Your Questions Answered

choosing the right care

When choosing the right care for your child, there are a lot of questions to ask and the whole process can seem quite overwhelming.

Our Centres understand the importance of meaningful relationships with families and providing a place for their children to grow in a safe and caring environment in which they can have a sense of belonging.

Below we have answered some frequently asked questions and by clicking HERE you can download a leaflet designed to help families know what to expect on their first day of care.

What is your Centres rating with Education and Early Childhood Services & Registration Board?

Our Northgate Centre has recently been assessed and we have been awarded an overall rating of "Meeting" .

Our Greenwith Centre is currently being reassessed.

Are your centre's part of a large chain?

No, Northgate and Greenwith Early Learning Centres are South Australian family owned and operated.

How long has the centre been open for?

Our Greenwith Early Learning Centre has been open for over 23 years and Northgate Early Learning Centre was opened in 2003.

What are your operating hours?

Both our Centres are open Monday to Friday 6.30am-6.30pm, except public holidays.

Do I need to make an appointment to visit your centre?

No, just come to the Centre's front desk between 8.30am-11.00am or 2.00pm-4.00pm Monday to Friday and the Director or Assistant Director will give you a guided tour and answer your questions.

How early do I need to book my child into your centre?

It is advisable to make your enquiries as soon as you are aware you are going to need care, even if baby is not yet born. We will put your name on a waiting list and we advise you to liaise with our office staff on a regular basis regarding dates and days required with what is available. The waiting lists can be quite extensive, however most families eventually have their requirements fulfilled.

Are your Centres approved for CCS?

Yes, we are approved for all Government Child Care Entitlements. Please contact Centrelink on 136 150 for further specific information.

What age groups do you provide care for?

We can provide care for children from 6 weeks to school age.

Do you provide meals and are you a nut free centre?

Yes, we provide breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with a monthly menu in advance (sample menu found in our services section of the website).
Our Centre is a Nut Aware centre, we adopt policies and procedures with a view to ensure that we are a nut free zone.

Do you Provide Nappies?

Yes in our baby rooms we provide both nappies and wipes.

What curriculum do you teach and does it promote school readiness?

Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Learning Framework and we run a full Universal Access Kindergarten program.

Do you participate in the Universal Access Scheme?

Yes we do. Our Kindergarten rooms operate daily between 8.45am to 4.45pm and are run by University trained Teachers.

Do you offer Fee Assistance for families suffering financial hardship?

Yes, we can, provided the circumstance meets Government regulations.

Do you have an 'Open Door' policy?

Yes we do. All parents are welcome to spend time in their child's rooms at any time. Our centre is purpose built with the transparency of large expanses of glass windows which allows easy access to view children at learning and play.

Do you encourage parental involvement?

Yes! We welcome all parents/grandparents/carers contributions.

How does the centre communicate with parents?

We use Audiri, which is an App that you can easily download onto your mobile phone. This allows the centres to be in instant communication with families.

Is your centre multicultural and do you cater for specific cultural requests

Yes we are a multicultural centre and we endeavour to accommodate cultural requests wherever we can.