Early Childhood Education & Care Network
CITY OF PARRAMATTA Early Childhood Education & Care Network
230 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network
Early childhood is a vital stage of development
When affordable, quality Society as a whole also benefits. Investing in children’s early childcare is available to Research shows that with access years leads to increased social families, parents and children to quality care and education, mobility, improved lifetime wages, benefit. If we provide the right parents and their children are improved university graduation developmental supports to more productive and earn more, rates, reduced income inequality children in their early years, we which boosts the economy. and improved health and can expect children to thrive in wellbeing. school and throughout their lives.
Defining our Early Childhood Education & Care services
The following Early Childhood Early childhood programs are Out of school hours care (OSHC) Education and Care (ECEC) services provided by a qualified educator. are services that provide care for are included in this analysis. These school children aged up to 12 years Preschool includes services that services are considered formal child old before school, after school, deliver early childhood education care (that is regulated care) away during school holidays and on programs provided by a qualified from the child’s home. pupil free days. OSHC may use educator that are aimed at stand-alone facilities, share school Long day care (LDC) are centre- children in the year or two prior to buildings and grounds or share based education and care services commencing school, although there facilities such as community halls. providing full-time or part-time care are different starting ages across for children during working hours. jurisdictions. Long day care primarily provides services for children aged 0-6 years.
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ECEC NETWORK
Current What is provided Situation now?
1 5 6
Long Day Preschool OSHC Care
105 21 51
KEY: Council owned and operated Council owned & other agency operated Other agency owned & operated
City of Parramatta Council The wait list for these services ECEC services in City of (Council) currently plays a small is over 1,200. Council also owns Parramatta are also provided but important role in provision of 6 community buildings that are through the not-for-profit sector early childhood education and leased to not for profit long and the private market. There are care (ECEC) services. Council day care or preschool services, approximately: owns and manages 5 long day providing a total of 235 places • 116 long day care services care services that have the along with OSHC catering for • 5,500 places capacity for 219 places. 60 places. • 21 preschools • 645 places • 52 OSHC • 4,100 places.
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2018 City of Parramatta ECEC Network
North Rocks Child Care Centre
Northmead Early Learning Centre
Catchment 3 Catchment 2 Catchment 1 Ermington Possum Patch Early Learning Centre
Catchment Dundas 4 Catchment Early Learning 5 Centre
Jubilee Park Early Leaning Centre Catchment 6
City of Parramatta Council has a critical role to play as a provider of ECEC services.
Council’s ECEC network: • Addresses service gaps and • Demonstrates best practice • Supports vulnerable children market failure, particularly and service excellence, for and families, and children with in relation to places for 0-2 other services to learn from special needs, to develop, build year olds and children with and follow. resilience and thrive. additional needs.
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Council’s Early Childhood Education and Care Network
CATCHMENT 1 Size & Capacity & Facility Name Strengths Weaknesses Type Age Range Northmead Early Approx. • 45 places • Amenity and setting • Car park access 2 Learning Centre 600m • 0 to 6 • Building condition • At capacity years Long • Funding allocated for Arthur Phillip Park Day Care upgrades 2A Redbank Road, • Access to frequent public Northmead 2124 transport
CATCHMENT 2 Size & Capacity & Facility Name Strengths Weaknesses Type Age Range North Rocks Child Approx. • 53 places • Amenity and park setting • At capacity with a 2 significant waiting list Care Centre 600m • 0 to 6 years • Large carpark • Internal configuration Long • Play space recently Cnr Farnell Ave Day Care upgraded • Structural issues & Balaka Drive, • Lack of storage Carlingford, 2118
CATCHMENT 4 Size & Capacity & Facility Name Strengths Weaknesses Type Age Range Jubilee Park Early Approx. • 42 places • Access to frequent public • At capacity with a 2 transport significant waiting list Learning Centre 450m • 0 to 6 years • Close to Parramatta CBD • Playground needs an Long Jubilee Lane upgrade Day Care • Amenity and park setting (off Marion St), • Limited pram storage • Outdoor play area Harris Park 2150
CATCHMENT 5
Size & Capacity & Facility Name Strengths Weaknesses Type Age Range Ermington Possum Approx. • 40 places • Amenity and setting • At capacity with a waiting list 2 Patch Early 400m • 0 to 6 years • Connection with • Playground needs upgrading primary school Learning Centre Long • Car park location (rear of Day Care • Recent upgrade building) 12 Bartlett Street, • Access to public • Limited public transport Ermington 2115 transport
Dundas Early Approx • 39 places • Recently renewed • Smaller centre 2 facility and playground Learning Centre 500m • 0 to 6 years • Significant waiting list Long • Poor public transport 79 Calder Close, Day Care Rydalmere 2116 • Car park access
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In addition to Council owned and operated services, Council has seven community buildings that are leased to not for profit or private for profit childcare providers that operate long day care, OSHC and preschool services
CATCHMENT 1
Service Type Leased By Capacity & Age Range
KU Wentworthville Preschool Preschool • KU Children’s Servicess • 25 places per day • 4 to 5 years 26 Water Street, Wentworthville
CATCHMENT 2
Service Type Leased By Capacity & Age Range
Carlingford West Kindergarten Preschool • Carlingford West • 24 places per day Kindergarten Inc. • 3 to 5 years Cnr Llyods Avenue and Boundary Street, Carlingford
North Rocks Preschool Preschool • North Rocks Pre-School • 56 places per day • 3 to 5 years 358z North Rocks Road, Carlingford
North Rocks After School Out of Hours • Not-for-Profit • 60 places per day Activity Centre Inc. School Care Community Based Centre North Rocks Road, Carlingford
CATCHMENT 3
Service Type Leased By Capacity & Age Range
West Epping Preschool Preschool • West Epping Pre-School • 40 places per day • 3 to 5 years 15 Ward Street, Epping
KU Isobel Pulsford Preschool Preschool • KU Children’s Services • 30 places per day • 3 to 5 years 46-48 Bridge Street, Epping
Mindchamps Early Learning Long Day Care • Mindchamps Early • 60 places per day Learning @ Eastwood • 6 weeks to 5 years
679 Blaxland Road, Eastwood
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Rates of Provison
City of Parramatta: 2016 LDC and OSHC provision against benchmark 9,291 (+3,791)
5,500 5,330 4,100 (+1,230)
Total places 2016 Provision required based on benchmark for 2016 resident and worker population KEY: LDC places OSHC places *Benchmark based on Elton's 'Parramatta Community Facilities Audit and Needs Study Report 2017' commissioned by City of Parramatta
The current provision of early childhood education Analysis shows that there is very limited access to and care LDC and OSHC services available to the long day care for communities living in Catchment general public in City of Parramatta does not meet 2 (Carlingford, North Rocks, Dundas, Dundas Valley demand. In 2016, there were 17,670 children aged 0 – & Telopea) and Catchment 6 (Sydney Olympic Park, 4 years and 16,400 children aged 5 – 11 years. There Wentworth Point, Lidcombe/Carter Street, Silverwater were 162,360 workers in City of Parramatta in 2016. and Newington) and for OSHC in Catchment 1 (Winston Hills, Toongabbie, Westmead, Northmead, Benchmarking indicates that at least 9,290 LDC Old Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville & places and 5,330 OSHC places are required to meet Constitution Hill). the needs of City of Parramatta’s current resident and worker population.
Childcare benchmarks
Demand for ECEC is calculated A study commissioned by Council Some methodologies also factor based on the number of young calculates this at: in numbers of workers in an area, children living in an area, the for which an accepted industry • 1 LDC place for every percentage of children using rate is 1 LDC place per 75 workers. 2.48 children aged early education and care, and 0 – 4 years For more information on the the number of days that children application of benchmarks and attend care. • 1 OSHC place for every their strengths, weaknesses and 2.70 children aged considerations, refer to the ‘Table 5 – 11 years of Benchmarks’ pp. 58-59 236 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network
City of Parramatta by Catchment: 2016 gap in provision of LDC and OSHC Places
827
468 458 363 270 330 208 220 119 Catchment 106 Three
Catchment Catchment Catchment Catchment Catchment One Two Four Five Six -258 -257 KEY: LDC places OSHC places
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Quality of ECEC Services
2017 National Quality Standard Ratings: City of Parramatta Services compared to City of Parramatta Council Services
22% 33% 40%
National National Quality Standard Quality Standard rating for ECEC rating for Council Services in City owned & operated of Parramatta ECEC services
44% 60%
KEY: Moving Towards Meeting Exceeding
The quality of a building used ECECs are rated against 7 In City of Parramatta LGA, for ECEC services and the areas that represent important just under a quarter of all LDC programs that are run from outcomes for children and are services are rated as “Exceeding” them significantly influences the given an overall rating that the NQS, delivering a high quality learning outcomes and wellbeing identifies their quality. The service. 44% are “Meeting” the of the children attending. highest rating that can be NQS while a third of LDC services achieved is ‘Excellent’, followed in the City are rated as “Working In Australia, there is a National by ‘Exceeding’, ‘Meeting’, ‘Working Towards” the NQS, delivering a Quality Standard (NQS) that sets Towards’ and finally ‘Significant lower quality service. Beecroft, a high national benchmark for improvement required’. North Parramatta, Parramatta, education and care services. Rosehill, Wentworthville, Westmead, and Winston Hills all have high proportions of lower quality long day care services.
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How well positioned is our current ECEC Network?
There is a shortfall in the number Council-owned and operated Outside of Council-owned and of places provided to meet the long day care centres are highly operated ECEC services, Council needs of the current population valued services, evidenced recognise that many of the not- of residents and workers. This by ratings of “Exceeding” the for-profit and private providers shortfall will be exacerbated by National Quality Standards, high operating LDC across the LGA forecast growth, particularly in customer satisfaction ratings are high quality services rated the high growth areas. and very long wait lists. They are as ‘Meeting’ or ‘Exceeding’ the viewed as trusted services within National Quality standards. our community and providers of However, we also know that quality learning opportunities for one-third of services in the LGA children. are not meeting the National Quality Standards.
The strengths of our Early Despite some strengths, the Childhood Education & Care network of buildings that form Services include: Council’s Early Childhood
• Council provides quality care throughout the Education & Care Services LGA, including access to care for vulnerable has weaknesses: families and children. • Some of Council’s buildings need upgrades to • Many of Council’s services are located close to improve their capacity, accessibility and quality. public transport and provide good amenity. • There is a shortfall in the number of places provided to meet the needs of the current population of residents and workers, and this will be exacerbated by forecast growth, particularly in the high growth areas.
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Facts at a Glance
In City of Parramatta in 2018, there are:
116 52 21 Long Day Care OSHC Preschools Centres Services
5 7 Council owned & Council buildings operated Long Day leased for Long Day Care Centres Care/Preschools/ OSHC
33% 22% of all services of all services rated rated as ‘working as ‘exceeding’ towards’ standards standards
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Jubilee Park Early Learning Centre
The Jubilee Park Early Learning Centre is a Council owned and operated long day care centre, located on Jubilee Lane in Harris Park. This centre provides 42 long day care places for children between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 years old.
The Centre offers quality care and learning experiences through a variety of educational programs. Daily programs are provided to develop children’s CASE strengths, interests and needs and to respect their cultural STUDY backgrounds. There is currently a wait list of 412 children.
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Emerging Trends What does future best practice City of Parramatta is undergoing look like? transformational change which will have a significant impact on the future of our ECEC network.
In a time of great change in National quality standard. Care in high density how we live and work, as well as neighbourhoods. The National Quality Standard rapid population growth, service (NQS) sets a high national Early childhood education providers face the challenge of benchmark for early childhood and care facilities are being how to best provide quality early education and care and outside developed in high density childhood education and care in school hours care services in commercial and residential accessible locations that meet Australia. The NQS includes 7 buildings. This trend meets the the needs of an increasingly quality areas that are important needs of workers and residents diverse community. outcomes for children, for who require childcare in the Council considers the example educational program Parramatta CBD and surrounding following issues as critical and practice, health and safety neighbourhoods. High-density to the future of our ECEC and the physical environment. urban environments, by their network: Services are assessed and rated nature, often require different by their regulatory authority forms of childcare infrastructure. against the NQS, and given The quality of physical childcare a rating by category and environments in high density overall. Parents and carers are office or residential towers can increasingly savvy and seek out vary greatly. Issues can arise high quality services as their regarding access to outdoor play preference. High quality services space and the programming and value the environment as a ‘third safety implications of splitting of teacher’, are safe for children, a service across different levels of involve children in decision a building. making, have good relationships with children, families and the community and well-trained staff.
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It can be challenging to ensure Co-located facilities. Community expectations that all who are involved in about early learning. Co-located centres or community childcare design, development hubs are increasingly being Community expectations of and delivery understand and developed to meet the needs formal care are changing and value the importance of quality of diverse communities, with a learning programs and school physical environments to support range of services for all ages readiness will be a priority for early learning and development provided at a single location. services. Expectations are for – regardless of whether a higher quality facilities with childcare service is located in Co-locating early childhood spaces that promote learning an office tower or in a separate education and care with and development outcomes. single storey dwelling. infrastructure such as OSHC, Flexible hours of care. libraries and community centres provides suitable spaces to The nature of work and the hours deliver services, programs and people work is changing. There activities to meet the social is an increasing expectation needs of the community and and need from families for build community capacity. It can childcare outside of normal office also increase the convenience hours. While there has been and attractiveness of accessing development in Services that other complementary community provide care for longer hours, and social programs and casual hours and 24 hour care, activities. Further, for operators this is not widespread. Services such as Councils it builds will increasingly need to consider efficiencies. options for flexible childcare service provision.
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Vulnerable families. Hybrid models. Emergence of out of school hours care. With an increased focus and The changes occurring in recognition of the value of childcare regulation related to There is ever increasing demand inclusion within society, there will service space and size will likely for out of school hours care by be a continued need for facilities lead to different forms of early families. Any new public school that cater for vulnerable children childhood education and care is designed in such a way as and children with additional facilities such as hybrid centres to support the operation of needs. Often there is additional with co-located services. These an out of school hours care funds available to assist with facilities could for example be service, through space provision this. The staff requirements to a mixture of Long Day Care usually by way of designing a support these children are usually and OSHC to meet the needs flexible school hall or teaching higher and as a result the private of families who have children of rooms that can be adapted for market does not tend to meet different ages. These facilities OSHC use, not by supplying this need. Not-for-profit and require indoor and outdoor areas specific space for an OSHC Council run facilities are well which will encourage learning service. Recently we have seen known for their role in supporting and development for all ages. the emergence of more private vulnerable children and their OSHC services that operate Larger services. families. continuing these service close by, but off site, to a school, types is critical to ensure that all Up until 2012 the largest picking up children from school children within our community permitted long day care centre and transporting them to the can grow, learn and be included. in NSW was 90 places, with 30 service. Council has noticed places for babies under 2 years increased enquires from potential old, but this is no longer the private providers regarding case. Larger centres are being access to community facilities developed. Most experts agree that would be appropriate to that for the best outcomes for support an OSHC service. children and families services should be no more than 90 places and preferably smaller. Currently the largest long day care service operated by Council is 53 places. Increasingly the tension between generating greater supply of childcare places, and generating childcare services that promote quality learning outcomes, will need to be managed.
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The Infant’s CASE Home, Ashfield STUDY
The Infant’s Home is an integrated service recognised as delivering international best practice child care along with other children's services.
It integrates early childhood 30% of places are targeted The services provided by the education and care, early for families facing challenging Infant’s Home are accessed by intervention and health services circumstances - for instance, over 2,600 children (from birth for children and families and has families where there is domestic to school age) and their families been operating for 142 years. The violence, substance misuse, from 120 Sydney suburbs each service is located in a medium mental health, homelessness or year. Since the service’s inception density residential area, and living in a refuge, young mothers, in 1874, it has supported more provides long day care services a family member with a disability, than 180,000 children and in addition to family day care, social isolation, or refugee, families an allied health clinic, a GP Aboriginal, and culturally and *(This information and image sourced from ‘Best clinic, an art and play program, linguistically diverse families. Practice Childcare Review’, Cred Consulting (2017) playgroups, parenting groups and http://www.theinfantshome.org.au/) and workshops, and family Image credit: Infants Home support programs.
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ECEC NETWORK
Future What are the gaps and challenges Needs we face?
City of Parramatta: 2036 LDC and OSHC provision against benchmark 14,887 (+9,387) 12,586 (+8,486)
5,500 4,100
Actual 2016 Provision based on benchmark for 2036 population KEY: LDC places OSHC places
Benchmark Analysis
Current provision of early The worker population is Further analysis of 2036 long childhood education and care, expected to reach 208,573 day care provision against Long Day Care and OSHC at 2036. benchmarks by catchment shows services in City of Parramatta more places are needed in each Based on population does not meet demand. catchment, with significantly benchmarking, this more places required in City of Parramatta’s future would justify: catchments 2, 4, & 6. population is estimated to grow • 14,887 long day care places, to almost 466,000 people A similar analysis for OSHC 2,781 for children of workers by 2036, made up of 30,023 places shows demand in and 12,106 for residents aged 0 to 4 year olds and 33,981 every catchment, especially 0 to 4 years. 5 to 11 year olds. Catchments 1, 4, 5 & 6. • 12,586 OSHC Places for residents aged 5 to 11 years. 246 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network
City of Parramatta by Catchment: 2036 gap in provision of Long Day Care and OSHC Places
2,592 2,524
1,615 1,560 1,485 1,318 1,271 1,170 1,103
239 238 -82
Catchment Catchment Catchment Catchment Catchment Catchment One Two Three Four Five Six
KEY: Long Day Care places OSHC places
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City of Parramatta by Suburb: 2036 Benchmark analysis of demand for Long Day Care places
2036 demand 2017 current supply Suburb (based on 2036 gap* (estimate) benchmark) Beecroft 209 60 -149 Camellia 0 452 452 Carlingford 293 798 505 Constitution Hill 40 116 76 Dundas 57 133 76 Dundas Valley 38 154 116 Eastwood 346 112 -234 Epping 440 740 300 Ermington - Melrose Park 300 1,356 1,056 Granville - Clyde 126 619 493 Harris Park 117 188 71 Newington 0 156 156 North Parramatta 321 550 229 North Rocks 73 253 180 Northmead 155 419 264 Oatlands 98 112 14 Old Toongabbie 87 66 -21 Parramatta 802 2,150 1,348 Rosehill 242 158 -84 Rydalmere 160 273 113 Silverwater 0 81 81 Sydney Olympic Park 130 833 703 Telopea 39 434 395 Toongabbie 312 228 -84 Wentworth Point 0 544 544 Wentworthville - Pendle Hill 503 164 -339 Westmead 193 574 381 Winston Hills 419 382 -37
*A negative number indicates a forecast oversupply
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City of Parramatta by Suburb: 2036 Benchmark analysis of demand for Out of School Hours Care places.
2036 demand 2017 current supply Suburb (based on 2036 gap* (estimate) benchmark) Beecroft 215 112 -103 Camellia 0 179 179 Carlingford 484 1,302 818 Constitution Hill 0 160 160 Dundas 75 183 108 Dundas Valley 100 209 109 Eastwood 225 126 -99 Epping 510 951 441 Ermington - Melrose Park 100 1,525 1,425 Granville - Clyde 0 487 487 Harris Park 65 167 102 Newington 25 144 119 North Parramatta 340 527 187 North Rocks 329 361 32 Northmead 160 479 314 Oatlands 45 214 169 Old Toongabbie 0 103 103 Parramatta 372 1,849 1,477 Rosehill 150 141 -9 Rydalmere 120 310 190 Silverwater 0 94 94 Sydney Olympic Park 0 486 486 Telopea 0 494 494 Toongabbie 190 281 91 Wentworth Point 0 403 403 Wentworthville - Pendle Hill 165 204 39 Westmead 180 527 347 Winston Hills 250 514 264
*A negative number indicates a forecast oversupply
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What Our Community Has Told Us…
Between August – October 2017, the draft Community Infrastructure Strategy was on public exhibition
This period of engagement Through this consultation Our community would allowed Council to better process, we heard that: like to see: understand the needs and Our community values: • More ECEC facilities expectations of our community throughout the LGA. and we were able to use this • The significant role that ECEC information to strengthen the facilities play in our community • ECEC facilities that are draft Strategy. as a trusted and valued located in the suburbs and resource. neigbourhood settings close by to parks, to deliver access • The importance of considering to natural open space for social and developmental children. needs of children, especially for those growing up in urban • ECEC facilities that are best- environments. practice. • Council-operated ECEC • More OSHC services to be facilities are highly valued located close to Council run because of their more childcare facilities to assist manageable fees and the view working families who are that Council facilities provide a caring for children of different “…Council’s ECEC high quality of service. ages. facilities provide a service and education that day cares simply don’t”
- Resident, public submission “…ECEC’s are a good connector for services and supports for our families.”
- Resident, public submission
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East Sydney Early CASE Learning Centre STUDY
The East Sydney Early Learning Centre is the result of a partnership between City of Sydney and Goodstart Early Learning.
This centre demonstrates good The centre provides 60 childcare *Information and image sourced from ‘Best practice in the provision of high places with five age-based Practice Childcare Review’, Cred Consulting (2017) https://www.goodstart.org.au/Centres/East- quality child care in high density playrooms across three levels. Sydney#tab areas, making the best use of the The centre also includes a available land. safe haven for evacuation Image credit: The Good Start which means that educators The centre is an adaptive re- and children can group before use of a 1920s warehouse, with evacuation from the top floor of an outdoor play area as well the three storey building. as indoor simulated outdoor space. While simulated outdoor Priority access is provided space should be avoided where for children with additional possible, this centre demonstrates needs, children from Aboriginal high quality outcomes with and Torres Strait Islander natural light and ventilation. backgrounds and children who Mature trees were maintained in speak a language at home other the outdoor space. than English.
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Strategic Challenges We Face Together
As the resident and worker population of City of Parramatta continues to grow, the early childhood education and care network will also need to grow, with new Council services as well as high quality private and not-for-profit services available to meet the increasing demand.
Council can provide services that We will need to plan and How can we support fill market gaps, demonstrate use our resources to find Q. the provision of early quality, and provide access for solutions to the following childhood education and care vulnerable families. There is also critical strategic challenges: places for 0 to 2 year olds and a role for Council in advocating for vulnerable children and their How can we expand the for increased provision of quality families, which are costlier and early childhood education private and not-for-profit Q. therefore not always adequately and care network in City of services, in the right places to provided by the private market? Parramatta to meet the needs meet the community’s needs. of a larger residential population How do we encourage in 2036, as well as demand Q. high quality early generated from the many education and care in urban workers who will be employed in renewal and high growth areas, the LGA? in particular in high density buildings where access to ‘real’ How can we encourage open space can be more difficult services that deliver Q. to realise and procedures for high-quality care, and address evacuation and safety are very the unique needs of local different to procedures for stand communities in terms of cultural alone services? diversity, socio-economics, vulnerable families and operating hours?
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Lady Gowrie Child Centre Docklands, Melbourne
CASE Long Day Care STUDY
The Lady Gowrie Child Centre service is located in Docklands, Melbourne and provides services to 150 children between the ages of birth to 6 years old.
The Centre is renowned for the The outdoor area is enclosed, The Centre achieved their fact it is built in a high density so equipment does not have “Excellent” rating in part because area above a shopping centre to be packed into sheds. of relationships the Centre but has a fully landscaped Children can access whatever has made with organisations external garden with mature resources they want, when they in their local community that trees. It has been rated as want it, and ongoing play and help children to learn in a “Excellent” as per the National experimentation by the children number of innovative settings. Quality Standards and meets can be maintained. The service Their ‘community connections international best practice operation at this facility is high excursion program’ supports provision standards of 3,500m2. quality and child centred. educators to organise many excursions throughout Docklands The centre is a role model and the CBD. Easy access via for outdoor play provision in the lifts means that the centre is inner city areas. It provides connected to the community and real outdoor play space (not accessible to all. simulated outdoor space) with real trees, gardens and dirt *Information and image sourced from ‘Best on top of a supermarket. Practice Childcare Review’, Cred Consulting (2017) and https://www.williamsboag.com.au/docklands- early-learning (Photography: Andrew Lloyd)
Image credit: William Boag Architects Lady Gowrie
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ECEC NETWORK Future Directions
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Strategic Directions
To meet the needs of City of Parramatta’s growing and increasingly diverse community, Council will seek to facilitate adequate ECEC facilities in the right locations in each catchment area to enable access to quality services and programming.
It is appropriate for Council to City of Parramatta Council Out of School Hours Care take the following roles in regard will focus on the following • Advocate with the NSW to provision of ECEC services in strategic directions: Department of Education City of Parramatta: Long Day Care (DOE) for provision of Direct Service Provider adequate floor space for • Continue to operate current OSHC services to operate • Long Day Care – Where there Council-owned and operated onsite in schools, especially for is an identified need, or risk early childhood education and any new school or significant of limited or no services to care, long day care centres, school site re-development in support vulnerable families and and seek to make a moderate City of Parramatta. children with additional needs, expansion of between three or in locations where places for and five new centres in major • Negotiate with developers and 0-2 year olds are determined high growth areas. government for the delivery to be lacking of adequate floor space to • Seek to deliver any significantly support quality OSHC services • Out of School Hours Care – upgraded or new Council within high growth areas. Where there is identified unmet owned long day care as part need and where a business of a Children and Families or • This includes investigation of case supports a financially Community Services Hub. the potential to deliver in the viable position order of 5 Council run OSHC • Negotiate with developers and as part of any significantly Advocate for quality services government for the delivery upgraded or new Council of high quality long day care • Council will seek to advocate owned long day care, or as centres within high growth and facilitate more quality part of any new Children and areas that are a mix of private early childhood education and Families or Community Service and not-for-profit owned and care services in the City of Hub. operated. Parramatta to reach a target • Investigate the potential for a of 15,200 Long Day Care OSHC service where there is places and 8,100 OSHC places an identified unmet need and in the next 20 years. where a business case supports a financially viable position.
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City of Parramatta ECEC Network: 20 YEAR PROVISION TARGETS
Through collaboration, partnerships and the resources of many, we seek to achieve the following targets for our community:
City of Parramatta Council ECEC Services:
LDC Services OSHC Services
5 0 Current supply Current supply 9 5 Future supply based on population growth Future supply based on population growth
City of Parramatta LGA ECEC Places:
LDC Places OSHC Places
5,500 4,100 Current supply Current supply 14,887 12,586 Future supply based on population growth Future supply based on population growth
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Key Recommendations
CATCHMENT 1 Name / Suburb Recommendation
Northmead Early Learning Undertake minor upgrades to the playground, carpark and Centre flooring Arthur Phillip Park, 2A Redbank Road, Northmead 2124
Westmead Advocate for delivery of LDC centres to provide at least 381 places by 2036 within Westmead (with additional places for workers), with a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated centres
CATCHMENT 2
Name / Suburb Recommendation
North Rocks Child Care Centre Undertake a major upgrade of the external structure of the building and the internal layout of the facility. Cnr Farnell Ave & Balaka Drive, Carlingford, 2118 Undertake upgrades to the playground, carpark and flooring
CATCHMENT 3
Name / Suburb Recommendation
Telopea Deliver a new Council owned and managed long day care centre of approximately 60 to 80 places with capacity for 45 OSHC places, as part of a Children and Families Hub
Advocate for delivery of LDC centres within Telopea to provide at least 395 new places by 2036 (with additional places for workers) with a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated centres
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Catchment Catchment 2 3 Catchment 1
Catchment Catchment CATCHMENT 4 4 5 Name / Suburb Recommendation Catchment Jubilee Park Child Care Centre Develop a new Children and Families’ 6 community hub on the site, and expand centre Jubilee Lane (off Marion St), capacity to approximately 80 childcare places Harris Park 2150
Parramatta CBD Advocate for provision of OSHC on proposed new school sites in the CBD
Advocate for delivery of LDC centres to provide at least 1,457 new places by 2036 (with additional places for workers) that are a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated
North Parramatta Advocate for delivery of LDC centres to provide for at least 230 new places by 2036 (with additional places for workers) within and nearby North Parramatta, that are a mix of private and not-for- profit owned and operated
Camellia Through the Priority Precinct planning process with NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), deliver a new Council owned and managed Child and Youth hub of approximately 5,000m2 (subject to further design consideration). Ideally, this hub would be co-located with the school and park and include:
• One 85 place LDC centre • One large OSHC centre to support approximately 100 students (space can be integrated with, and an extension of the LDC centre) Through the Priority Precinct planning process with NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE),
• Advocate for the delivery of LDC centres within Camellia that provide a quality service, are a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated, and can cater for 452 places by 2036, with additional places for workers • Advocate for provision of an OSHC on the proposed school site
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CATCHMENT 5
Name / Suburb Recommendation
Ermington Possum Patch Child Undertake a moderate upgrade to the layout of the internal spaces Care Centre to include a staff office / programing room
12 Bartlett Street, Ermington 2115 Undertake upgrades to the playground, fencing and internal flooring
Dundas Child Care Centre Undertake minor upgrades including new flooring
79 Calder Close, Rydalmere 2116
Rydalmere, Ermington, Deliver a new Council owned and operated LDC centre of Melrose Park Corridor approximately 60-80 places, ideally as part of a Community Hub or connected with school sites
Advocate for delivery of LDC centres to provide at least 1,169 new places by 2036 (with additional places for workers) within Rydalmere, Ermington and Melrose Park that are a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated
260 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network
CATCHMENT 6
Name / Suburb Recommendation
Carter Street Advocate for delivery of LDC centres to provide at least 160 new places by 2036 (with additional places for workers) within and nearby the site that are a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated
Through the precinct planning process with NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), advocate for provision of an OSHC on the proposed school site
Sydney Olympic Park Continue to advocate and engage with Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) in planning and delivery of the proposed early childhood education and care facilities as part of Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan 2030, to meet community needs. The community will need OSHC services and at least 703 new LDC places by 2036, with additional places for workers
Wentworth Point Through ongoing planning processes, consider options for a Council-owned and managed LDC and OSHC service, ideally as part of a Child and Families’ Hub, within Wentworth Point
Advocate for delivery of LDC centres to provide at least 544 new places by 2036 (with additional places for workers) within and nearby the site that are a mix of private and not-for-profit owned and operated
Community Infrastructure Strategy 2019 261 Early Childhood Education & Care Network
Criteria to Guide Decision Making for New Early Childhood Education and Care Facilities
The following criteria complement and are to be used in conjunction with City of Parramatta’s stated principles for community infrastructure planning found on page 61-63.
Council will use them to guide decision making and discussion with stakeholders and partners about new early childhood education and care facility opportunities.
For all Align with the strategic directions for the ECEC network? scenarios, will the additional Contribute to meeting residents’ and workers’ needs in the catchment areas? Early Be financially viable and give consideration to ongoing staffing, operational Education and maintenance costs? and Care Facility: Be sustainable in design and operations, as demonstrated through a sustainability assessment and minimise environmental impact?
Allow for the provision of free flowing outdoor space and indoor space to allow for ease of access for children?
Be located within a community hub or town centre?
Be located within close proximity to regular public transport services?
Be located to ensure visibility within the site?
Be physically accessible and employ universal design principles?
Include staff meal rooms, office/programming rooms and accessible toilets?
Meet or exceed the National Quality Standard requirements for physical space for early education care services?
Not be located above the fifth floor of a high rise building, for fire safety reasons?
Unless unavoidable, not be located over two levels, especially in the case of services in high rise buildings?
262 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network
For More Information:
This Community Infrastructure Strategy draws on • “Sharing the Opportunities of Growth for All – the knowledge and experience of many staff from Socially Sustainable Parramatta Framework” across Council who have a passion for enabling socially sustainable communities. Together with • City of Parramatta Council’s Website: feedback from our community, and our key www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au stakeholders, this document has been a shared • City of Parramatta Customer Contact Centre: effort. 9806 5050
For further information on City of Parramatta’s • For access to demographic data log onto: Early Childhood Education and Care Network, or http://profile.id.com.au/parramatta Council’s key strategic directions, the following resources are available:
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