Castlereagh Street Early Learning Centre

Every day is an opportunity for discovery and growth at Castlereagh Street Early Learning Centre, which is rated exceeding in the National Quality Standard. With a range of exciting, resource-rich environments including a water trough, sandpit, a worm farm, a reading teepee and a range of age-specific ateliers, children are encouraged to explore and learn.

The light-filled centre also features a high atrium roof, city views and a dedicated project atelier where our exciting programs come to life. Children get out and about into the city on weekly excursions, so we have a great connection with the surrounding community.

With a dedicated team of Educators who have been with the centre for a long time, we are proud to have a culturally diverse team and celebrate a variety of cultures and holidays throughout the year.

Our on-site cook prepares four nutritionally balanced meals using seasonal ingredients every day. To further explore food at the centre, our Educators at Castlereagh Street ELC host cooking classes for the children to get involved in to enhance their understanding of good nutrition.

Begin the adventure at Guardian today by booking a tour to explore the centre, chat with our team of Educators and learn more about our high-quality curriculum.

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Read more information about the centre

Rhythm of The Day

With endless possibilities, there’s never a dull moment at Guardian and no two days are the same. Here’s what a day at Guardian might look like. Please note, this will vary depending on centre opening hours.

  • From 6:30am

    Handover time with children, families and our friendly Educators. There's a chance for conversation to share what's important for the day/what's happened the night before at home.

  • From 7:00am

    Breakfast time where families are welcome to stay and enjoy breakfast with the children.

  • Morning

    As children are arriving and families are coming and going, there's an opportunity for play as well as family grouping, open-plan play and multi-age grouping.

  • Morning

    As the children come together, planned experiences begin. This is where the Guardian programs and practices come to life. Examples of learning include numeracy, literacy, language, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, social skills, technology, science, creative arts, curiosity and more.

  • Morning

    There's an opportunity for children to come together and enjoy morning tea.

  • Mid-morning

    Following morning tea, the planned experiences continue. This includes both indoor and outdoor programs.

  • Afternoon

    There's an opportunity for children to come together for lunch. With an open-door policy, families are able to join the centre for meals and excursion if they wish.

  • Afternoon

    For children who want to, or need to, there's an opportunity to sleep, rest or relax. For children who don't need to rest, there are planned experiences, which are more likely to be outdoors.

  • Afternoon

    Children come together for afternoon tea in small groups or with siblings (they can also rest and play together, too). This time also presents an opportunity to reflect on the day.

  • End of the day

    As families arrive to pick up children, there's an opportunity to speak to Educators and share information about the day.

  • End of the day

    Some centres offer early tea or light snack at the end of the day, which they can grab as they leave the centre. We’re mindful of how routines vary at home, so if throughout the day, we notice children look tired, food will be provided.

Helpful Information

Opening Hours

Open 7:00am to 6:00pm
Monday to Friday

Fee Information

Age Group Daily Fee
6 Weeks to 6 Years $166.00*

*Price before the government rebate. To calculate what Child Care Subsidy you might get back, click here.

Good to Know - What to Bring

What we Provide

  • Hats
  • Sunscreen
  • Five nutritionally balanced meals including: Breakfast, Lunch, Morning and Afternoon tea and a late Snack at the end of the day
  • Nappies
  • Bibs
  • Bedding
  • Formula - S26

What to Bring

  • Soft toy or comfort blanket for nap time
  • Spare change of clothing
  • Water bottle

Our Educators

Our team of Educators are committed and passionate about ensuring your child will be safe, nurtured and cared for every day. At Guardian, children are encouraged to engage in interest-led play that creates learning and meaningful experiences.

Our Educators seek to optimise diverse learning opportunities and implement the Curriculum as framed by the Early Years Learning Framework.

You and Your Child

All Guardian Centres provide a Centre-to-Family communication platform so families can maintain contact with their children’s experiences through photos, stories and learning outcomes.

Our Centres use Storypark and each family is provided with a secure login to access on their computers, mobiles or apps.

Learn More About Our Centre

Castlereagh Street Early Learning Centre is an indoor haven. Located in an atrium in the middle of the Sydney CBD, we enjoy the feeling of being outdoors while being protected from the weather all year round.

We have two levels for children of different ages. Each level has its own ‘outdoor’ play space and the children can move freely between these spaces for much of the day. As well as a large sandpit, our playgrounds will offer natural looking spaces, as well as forts, bridges and more.

The children love using a range of materials to create, investigate and use their imaginations, so we have a special project space for art projects and small group activities. Art is very popular, however we try to incorporate all of the children’s unique interests into our activities.

We believe in allowing children of different ages to play together so that they can learn from each other and build relationships. Similarly, our educators get to know all children at the centre, not just those in their group. This makes for an inclusive culture, where everyone is part of the one big family. We strive to create a relaxed, fun and warm atmosphere for the children at all times.

Our open door policy promotes frequent and honest communication with families, and we hold regular Family Days for you to visit the centre and celebrate various occasions with us. We are happy to email you during the day to reassure you that your child is safe and happy, and can even send through photos of them in action so you can share in their achievement.

What Our Families Say