CITY of PARRAMATTA Early Childhood Education & Care
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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. Community Infrastructure Strategy 2019 231 Early Childhood Education & Care Network 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. 232 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network 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. Community Infrastructure Strategy 2019 233 Early Childhood Education & Care Network 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 234 City of Parramatta Early Childhood Education & Care Network 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 Community Infrastructure Strategy 2019 235 Early Childhood Education & Care Network 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 Community Infrastructure Strategy 2019 237 Early Childhood Education & Care Network Quality of ECEC Services 2017 National