Early Learning and Child Care Services Survey 2024
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The consultation has been extended until 24 March 2024.
Council is committed to making Georges River a child friendly LGA that creates engaged citizens of the future. To meet this commitment and ensure the current and future needs of the community are supported, Council is engaging the community to:
better understand community needs, preferences, and trends in children's services,
ensure consistency in the quality-of-service delivery across the LGA, and
promote best practice to the wider community and the early learning services industry to enhance Georges River's profile as a child friendly LGA.
Tell us what you think!
We would appreciate your participation in this study by completing this short survey by 24 March 2024.
You can do this by:
Completing the survey online here, or using the form at the bottom of the page, or
If you are returning a hard copy submission, please quote SF24/694 Public Submissions - Early Learning and Child Care Services Survey 2024at the beginning of your submission and return:
Georges River Council's Community Strategic Plan 2022 - 2032 sets Council's strategic vision for the future of the Local Government Area (LGA) over the next 20-30 years. With recent population growth expected to increase the number of children and young people in the LGA, providing educational facilities that support richness of knowledge and opportunity remains a key priority in meeting Council's strategic objectives.
Existing Children's Services in the Georges River LGA
There are 144 children's service centres in the Georges River LGA. Of these, six are owned by Council.
Ocean Street Kindergarten Located in Kogarah. Enrolling now, children aged 2.5 to 6 years in a unique, community conscious 29 place centre.
Jack High Child Care Centre Located in Beverly Hills offering a spacious, engaging outdoor learning environment connecting children with nature.
Oatley West Early Learning Centre New, purpose-built early learning centre in Oatley West for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years of age.
South Hurstville Kindergarten Preschool offering 2 days per week of funded education during school terms for ages 3 to 5 years.
Penshurst Long Day Care Early Learning Centre recognised for innovative sustainable practices for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years of age.
Carss Park Narani Child Care Centre Early Learning Centre surrounded by parks and community gardens. Enrolling now, 0 to 6 years of age.
A range of services are provided, with some operators delivering multiple service types as summarised below:
141 long day care services
1 preschool service part of a school
3 preschool services (stand-alone)
5 after school care services
5 before school services
Services are generally well distributed across the LGA, with the exception of Lugarno and Blakehurst. Hurstville and Peakhurst have a higher concentration of services which is likely due to these being major population centres.
Access and Inclusion: Supporting Children with Additional Needs
As part of the Early Learning Services Strategy 2021, Council is looking to expand its services with an additional, inclusive centre that supports vulnerable children and children with additional needs. Through early educational programs and play based learning that inspire collaborative learning in diverse languages, personalities or methodologies, Council hopes to enable all children in Georges River to participate in quality early childhood education.
The 2021 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data shows that seven suburbs in the Georges River LGA have higher proportions of children who are vulnerable on one or more of the AEDC domains, when compared with the Australian and NSW averages. State-wide feedback from the 'The Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund – Have Your Say' survey also shows an identified need for increased support for children with disability and children with additional needs through additional educational resources within services as well as training and funding to support staff.
Council is looking to consult with families and the sector to identify whether these state-identified issues are similarly impacting the community and early childhood education and care sector in our LGA.
The consultation has been extended until 24 March 2024.
Council is committed to making Georges River a child friendly LGA that creates engaged citizens of the future. To meet this commitment and ensure the current and future needs of the community are supported, Council is engaging the community to:
better understand community needs, preferences, and trends in children's services,
ensure consistency in the quality-of-service delivery across the LGA, and
promote best practice to the wider community and the early learning services industry to enhance Georges River's profile as a child friendly LGA.
Tell us what you think!
We would appreciate your participation in this study by completing this short survey by 24 March 2024.
You can do this by:
Completing the survey online here, or using the form at the bottom of the page, or
If you are returning a hard copy submission, please quote SF24/694 Public Submissions - Early Learning and Child Care Services Survey 2024at the beginning of your submission and return:
Georges River Council's Community Strategic Plan 2022 - 2032 sets Council's strategic vision for the future of the Local Government Area (LGA) over the next 20-30 years. With recent population growth expected to increase the number of children and young people in the LGA, providing educational facilities that support richness of knowledge and opportunity remains a key priority in meeting Council's strategic objectives.
Existing Children's Services in the Georges River LGA
There are 144 children's service centres in the Georges River LGA. Of these, six are owned by Council.
Ocean Street Kindergarten Located in Kogarah. Enrolling now, children aged 2.5 to 6 years in a unique, community conscious 29 place centre.
Jack High Child Care Centre Located in Beverly Hills offering a spacious, engaging outdoor learning environment connecting children with nature.
Oatley West Early Learning Centre New, purpose-built early learning centre in Oatley West for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years of age.
South Hurstville Kindergarten Preschool offering 2 days per week of funded education during school terms for ages 3 to 5 years.
Penshurst Long Day Care Early Learning Centre recognised for innovative sustainable practices for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years of age.
Carss Park Narani Child Care Centre Early Learning Centre surrounded by parks and community gardens. Enrolling now, 0 to 6 years of age.
A range of services are provided, with some operators delivering multiple service types as summarised below:
141 long day care services
1 preschool service part of a school
3 preschool services (stand-alone)
5 after school care services
5 before school services
Services are generally well distributed across the LGA, with the exception of Lugarno and Blakehurst. Hurstville and Peakhurst have a higher concentration of services which is likely due to these being major population centres.
Access and Inclusion: Supporting Children with Additional Needs
As part of the Early Learning Services Strategy 2021, Council is looking to expand its services with an additional, inclusive centre that supports vulnerable children and children with additional needs. Through early educational programs and play based learning that inspire collaborative learning in diverse languages, personalities or methodologies, Council hopes to enable all children in Georges River to participate in quality early childhood education.
The 2021 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data shows that seven suburbs in the Georges River LGA have higher proportions of children who are vulnerable on one or more of the AEDC domains, when compared with the Australian and NSW averages. State-wide feedback from the 'The Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund – Have Your Say' survey also shows an identified need for increased support for children with disability and children with additional needs through additional educational resources within services as well as training and funding to support staff.
Council is looking to consult with families and the sector to identify whether these state-identified issues are similarly impacting the community and early childhood education and care sector in our LGA.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. Your responses to the survey will help us to better identify community needs, preferences and expectations for early learning services.
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Ocean Street Kindergarten
Jack High Child Care Centre
Oatley West Early Learning Centre
South Hurstville Kindergarten
Penshurst Long Day Care
Carss Park Narani Child Care Centre