Every January our oldest children leave us for school. We spend December writing their transition statements, and the last week of term saying goodbye to families we have known for four or five years.
It is the only time of year places open in our preschool rooms.
We have limited places available from January 2027.
Two years is better than one
A child who starts with us at three has two years before school. A child who starts at four has one.
Both work. Two works better.
Our school readiness program runs across both preschool rooms, not just the final year. In Preschool 1 it looks like taking turns, managing a disagreement, sitting with a task that has become difficult, and asking an adult for help. In Preschool 2 it looks like recognising a name in print, holding a pencil properly, listening in a group, opening a lunchbox, and using a toilet without an adult nearby.
None of that is taught in a term. It is why we start early, and why we would rather you came to us at three than at four and a half.
The rules changed in January, and most families were never told
Two things happened that make preschool cost less than the daily fee suggests. Many families have not recalculated since.
The activity test is gone
From 5 January 2026, every family eligible for the Child Care Subsidy receives 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight — three days a week — whether the parents work, study, or neither. This is called the 3 Day Guarantee. If you were told years ago that you did not qualify for subsidised care, that advice is now out of date.
Three days with us is 33 hours a week. That sits inside the guarantee, with hours to spare.
NSW pays preschool fee relief in long day care
Start Strong is not only for community preschools. It applies to preschool-age children in long day care, including here. It is paid to us and comes off your invoice, and it does not depend on how many days a week your child attends.
NSW sets the amount each year. In 2026 it was up to $1,783 a year for four-year-olds and up to $423 for three-year-olds.
What three days actually costs
Our preschool fee is $162 a day. That is the whole fee — meals cooked here, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, a hat, martial arts, music, yoga, Mandarin, incursions, the parent app, orientation visits and the transition to school statement. There is no enrolment fee, no bond, and no fees charged over our Christmas closure.
We publish the real numbers because the daily fee on its own tells you almost nothing about what you will pay. For a family on a combined income of around $150,000, three days a week for a four-year-old works out to roughly $24 a day once the subsidy and the fee relief are applied.
| Combined family income | Your CCS rate | Gap fee, 3 days | You pay, per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around $250,000 | 58% | $204.12/week | about $56 |
| Around $200,000 | 68% | $155.52/week | about $40 |
| Around $150,000 | 78% | $106.92/week | about $24 |
| Up to $88,520 | 90% | $48.60/week | about $4 |
Our hourly fee sits below the government’s subsidy cap. That matters: it means the subsidy applies to every dollar we charge, rather than stopping partway and leaving you to pay the difference.
The two preschool rooms
Preschool 1
Three to four years
Curious, capable, growing. Children move between projects that run for weeks rather than an afternoon. Most of the day is spent outdoors, or moving between inside and out. Educators write down what your child is working on and why, and you see it the same day in the app.
Preschool 2
Four to five years
The year before school. The rhythm of the day shifts: longer group times, more writing and drawing, real responsibility for belongings, and a lunchbox day each week so the first day of school is not the first time. Every child leaves with a transition to school statement written by the educator who has known them longest.
The things that do not appear in a brochure
Our educators stay. Several have been here more than ten years. If your child starts at three, the person who settles them in is likely to be the person who says goodbye to them in December of their final year.
Lauren, who owns the centre, is here every day and knows every child’s name. There is no regional manager, no head office, and no waiting for a decision to come back from somewhere else.
Coming to see us
A tour takes about thirty minutes and shows you the centre. A stay and play session shows your child the centre — you come in during a normal session, your child plays, and you watch how the room actually runs when nobody is performing for a visitor.
Both are free. Come as often as you need to. Nobody has ever booked too many visits.
We are on Level 1 at 142 Maroubra Road, above Pacific Square, with two hours of free parking underneath. Families come to us from Maroubra, South Coogee, Kingsford, Randwick, Coogee, Matraville and Pagewood.
Or call Lauren on (02) 9315 5588.
Questions families ask
When should we start looking for preschool for 2027?
Now. Most families in Maroubra decide between August and November for the following January. Places in our preschool rooms open once a year, when the older group leaves for school.
My child turns three in the middle of the year. Can they still start?
Yes. Children move into Preschool 1 when they are ready rather than on a fixed date, and mid-year starts are common. Talk to us about timing.
We are not both working. Do we still get the subsidy?
Yes. Since 5 January 2026 the activity test no longer applies to the first 72 hours a fortnight. All families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy receive three days a week of subsidised care regardless of work or study.
Is Start Strong only for community preschools?
No. It applies to preschool-age children in long day care, including here. You can only claim it at one service at a time, so if your child attends another service you will need to nominate which one.
Do you take children who only need two days?
Talk to us. Two days works for some families and some rooms, though children generally settle faster on three.
What happens in the final year?
The school readiness program runs across both preschool years and steps up in Preschool 2 — group times, early literacy and numeracy, self-care, and a lunchbox day. Every child leaves with a transition to school statement.
Do you have places right now?
Yes, we currently have places in Preschool. We have room in both Preschool 1, for three to four year olds, and Preschool 2, which is the year before school. Exact numbers change through the year, so ring us with the days you are after and we will confirm what we can offer your child. If you need a fourth day, ask about the Short Preschool Day, which runs 8:00am to 3:00pm for $100.