Belynda Aguila
5/5
We inspected 5 daycare centres in the West Ryde and Meadowbank area and found very quickly that Headstart Early Learning Centre West Ryde (HELC WR) was an exceptional standout. From our very first site tour, Emma greeted our 10month old son by name and continued to make him feel warm and welcome during the tour and orientation days. This was a stark contrast to the other centres that made our site tour feel very rote and transactional.
Facilities:
The rooms are exceptionally clean and this is evident when I pick up my little boy and his clothes are still clean. (I know of other parents at other centres who’s kids will have very dusty clothes upon pick up. An obvious sign of poor cleanliness). There is an outdoor space for each age group which has sufficient shade and fantastic play equipment and toys. Cleaning and sunscreen stations are found in every room. The play facilities are strategically designed to meet the social, cognitive and behavioural needs of each age group. My absolute favourite is the book and story time corner. I know that reading and story time at such a young age is vital for a successful transition to school, so this was an important factor for my little one’s development.
Learning & Development:
HELC WR use the Xplor app for daily updates. This includes toilet / nappy changes, nutrition, sun protection and sleep. The photo updates with learning outcomes and explanation of their day is fantastic. I can see what my little boy is doing all day which can get a little addictive! The great part is I understand what he learns at daycare and then I can continue that learning at home. I see the social interactions he has and the games they engage in. When he comes home, any new words or gestures makes a lot more sense! During his first year, knowing how he napped during the day would give me an indication of his mood for bedtime at night.
A special mention goes to the educators. They are not only highly qualified, but they show genuine care and interest in the children. They welcome my little one with open arms EVERY DAY and I can see the huge impact this has had on his self-esteem and confidence. They contribute to his development and support his growth in a fun and engaging way. I have so much respect and appreciation for the childhood educators at HELC WR. They are making a huge positive impact to my son’s childhood and this is incredibly important in the first 5 years.
Services:
In comparison to the other centres in West Ryde, the daily rates are slightly higher. However, it is not by much and it is truly worth it when you consider how much time your child will spend at daycare and how much they will learn during these formative years. The fees pretty much include everything except for any special medicine. Vivian, Emma and the entire team are very responsive to all our needs, from navigating winter cold & flu season to understanding all the intricacies with CCS fees.
The educators are very empathetic, caring and trustworthy. Everything you want in role models for your little one.
As a first-time mum, the first few days + weeks can be very challenging. However, our baby boy was treated with so much kindness and care, that he acclimated very quickly within a few weeks. He is now 2.5 years old and continues to love his days at daycare. He learns so much each day, has made friends easily and gets to play and engage with toys, books and educational activities.
We feel very lucky to have such a fantastic daycare right on our doorstep.
