SDN Erskineville

Growing bodies need movement and exercise. Growing minds need stimulus and exploration. Growing hearts need opportunities to play and mix with others.

At SDN we know that the best thing we can do for your infant or toddler is to support them to grow and develop in safe, unhurried, nurturing and challenging environments.

Because infants and toddlers are naturally curious, our centres have well-equipped indoor and outdoor areas that will keep your child moving and give them daily opportunities to explore their limits and grow their abilities.

Your child is unique and so we will devise a learning and development program within our curriculum pillars, based on what we know about your child’s interests, learning and development. Because they will always be changing and growing, we consistently review the program to ensure we are keeping up with your child’s development, providing them with the best learning opportunities.

Read more about our practice with children here.

Get more than school-ready, get life-ready 

Getting school-ready is a journey. It begins with your child’s very first day at our welcoming early education and care centres and continues with our dedicated preschool program.

Developed by university-trained early childhood teachers, our preschool program focuses on the whole child. Children learn to make friends and work together, while gaining the skills and independence they need to thrive through the big transition to school.

Our preschool program follows an evidence-backed, play-based learning approach. Children have fun and follow their curiosity, while we weave in vital skills and learning outcomes.

SDN uses Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework to explore a diverse curriculum from science to social justice. Our days are predictable but flexible, blending structured and spontaneous learning, free play, movement and quiet time.

Our curriculum pillars are:

Our centres have a transition to school program where our teachers and educators work together with local schools to prepare your child for a smooth transition, and support families through the process.

Read more about our preschool program here.

SDN's outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They’re safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, and use their energy. Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they’re playing outside, they’re inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace, and figuring out social customs like turn-taking.

As one of our oldest centres, SDN Erskineville’s outdoor play area has the natural protection of a grand old tree that was planted in its middle. It also showcases a piece of pioneering female history. One of Australia’s first female architecture graduates, Ellice Nosworthy, was hired to design a ‘new and modern’ nursery for Erskineville. A pram access ramp encompasses the ground floor outdoor space, giving the space a feeling of majesty and adventure. There’s also an infants’ play space, nestled amongst the treetops, on the first floor of SDN Erskineville.

SDN Erskineville first opened its doors on 25 August 1937 – run out of a house at 88 Swanson Street with an enrolment of 23 children. At the official opening, Lady Mayoress Mrs G.A. Parkes announced that Erskineville Nursery School would be a place “of love” where children would be taken care of and developed into good citizens.

Quality, affordable childcare had been in high demand in inner Sydney since SDN’s foundation in 1905. With the introduction of nursery schooling in the 1930s, SDN’s focus turned to providing early education for the children of workers living in Erskineville’s crowded terrace houses.

In 1945, the school was completely redesigned by Ellice Nosworthy, one of Australia’s first female architecture graduates, re-opening in 1947 as a ‘new modern nursery’. Many years later in 1999, a cot room for babies was added.

The traditional owners of the land are the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.
Over the years the area has seen many changes, and since its beginnings, SDN Erskineville has welcomed children from many different cultures and backgrounds. SDN Erskineville maintains and reflects strong connections with this vibrant, diverse and ever-changing community.

Read more about SDN Erskineville's history here. 

From 1 July 2024, our fees will be $212 per day for children under three years old and $186 per day for children three years and over. 

SDN Erskineville also offers half day sessions. Half days are $128 for 0-3 years and $112 for 3-5 years, from 9am to 2pm.

The majority of families in our centres do not pay the full daily fee because they receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from the government.

The subsidy you may receive through the CCS will depend on:

• Your combined family income
• The number of hours you work, study or participate in recognised volunteer work. This is called the ‘activity test’. If your child is in the year before school, if you are on a very low income, or if you are on parental leave, you will not have to pass the activity test to receive some CCS.

Your child will need to meet immunisation requirements and you will need to meet residency requirements to be eligible to receive the CCS.

You can also calculate what your out-of-pocket child care costs will be on the government’s Starting Blocks Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

NSW Start Strong funding - Additional Preschool Fee Relief

On top of any CCS you may receive, the NSW Government is providing additional fee relief:

• If your child turns 4 years old or before 31 July 2024, is enrolled in a preschool program at an eligible long day care service and doesn’t receive preschool relief (also called start strong funding) from another preschool, you will receive up to $2,110 in fee relief.
• If your child is 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on, or before 31 July in 2024, is enrolled at an eligible long day care service and doesn’t receive preschool relief (also called start strong funding) from another preschool, you will receive up to $500 in fee relief.

Find more information about the Start Strong program here. If you’ve read this information and you’re still unsure about what you’ll pay, please call us on 1300 831 445 or book a centre tour. We’re happy to answer your questions.

0-2 Babies

• Change of clothes x2
• Hat – sun safe  
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Shoes and Socks
• Comforter – soft toy/blanket/dummy
• Bottles and milk formula/breast milk
• Blanket / Cot sheets

2-3 Toddlers

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Comforter – for rest time
• Blankets

3-5 Preschoolers  

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Blankets