Yes, we understand that each family has different needs regarding child care. We are happy to accept children one day per week, although we do make sure parents understand that this can often mean that the settling in period can take a little longer. We find that children who attend one day per week are just as able to form strong relationships with their teachers and peers as others who attend on a more frequent basis.

We encourage families to book in play sessions with us prior to their child’s first day at Shadforth Cottage. These play sessions last for up to one hour at a time and are a great opportunity for parents to talk with the teaching staff, and for the children to explore the environment with the security of Mum or Dad close by. This is beneficial for everyone as we establish a relationship based on trust and open communication.

We have a fantastic team of motivated staff who work within each cottage. There is a range of educational backgrounds and experience in the field of early childhood. Our leadership team is based on staff who have Early Childhood degrees and Associate Diplomas in Child Studies. Our primary caregivers also have a range of qualifications from Certificate lll to those who are currently studying to obtain their qualifications. All staff have a First Aid Certificate.

Each cottage provides a range of learning experiences which support the nationally recognised Early Years Learning Framework. We follow a routine each day which assists children in anticipating events for the day. We are very fortunate to have fresh and nutritious meals for Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Tea which are all home made on our premises.

Each child will need to bring their own water bottle, a hat and change of clothes in their school bag, that are clearly labeled. If your child is in nappies you will need to provide 4-5 nappies each day. We provide sun cream for the children which is applied twice daily. We provide linen for the children aged 0-2, however the 2-4 year olds who have a sleep during the day will need to bring a fitted cot sized sheet and a blanket.

Our Preschool cottage runs a fantastic programme of learning experiences to prepare children for school. We run a Prior to School programme from June to December which includes activities such as Mathletics, visits to Mosman Primary School, lunch box and uniform days and pre-writing and reading activities.

Our preschoolers have a typical “school days” which involve language and literature sessions, project work, literacy and numeracy activities and creative and expressive arts. We have half yearly parent interviews to ensure that parents and the teaching staff are working on consistent goals in the lead up to school.