The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

Meeting
NSW preschool
5.0 /5
9 reviews

Childcare and preschool in Freshwater, NSW

Welcome to The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater. Our Freshwater childcare and preschool centre is located on the Northern Beaches, ideal for families in Freshwater, Harbord, Queenscliff, Curl Curl, North Manly, Fairlight, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Dee Why and Narraweena in Sydney. The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater offers long day care and preschool for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.

Our childcare and preschool centre in Freshwater offers innovative early learning programs in a safe and nurturing environment. Our recently renovated outdoor environments feature cubby houses, a boat, a bike track, sandpits, and a water play area, providing a diverse and stimulating space for children to explore and play. Indoors, our learning spaces are equipped with a variety of engaging resources, including natural materials, interactive smart boards, and open-ended materials that encourage learning and growth. Some of our educators have dedicated over 15 years of their careers to nurturing young minds, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to our centre. Our educators and teachers tailor their teaching methods to meet the individual needs of each child. Our Government-approved Preschool program prepares children for school. We partner with Up and Over, with two of their volunteers visiting and working with the children every Tuesday. As part of the daily fee, children also enjoy extracurricular activities, including a comprehensive sports program.

Why you’ll love The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

Spacious outdoor environments

Passionate, qualified educators

Nappies and wipes provided

Chef-prepared meals

Government-approved Preschool program

Family communication app

Extended/flexible hours

Incursions/excursions

Allergy and anaphylaxis aware

Sun protection aware

Meet our Centre Manager

Leonie

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Working towards Bachelor of Education
“As an early childhood educator, I see my role not just as a teacher but as a facilitator, guide, and supporter of children’s self-discovery.”

I began my career in early childhood education in 2016, starting with a traineeship. I joined Freshwater in 2021 and have been with G8 Education since 2016. One of the aspects I love most about working in early childhood is the opportunity to make a positive impact on children’s lives during these crucial formative years. I cherish being a part of their learning journey, supporting them as they acquire new skills, develop their personalities, and build a strong foundation for future success.

I have seen how play and hands-on experiences foster children’s curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. I deeply appreciate the profound impact of positive relationships and a nurturing environment on children’s emotional well-being and overall development. Embracing diversity, promoting inclusion, and fostering a sense of belonging are central to my teaching philosophy. As an early childhood educator, I see my role not just as a teacher but as a facilitator, guide, and supporter of children’s self-discovery.

We are incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team of educators at The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater. The dedication and passion of our professionals make our centre a truly special place. They understand the significance of building strong relationships and creating a nurturing environment where children feel supported and valued. We provide a social environment, access to qualified educators and resources, peer interactions, and a smooth transition to school, all of which contribute to children’s overall growth and readiness for future academic success.

Building strong connections with each child, their families, and the wider community is crucial to my approach. By fostering open communication and collaboration, I aim to create a shared sense of responsibility in supporting children’s growth and development. I prioritise open and regular communication with families, ensuring they are informed about their child’s progress, activities, and achievements. I actively seek input from families, valuing their insights and involving them in decision-making processes.

We look forward to welcoming your family to The Learning Sanctuary early education centre in Freshwater.

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Our innovative early learning programs

At our early learning centre in Freshwater, our experienced educators and teachers continually seek innovative ways to enrich your child’s education. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, we offer a variety of engaging and diverse learning experiences, including:

Sustainability

Children are actively involved in caring for the worm farm and natural garden, learning about sustainability through play-based experiences. This hands-on approach fosters an understanding of sustainable practices and environmental stewardship from an early age.

Inclusion

We create a sense of belonging for your child to ensure they feel heard and empowered to make choices, fostering their independence. We celebrate each child’s unique strengths, helping them to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.

STEM

We encourage your child to ask questions, experiment, and problem-solve, all while engaging their natural curiosity. By fostering this inquisitive mindset, we help them develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Music and movement

Our evidence-based Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR) program is designed to develop fundamental skills that help support children’s self-regulation, memory, and concentration. It is an innovative approach to holistic learning, development and well-being in early childhood.

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Age-appropriate early learning

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(0-2 years)

Nursery

Our youngest learners engage in sensory exploration, fine and gross motor skill development, and language acquisition. We focus on fostering a safe and nurturing environment where children can develop social skills and build a strong sense of connection. Activities are designed to support physical and cognitive development, including tummy time, sensory play, music, singing, rhymes, and reading. Our nurturing educators try their best to continue your family’s home routine, including sleep and feed times. We also maintain an open-door policy, allowing families to visit at any time during the day.

  Next: Toddlers
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Toddlers

Toddlers explore their world through play-based learning, fostering social interactions, language development, and independence. Activities are designed to enhance fine and gross motor skills, stimulate imagination, and lay the foundation for early cognitive development. We promote enhanced social skills and self-confidence through group play, the ongoing development of language skills through reading and open-ended questions, and real-life and play-based experiences that introduce basic literacy and numeracy concepts.

Previous: Nursery Next: Preschool
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(3-5 years)

Preschool

In our preschool program, the focus shifts to preparing children for a lifelong learning journey. Our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers introduce early literacy and numeracy skills, encourage critical thinking, and promote social interactions through collaborative projects and imaginative activities. Our preschool program sets the stage for a smooth transition to formal education. With longer and more convenient hours than traditional preschools, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, your child will be well-prepared for school and life beyond.

Previous: Toddlers  
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NSW Government-approved Preschool program

At our early learning centre, your child will benefit from the NSW “Start Strong” program as part of our enhanced learning program. We tailor our preschool program across numeracy, literacy, emotional and social development, and self-regulation. Led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, our preschool program will support your child’s learning, development, and well-being for now, at school and beyond.

The added benefits of our preschool program include:

  • Extended long day care opening hours
  • Open all year round (excl. public holidays)
  • Programs developed and delivered by our Early Childhood Teachers
  • Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation
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We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating

Thanks to the in-house chef at our Freshwater child care centre, your child can expect healthy, nutritious, and yummy meals. We offer a rotating seasonal menu, providing breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack freshly made daily. We cater to all dietary requirements.

What a typical day looks like for your child

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Arrival at the centre

Your child will be welcomed by our team of educators, who will ensure the morning transition from home to centre goes as smoothly as possible. On arrival, share information about your child’s specific needs for the day.

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Mealtimes

Our centre chefs prepare a nutritious menu for your child to sit down and eat. This is a great time for everyone to share stories from the day. Educators model healthy eating practices, social behaviours and support children’s growing independence with mealtime routines.

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Infant care

If you have an infant, we spend one-on-one time with them to establish a connection. Educators talk gently and respond to babies’ cues. We use songs, games, and conversations to strengthen relationships and build language skills.

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Play-based learning

Your child is naturally curious. They want to learn and explore, which is why we teach through play-based learning. It supports language, motor skills, memory, emotions and social relationships. Educators plan play-based learning experiences based on children’s interests and goals.

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Sleep, rest and relaxation

We match routines to your child’s individual needs. Opportunities for rest and relaxation help make them feel safe. Play-based learning experiences are provided for older children who no longer don’t sleep in centre.

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Heading home

As your child prepares to head home, this is your opportunity to speak with our friendly educators about your child’s day and everything they learnt. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow.

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Communicating with families

We prioritise clear and consistent communication with families to foster a strong partnership in supporting each child’s development. We ensure families feel informed, involved, and confident in their child’s early learning journey.

Our families love hearing about their child’s progress and the experiences they’re having day to day. We share these moments through centre newsletters, our Xplor App, one-on-one meetings, and at various centre events.

Fees

The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.

  • Nursery0 – 2 years

    $184.00
  • Toddler2 – 3 years

    $179.50
  • Preschool3 – 5 years

    $175.50

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*

1-4 days = full day session; 5 days = 10 hour per day sessions

CCS Estimator results

  • Estimated subsidy

    $0.00
  • Total fees

    $0.00
  • Out-of-pocket cost

    $0.00

*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:

  • Accuracy and currency of family income information entered.
  • Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
  • Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres).
  • Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight).
  • Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.

For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.

Calculate my subsidy

Explore nearby G8 Education centres

Looking for other great childcare, kindergarten or preschool options? Discover more G8 Education centres near you!

Frequently asked questions

A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.

On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.

Our Family Support Team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Learning Sanctuary centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.

Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.

Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.

For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.

It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.

The Learning Sanctuary uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.

After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.

If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, The Learning Sanctuary is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.

Contact us

We look forward to welcoming your family.