At Bowral Street Childcare, we provide care tailored to the needs of families and carers, with extended hours to suit your lifestyle. We welcome children aged 2 to 6 years into a warm, homely environment where they feel safe, supported, and encouraged to learn and grow.

Our spacious outdoor play areas inspire exploration and social interaction, while our carefully crafted indoor learning rooms are designed to support each stage of your child’s development. As they grow, your child will transition seamlessly through our well-equipped spaces, filled with resources that spark curiosity and promote learning through play. With a strong reputation in the Southern Highlands, we offer a nurturing and positive environment where children can thrive and build foundations for a bright future.

At Bowral Street Childcare, we foster curiosity through interest-based, play-oriented learning tailored to each child’s unique interests and abilities. By incorporating principles from the Reggio Emilia approach, we help children build confidence and develop an understanding of daily routines within our centre and back at home.

Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), our programs focus on exploration, collaboration, problem-solving, and sensory play, balanced with moments for quiet reflection or energetic activity. Our School Readiness Program, rooted in the EYLF, prepares children for Kindergarten, earning praise from local teachers for its positive impact.

Our family grouping approach allows children of all ages to play together, fostering diverse friendships and mutual learning. Indoors, children are grouped by age in one of our three rooms to ensure activities match their developmental stage:

• Koala Room (2–3 years): Focused on play-based learning, developing self-help skills like managing belongings and clearing plates. We also support toilet training and provide longer nap times.
• Echidna Room (3–4 years): Continuing play-based learning with an emphasis on self-help skills, relaxation through quiet reading, and meditation.
• Kangaroo Room (4–6 years): Preparing for Big School with a focus on advanced self-help skills, age-appropriate learning, and our daily School Readiness Program. Rest time includes options for napping or meditation.

Each room is designed to support your children’s age and emotional development, providing a nurturing environment where they can thrive.

We interact with staff and children in ways that are respectful, supportive, honest, encouraging, positive, and fun, creating an environment where Bowral Street Childcare feels like a second family or home. It is our mission to ensure the following:

At Bowral Street Childcare, we enrich our children’s learning journey with engaging activities and special experiences.

Visits from guests such as the Matilda Farmyard Nursery, Reptile Man, Australian Wildlife Sanctuary, African Drumming Man, magicians, and local community members during ‘People Who Help Us’ week add excitement and variety to our programs. We also welcome Indigenous incursions, puppet shows, and Life Education with Healthy Harold, providing engaging and educational experiences for the children. Seasonal sports, outdoor activities, and cultural opportunities, like learning Japanese (previously Spanish), broaden their horizons, thanks to the skills of our passionate educators.

We actively invite parents and community members to share their skills and experiences with the children, whether they are dentists, musicians, or grandparents who love to bake. Additionally, we support children through the StEPS Eye Screening program, an initiative of NSW Health that offers free vision screening to all four-year-olds, ensuring their eyesight is checked before they start school. Each year, a visiting dentist also provides dental checks to help maintain children’s oral health.

Our partnership with the local community garden also provides children with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. Each week, a small group of children visit our allocated garden plots to plant, nurture, and harvest fresh produce. These sessions teach responsibility, the basics of gardening, and the satisfaction of enjoying their own homegrown food. By connecting with nature, children build healthy habits and gain a deeper appreciation for where their food comes from.

These experiences complement our curriculum, creating a fun, well-rounded, and memorable start to every child’s early learning journey.

All of our children’s learning is documented on our OWNA Digital Software for parents to view and stay up-to-date with their child’s education. This platform is accessible via the OWNA App, web portal, and through our monthly newsletters. We encourage families to contribute to our program through feedback, spontaneous experiences, and guest visits, ensuring a collaborative and enriching environment for all.

At Bowral Street Childcare, we provide all meals, including morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late afternoon snack. Partnering with a boutique food service, we ensure every meal is fresh, nutritionally balanced, and tailored to meet the unique needs of early childhood.

Our menu prioritises quality, nutrient-rich ingredients to support children’s growth, health, and development. It is carefully crafted to align with national health guidelines, such as the Australian Dietary Guidelines, the Infant Feeding Guidelines, and Munch & Move.

Meals are designed on a four-week rotating schedule, introducing children to diverse cuisines, flavours, and textures and fostering a healthy relationship with food. We accommodate special dietary requirements, offering delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian options while maintaining seasonal variety.

All meals are served on plates with appropriate cutlery, and children are encouraged to clear their plates, fostering self-help skills. For our School Readiness Program, we also introduce lunchbox weeks to prepare children for big school.
Our team receives regular training in safe food handling to ensure every meal is served with care. Plus, all our meals are nut-free, keeping safety a top priority.

The team at Bowral Street Childcare look forward to meeting you and your family. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any additional questions. Our friendly team will respond as soon as possible!