TAFE NSW Sutherland Children’s Centre

Located in the TAFE NSW Loftus campus, Sutherland Children’s Centre provides a nurturing and engaging environment for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. We like to think of our centre as a home away from home, and we believe your child will too. Our large, creative space features a magical backyard where children can explore, imagine and play.

There are two indoor rooms: the Yanada room for babies and toddlers (0-3 years) and the Guwing room for preschoolers (3-6 years). These room names mean “sun” and “moon” in Dharawal, the local Aboriginal Language.

At Sutherland Children’s Centre we’ll send you weekly updates with individual and group observations. Safety is our priority, and we follow the Child Safe Standards. We encourage healthy habits with activities like Munch & Move, yoga, dance and meditation.

If you're interested in joining our team of early childhood educators, see below.

Location: D Block
Pitt Street, 
Loftus NSW 2232

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7:45am – 5:30pm, open 48 weeks per year

Ages: 6 weeks to 6 years 

Number of children: 40

National Quality Standard (NQS) rating: Exceeding

Plenty of outdoor space

At Sutherland Children’s Centre, the outdoor area is designed for children to explore, play and connect with nature. Whether they’re splashing in the water play area, digging in the garden, or scooping in the mud kitchen, there’s always something to discover.

Children can choose where they’d like to play, with plenty of options to suit their interests. They can enjoy the shade of large native trees, including beautiful flowering gums, or explore an ever-changing rock bed. The dirt patch and sandpit offer opportunities for digging and building, while the edible garden and compost connect them to nature. A large wooden fort invites climbing and imaginative play, and open-air and undercover spaces mean outdoor fun in any weather.

A welcoming indoor environment

Inside, the centre feels like a home away from home. Family photo displays create a sense of belonging, while art, artefacts, and posters reflect the diverse community. There’s a balance of busy and quiet areas, ensuring children have spaces to play, learn, and unwind. 

A strong sense of community

As part of the TAFE NSW community, we embrace diversity and inclusion. Children hear music and stories in different languages throughout the day. We celebrate cultural events like Chinese New Year, Diwali, NAIDOC Week, and Harmony Week. Families are always welcome to join in our afternoon celebrations.

Children also engage with the broader community through activities like:

• Library visits – storytime, book borrowing, and craft activities
• Emergency services visits – learning from local police and firefighters
• Cooking and gardening – exploring paddock-to-plate concepts
• Sustainability workshops – including Clean Up Australia activities
• Cultural events – participating in smoking ceremonies and community celebrations.

What you will need to bring each day

There are a few necessities to bring each day to ensure your child’s comfort. These include your child’s baby formula, milk bottles, nappies and spare clothes. For older children, please pack morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Your child will also need nappies, a hat, water bottle, bedding, wipes, creams, medications and a spare set of clothes.

Every day is different

Children at our centre are free to choose their activities throughout the day. Each morning, we start with our multi-language welcome song, Tick Tock, Tick Tock. We use it to greet each child in their home language and have a Dharawal welcome.

Meal times

We follow a progressive Crunch and Sip approach, similar to primary schools. At morning tea your child can take a short break to drink water, and eat fruit or veggies. Lunch and afternoon tea are shared as group meals. Our educators will give your child their packed lunch and will also heat up food on request.

Have a yarn

A key part of our daily routine is our Yarning Circle, where children and educators share stories about their day or special moments. We take ideas from our Yarning circles to shape learning experiences in the classroom.

Rest times

During rest times, children in the 0-3 year room, usually sleep. In the 3-5 years room, we offer children a 15-minute meditation time. We’re flexible with this too, so if your child wants to seep, that’s always an option.

Celebration days

We celebrate diversity and connection through events like International Mother Language Day, where families are invited to share their language, stories and traditions. We also host social gatherings like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and a Christmas party. These events are opportunities to connect with other families at the centre.

“We love how we feel like we are part of a big family at the centre and our kid’s individual needs are always taken into account.”

Parent of a toddler

“We love how much effort, care and love the educators have for the children. It is evident through their patience and genuine happiness in their jobs.”

Parent of a preschooler

Start your enrolment process by calling 02 7921 6719 or sending an email. We’ll send you an Application for Care Form to complete.

Once we receive it, we’ll confirm receipt and be in contact to discuss availability, or we’ll add you to our waiting list. When spots open up, we carefully review all applications and reach out to families with available days.

If you accept a place, we’ll send a formal letter detailing the next steps. This includes submitting a birth certificate, proof of immunisation and a security deposit to secure your childcare placement.

To submit your application, you will need to provide:

• Birth certificate

• Medicare card

• Health care/Pension card (if you have one)

• Immunisation record (must be through Medicare, blue books are not accepted).

Please note: Children must meet government immunisation requirements or have an approved exemption to be eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

There are five steps to complete enrolment:

1. Apply for Child Care Subsidy (if eligible) – To be confirmed between the Early Childhood Director (ECD) and parents/guardians.

2. Agree on care arrangements – The Early Childhood Director (ECD) and parent/guardian confirm the child’s care details.

3. Submit enrolment – The ECD submits an enrolment notice to Centrelink via HubHello.

4. Confirm enrolment – The parents/guardian verifies the enrolment with Centrelink.

5. Secure enrolment – If you accept an offer, we’ll send a formal letter detailing the next steps. This includes submitting a birth certificate, proof of immunisation and a security deposit to secure your childcare placement.

Once the enrolment is completed and approved your entitlements can be calculated, and payments made. If there are no vacancies, we can add you to the waiting list.

Under Family Assistance Law, all children attending an early learning centre must have an enrolment notice, regardless of CCS eligibility. For eligible families, Centrelink/Services Australia can only process CCS claims once the correct enrolment is in place.

For any questions, please email us or call us on 02 7921 6719.

If you still have questions, please call us directly on 02 7921 6719 or email us below.

We look forward to welcoming your family to our Children’s Centre.