Where the top rated child care and kindergartens in NSW are located
From holding daily taekwondo lessons to having regular visits from a scientist, Inspire Carlingford in North Rocks has shown why it sets the benchmark in NSW. It’s one of just 15 childcare centres to be given the top rating by government inspectors. SEE THE FULL LIST.
Manly
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Only 15 out of nearly 5,200 childcare centres in NSW have been awarded the top rating from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.
The centres have all received a rating of excellent.
To achieve that rating a centre or out of school hours service must be classified as “exceeding the national quality standards” across the seven different categories and then apply to be granted the top rating.
A further 1,353 centres exceeding the National Quality Standard (NQS) and 2724 are meeting standards.
However, 1,111 are not up to scratch.
Five of those have received the worst rating which requires them to make ‘significant improvement’.
Inspire Carlingford in North Rocks is an after school service based at Muirfield High School and has received the top rating.
Sophie May, director of 12 Inspire centres, said they had received the “excellent” rating for innovation at Carlingford.
At the afterschool care, they offer students daily taekwondo lessons, a homework club and extra curricular activities such as cooking, art, drama and dance.
They even have a scientist who comes into the centre to do experiments.
Ms May said the set up works well for both children and parents, with the afternoon split between taekwondo, homework and inspiring activities.
“We have a taekwondo program that runs everyday that means kids can get their black belt by the time they leave primary school,” she said.
“It gives them a sense of achievement.
“We also have a homework club.
“As a mother I know homework can cause world war 3.
“It’s good to get it done before they go home.
“It means when parents pick up their children at 6pm it’s family time.”
The third element they offer is inspiring activities including visits from a scientist who sets up experiments, arts and crafts, drama, dance and cooking.
“School is dictated by the curriculum,” Ms May said.
“We try to give children experiences beyond the classroom.”
Parent Jacqueline Cheong, of Carlingford, has two children Oliver, 11, and Juliette, 9, at the after school centre.
“Being able to do taekwondo after school is a really big benefit,” she said.
“It’s good to know they are being active.
“It also saves running around trying to get them to classes myself which would be difficult in the week.”
She said she was also grateful for homework club and said the set up worked well for the family.
“The children love it,” she said.
CENTRES RATED EXCELLENT IN NSW:
Singleton Heights Pre School, Singleton
John Brotchie Nursery School, Botany
Warrawee Care Centre, Warrawee
Learning Link’s Pre-School, Peakhurst
Victoria Avenue Children’s Centre, Concord West
Bermagui Preschool, Bermagui
Uniting Frederick Street Preschool, Rockdale
Uniting Preschool Grafton, Grafton
KU Lance Children’s Centre, Millers Point
Tigger’s Honeypot, Randwick
Waratah Cottage Early Learning Centre, Claymore
Inspire Carlingford, North Rocks
Globe Wilkins Preschool, Petersham
Lansvale Public School Preschool, Canley Vale
Awabakal Preschool, Wickham