Only About Children St Ives Link Rd
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Only About Children St Ives Link Rd Centre overview
Only About Children St Ives Link Road is a warm, inviting, established child care centre. Children are cared for by qualified and passionate educators, in a safe and home-like environment that facilitates play-based learning that is both structured and unstructured. Children from six weeks to school aged are cared for from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm with all meals and snacks provided.
In the large outdoor play spaces, the children are free to dig in the sandpit, get creative in the art area, or water the plants in the vegetable garden. Inside, the light-filled spaces use natural materials to encourage play and interaction with friends. Educators enjoy taking the children out in the local community for excursions and community activities that build on the children’s interests.
This purpose-built campus is conveniently located off Mona Vale Road, next to local schools. It has strong links with the local community due to its long history in the St Ives area. Why not book a tour today?
Fees & Vacancies
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Enquire & enrol to get a week on Care For Kids*
*T&Cs apply
Only About Children St Ives Link Rd Service features
See more (11)Only About Children St Ives Link Rd service include:
Get to know us
About the curriculum
About the curriculum
Only About Children consider themselves much more than just child care. They are a place for children to grow, learn, make friends, explore the world and become school-ready. The children are exposed to a vast array of programs and inclusions as part of the daily fee.
The Grow Curriculum is the centre’s unique educational framework and the basis for essential early years learning and development. It includes core practices and programs that children are immersed in daily, through a balance of structured and unstructured play-based learning. It is guided by the Australian Early Years Learning Framework. Spanning nursery, toddler, preschool and school readiness ages.
The 4 key areas of the curriculum are:
- Left Brain Logic – Literacy & Language, Exploration & STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math) and Sustainability
- Right Brain Creativity – Music, Dramatic Play and Art
- Health and Wellbeing – Physical Activity and Nutrition
- Social Development, Trust, Respect & Relationships and Resilience & Mindfulness
To support the Grow Curriculum, the centre also has relationships with local schools to help with the transition to school, including school readiness workshops for families.
Programs
Programs
Morning
Sam is nine months old and loves his days at Only About Children, especially when he is greeted with a warm welcome from his caregiver! To start the day the educators have set out open ended musical instruments for the nursery children to explore with purpose and concentration. Sam chooses an egg shaker and enjoys the sound it makes as he moves it from side to side. One-on-one time, group play and aged based learning are a priority at this age.
Sam then joins his friends who are enjoying a story with their educator, as part of the centre’s ‘Book of the Month’ program. Today it is “I Need a Hug”, about a tiny porcupine who wants a cuddle. Nursery children are introduced to literacy early on allowing them to become familiar with the concepts, text and illustrations.
Lunch & Sleep Time
As much as possible, routines are based on each child’s home routine. After a healthy lunch Sam goes down for his sleep in the nursery cot room. Sam loves that his educator gives him a big hug and checks on him while he sleeps. Cot linen, nappies and formula are all provided. He just brings his sleeping bag and comforter.
Afternoon
Sam and his friends head outside to the grassed area where the environment has been carefully designed to be safe, challenging and stimulating for children 0-2 years. As well as being full of fun outdoor activities it supports the development of motor skills, resilience and individual confidence.
Morning
Alex is two and a half years old and loves to join his fellow room friends for breakfast before heading out to the toddler play environment for an abundance of open ended materials and experiences. Alex and his mates are free to discover the space safely and independently with educator supervision.
The educators like to arrange activities in small groups in intentional teaching settings to support the children with their growing curiosity and sense of self. Today Alex’s group is collecting different shaped leaves that they will use in a creative project.
Lunch & Rest Time
Alex loves to help the educators weed and water the herb garden. Today he picks some of the mint to taste. He takes the rest inside to the campus cook to use in the cacao mint muffins for afternoon tea. For lunch Alex eats his favourite Chicken and Mushroom Risotto.
Busy toddlers need time to rest so this is integrated into every day. Alex has dropped his day sleep so enjoys quiet reading and relaxation.
Afternoon
The children are sitting on the mat with their educator to enjoy some nursery. Alex sings along to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and copies the educator’s hand movements.
Morning
Tess is 5 years old and likes to start her day with her Educator and small group playing numeracy and literacy activities as part of the broader campus school readiness program.
Lunch & Learn
The educators discuss ways that children can contribute to reducing climate change. Tess suggests that people could take shorter showers to save water, and her friends agree that they will try that too. Sustainability practices are so embedded in the day that Tess’s group empty the water cups straight into the garden after lunch.
Afternoon
Tess loves the friendships she has made at the centre, and gets great joy out of sharing their creative passions through daily music and drama. These programs also support Tess in her social, emotional and physical wellbeing too. All of which are so important for their next stage in life - school!
Meet the team
Meet the team
At Only About Children, the qualified and passionate educators seek to create a nurturing learning environment for the children in their care. They are committed to helping each child reach their full potential.
The educators help the children to feel safe, nurtured, stimulated and happy. They follow an innovative play-based curriculum, and use a small group learning environment where children’s successes, skills and challenges are monitored on an ongoing basis. Families can enjoy daily photos and updates from the centre, through their free app.
Health & nutrition
Health & nutrition
Only About Children offers a seasonal menu designed by a dietitian. All meals and snacks are prepared fresh daily in the centre, including breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack. The centre’s nutrition program is designed to meet individual dietary requirements.
The centre offers a health program which supports each child’s physical health and emotional wellbeing. Children are supported with allied health professionals in areas such as Nutrition, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy & Vision.
Interested in this centre but want to keep looking?
Share and add to your favourites for laterLocation
23-25 Link RoadSt Ives, NSW, 2075
Centre Reviews
The team at OAC Link Rd is very professional and caring. They did an amazing job helping my son to settle in. I... The team at OAC Link Rd is very professional and caring. They did an amazing job helping my son to settle in. I also like the different activities they organise for kids every day, which are very helpful to the learning and growth of kids. We are very happy with this centre overall :) Read more
It is a game changing decision to move my boy from another child care centre to Only About Children St Ives Link Rd... It is a game changing decision to move my boy from another child care centre to Only About Children St Ives Link Rd Campus. He is well looked after in here. The daily activities and routines are clearly documented on Storypark to keep us updated. Staff are approachable and willing to communicate with the family. My boy is eager and very motivated to go to centre every morning. The campus has a open outdoor play area with everything my boy loves. We are very pleased and grateful to see how happy our kid is! Read more
Hi Ying, thanks for your wonderful 5* Google Review of Only About Children St Ives Link Road and for being part of the Only About Children family. We love reading about the experience of children and families at our campuses and we are glad you and your son have formed great relationships with our Educators and that your son is loving our expansive play areas and his time in our care. Kind regards Fiona