonside North, Hillend Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Glendenning, Golding Dr, Exceeding NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Hassall Grove, Melanie St, Exceeding NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Kings Langley South, Vardys Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Kings Park, Cobham St, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Minchinbury, Minchin Dr, Exceeding NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Prospect East, Myrtle St, Exceeding NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Quakers Hill, Lalor Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Quakers Hill Before & After School Care, Farnham Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Quakers Hill North, Goddard Crescent and Farnham Road, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Rooty Hill, Rooty Hill Rd North, Exceeding NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Vacation Care Glendenning, Golding Dr, Meeting NQS
Kids Early Learning Family Daycare Seven Hills, Seven Hills Rd South, Exceeding NQS
Kids Early Learning Kings Langley North, James Cook Dr, Exceeding NQS
Kids Early Learning Lalor Park, Parkside Dr, Meeting NQS
Kids Early Learning Marayong, Falmouth Rd, Exceeding NQS
Kids Early Learning Prospect West, Cannon St, Meeting NQS
Kids Early Learning Riverstone, Market St, Meeting NQS
Kids Early Learning Seven Hills East, Meeting NQS
Kids Early Learning Willmot, Discovery Ave, Meeting NQS
Kids Learning Academy Plumpton, Hyatts Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids World Kindy Child Care Centre Quakers Hill, Farnham Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Blackett, Boldrewood Rd, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Dean Park, Yarramundi Dr, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Doonside South, Astral Dr, Meeting NQS
Kids’ Early Learning Kings Langley East, Hawke Ln, Meeting NQS
Kidzspot Early Learning Centre Glendenning, Ornella Ave, Meeting NQS
Kindalin Early Childhood Learning Centre Kellyville Ridge, Conrad Rd, Exceeding NQS
Kindi World Childcare & Education Centre Blacktown, Mcculloch Rd, Meeting NQS
KU Hebersham Preschool Hebersham, Howard Pl, Exceeding NQS
Lalor Park Early Learning Centre Lalor Park, Melba St, Meeting NQS
Lalor Park Preschool Kindergarten Lalor Park, Parkside Dr, Meeting NQS
Lalor Park Public School Preschool Lalor Park, Heffron Rd, Exceeding NQS
Learning Blocks Child Care Centre Quakers Hill, Lalor Rd, Meeting NQS
Learning Blocks Child Care Centre Quakers Hill, Sherridon Cres, Exceeding NQS
Legend Corp. Early Childhood Service Seven Hills, Distribution Pl, Meeting NQS
Lethbridge Park Public School Preschool, Copeland Road, Meeting NQS
Lourdes Out of School Hours Care Inc Seven Hills, Grantham Rd, Meeting NQS
Madang Ave Public School Preschool Whalan, Mimika Ave, Exceeding NQS
Marayong Preschool Kindergarten Marayong, Railway Rd, Meeting NQS
Marayong Public School Preschool Blacktown, Davis Rd, Exceeding NQS
Mary Street Early Learning Centre Blacktown, Mary St, Exceeding NQS
Milestones Early Learning Kellyville Ridge, Merriville Rd, Meeting NQS
Minchinbury Preschool & Nursery Minchinbury, Minchin Dr, Meeting NQS
MindChamps Early Learning @ Ropes Crossing, Ropes Crossing, Hollows Pde, Meeting NQS
Montessori Early Learning Centre Quakers Hill, Lalor Rd, Meeting NQS
Mt Druitt Church of Christ Childcare Centre Mt Druitt, Calala St & Carlisle Ave, Meeting NQS
Mt Druitt Hospital Child Care Centre, Mt Druitt, Luxford Rd, Meeting NQS
Mt Druitt Public School Preschool Mt Druitt, Belmore Ave, Exceeding NQS
Ngallu Wal Aboriginal Child & Family Centre Doonside, Kildare Rd, Exceeding NQS
Noah’s Ark Preschool and Casual Care Centre Quakers Hill, Highfield Rd, Exceeding NQS
Northwest Community Childcare @ Richard Johnson Marsden Park, Clifton Rd & Corcoran St, Meeting NQS
Northwest Community Childcare @ Riverbank The Ponds, Wentworth Ave, Meeting NQS
Northwest Community Childcare Quakers Hill, Barnier Rd, Meeting NQS
Northwest Community Childcare The Ponds, The Ponds Blvd, Meeting NQS
Oz Kindy Pty Ltd Marayong, Quakers Rd, Meeting NQS
Playdays Preschool & Long Day Care Centre Acacia Gardens, Rosa St, Exceeding NQS
Plumpton Long Day Care & Preschool Plumpton, Bottles Rd, Meeting NQS
Ready 2 Learn Schofields, Alex Ave, Exceeding NQS
Ready 2 Learn Woodcroft, Lakewood Dr, Exceeding NQS
Riverstone Public School Preschool Riverstone, Elizabeth St, Meeting NQS
Rose of Sharon Child Care & Pre School Blacktown, Stephen St, Meeting NQS
SDN Beranga Autism Specific Preschool Rooty Hill, Harrington St, Exceeding NQS
Seven Hills West Public School Preschool Seven Hills, Lucas Rd & Sackville St, Exceeding NQS
Smoosh Blacktown, McClean St, Meeting NQS
St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre Huntingwood, Huntingwood Dr, Exceeding NQS
The Berry Patch Preschool Kellyville Ridge, Keirle Rd, Exceeding NQS
The Hills Little Learners Child Care Centre Seven Hills, Pioneer St, Meeting NQS
The Ponds Early Learning Centre The Ponds, Ridgeline Dr, Exceeding NQS
Tyndale Before & After School Care Blacktown, Douglas Rd, Exceeding NQS
Tyndale Early Learning Centre Blacktown, Douglas Rd, Exceeding NQS
Uniting Grantham Heights Early Learning Seven Hills, Cnr Nipigon Road & Winnipeg Street, Exceeding NQS
Wesley Out of School Hours Care Quakers Hill, Medlow Dr & Quakers Rd, Meeting NQS
Wesley Out of School Hours Care Riverstone, Elizabeth St, Exceeding NQS
Wesley Out of School Hours Care Seven Hills West, Sackville St & Lucas Rd, Exceeding NQS
Western Sydney University Early Learning Quakers Hill, Eastern Rd, Exceeding NQS
Wiggles and Giggles Quakers Hill Childcare Centre, Lalor Rd, Meeting NQS
WSI Kids Mt Druitt, North Parade & Mount Street, Meeting NQS
Yawarra Community & Child Care Centre Bidwill, Bidwill Sq, Exceeding NQS