Working together for children's learning and wellbeing
Children benefit when families and services work together. Communicating with the service supports your child's learning, development and well being.
A range of services provide supportive learning environments and opportunities for your child to learn through play, social interactions and routines. Educators plan and provide for the development of each child's skills, knowledge and independence.
In partnership with families, quality education and care enhances learning and development during a child's formative years, which has long term benefits.
Education and Care services
Long day care (LDC) services usually cater for children from birth to five years of age.
These services operate for the whole day. For example, between 6:30am and 6:00pm, from Monday to Friday.
Long day care services are regulated under the
National Law.
Outside school hours care (OSHC) services provide education and care for school aged children, generally up to 12 years of age.
These services may offer care before and after school and/or during school holidays. Many of these services are located on school sites.
OSHC services are regulated under the
National Law.
Family day care (FDC) services cater for children from birth to 12 years of age.
Children are educated and cared for in small groups,
generally in the homes of registered FDC educators.
Family day care service providers are responsible for monitoring and supporting FDC educators to ensure quality education and care is provided to each child.
Family day care services are regulated under the
National Law.
Licensed services
In Home Child Care services provide a specific service to eligible families by placing carers with children in the family's own home.
In Home Child Care services are licensed and the providers monitor the care provided to children.
In Home Child Care is regulated under the
Child Care Act 2001.
Occasional care services offer child care on a limited number of days of the week and/or operate for shorter hours on the days that care is available. Most services provide care for children under school age.
Occasional care services and play centres are licensed and operate in accordance with relevant Standards.
Occasional care is regulated under the
Child Care Act 2001.
