Best performing Hills Shire childcare centres and preschools

Not sure which childcare centre or preschool to pick for your child? Here’s a list of the top-performing centres in The Hills. See why they are beating the rest.

All parents want to give their kids the best start possible, but choosing the perfect childcare centre or preschool is never easy.

That’s why The Hills Shire Times has crunched the numbers to find the early learning centres out performing the rest.

This selection of top-performing centres is based on The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority’s National Quality framework, which rates performance based on seven key areas, such as educational programs and physical environment.

A generic shot of kids at a childcare centre.

The good news is there are plenty of top quality centres in The Hills — but they’re not split evenly between suburbs.

Castle Hill and West Pennant Hills lead the pack, with each suburb boasting seven centres exceeding standards.

While there is not one centre exceeding standards in Norwest, Bella Vista, The Gables, Nelson and Annangrove.

Top childcare centres and preschools in The Hills Shire

Director Cara Miceli at Only About Children childcare centre.

Only About Children, Castle Hill

Only About Children is a 90-place childcare centre led by Hills resident Cara Miceli, who has been the director of this centre for 13 years and has more than 26 years of experience in early childhood education.

The centre has two large outdoor play areas, each with its own sandpit and vegetable garden.

“(Our) childcare centre has plenty of space for children to explore, create and lead their own play and learning,” Ms Miceli said.

“(The) playground is also home to resident chickens which the children are encouraged to care for. Our children love to recycle food scraps for our chickens, worms and compost bins.”

Alongside Ms Miceli, the centre is led by a team of qualified educators who focus on delivering a holistic growth curriculum.

“(We go) beyond education to include the social development, health and wellbeing of every child in our care,” Ms Miceli said.

Only About Children has plenty of outdoor space for children to play and grow.

Kellyville Preschool, Kellyville

At Kellyville Preschool, the kids are cared for by a team of educators with a whopping 120 years of collective experience in early childhood education.

Many of the staff at Kellyville Preschool have also been working at this centre for decades — some for almost 30 years.

The current director, Catherine McCredie, said the centre had amazing facilities along with an incredible team of educators.

“We have two rooms of children each day, with 21 children and three staff in each room,” Ms McCredie said.

“We also have an amazing yard with loads of space, natural resources, and gardens for the children to explore.”

There are multiple indoor learning spaces at Kellyville Preschool.

Kellyville Preschool.

Hills Montessori, West Pennant Hills

The motto at Hills Montessori is “help me to do it myself”.

The motto at Hills Montessori, a preschool in West Pennant Hills, is “help me to do it myself”.

The head of school, Kylee Paddy, said she was proud to offer a unique and caring preschool environment in The Hills Shire.

“At Hills Montessori we provide peaceful and aesthetically pleasing indoor and outdoor environments that meet the innate desires and needs of our young children,” Ms Paddy said.

“Our experienced and long serving staff help the children to adapt, explore, learn, and grow and to reach their full potential in a caring and nurturing way.”

According to Ms Paddy, the key aim of Hills Montessori is to instil a lifelong love of learning in young children and to embrace the rich diversity of their community.

Grounds at the Hills Montessori.

Art classes at Hills Montessori.

Full list: Exceeding standards in The Hills Shire

Baulkham Hills

Baulkham Hills Early Learning Centre, 41 Chelsea Ave.

Baulkham Hills Preschool Kindergarten, 5 Torrs Street.

First Grammar, 24 Witonga Crescent.

Whiz Kidz, 49 Jasper Road.

Beaumont Hills

First Steps Learning Academy, 45 The Parkway.

Box Hill

Cool Bananas Childcare and Preschool, 799 Windsor Road.

Castle Hill

Castle Glen Child Care Centre, 22 Gilbert Road.

Castle Hill Montessori Academy, 230 Old Northern Road.

Castle Hill Pre-School Kindergarten, 139A Cecil Ave.

Kindalin Early Childhood Learning Centre, 10 Hudson Ave.

Only About Children, 569 Old Northern Road.

The Hills Community Kindergarten, 43 Roxborough Park Road.

UnitingCare Wesley Preschool Kindergarten, 32-34 Showground Road.

Dural

Fit Kidz, 265 New Line Road.

Fit Kidz, 831 Old Northern Road.

Glenhaven

Kindalin, 1 Glenhaven Road.

Rainbow Haven Kindergarten, 155 Glenhaven Road.

The Children’s Preschool, 76 Glenhaven Road.

Kellyville

Goodstart Early Learning, 67-75 Craigmore Drive.

Kellyville Preschool, 3/5 President Road.

Kiddie Academy, 1A Barry Road.

North Kellyville Pre-School, 59 Withers Road.

Kenthurst

Dooral Kenthurst Early Learning Centre, 174 Kenthurst Road.

Kenthurst preschool Kindergarten, 4A Nelson Street.

The Hills Grammar School Childcare, 43 Kenthurst Road.

Rouse Hill

Guardian Childcare & Education, 87 Adelphi Street.

Guardian Childcare & Education, 4-6 Commercial Road.

West Pennant Hills

Eurambie Park Child Care Centre, 41 Coonara Ave.

Guardian Childcare & Education, 15 Glenhope Road.

Guardian Childcare & Education, 4-6 Leigh Place.

Hills Montessori Pre-School, 10 Taylor Street.

Kindaline, 1 Glenhope Road.

West Pennant Hills Childcare Centre, 23 Bellamy Street.

West Pennant Hills Childcare Centre, 25 New Line Road.