SHNC Long Day Care & Preschool is a small, not-for-profit childcare centre that has been serving the Surry Hills community since 2010. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive environment that provides high-quality childcare services to local families and children. Our centre is licensed to care for 25 children per session, organised into two rooms: one for babies and infants (ages 6 months to 2 years) and another for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2 to 5 years). We operate under a philosophy of open management, governed by a volunteer Governance Board.

At our Centre, we aim to provide a secure, caring and inclusive environment for children at an affordable price. The safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority, and we are committed to upholding child-safe practices across all levels of the organisation, from management and governance to all educators and staff.

We welcome children and families of all cultural backgrounds, religions, genders and abilities, and celebrate the diversity of unique identities, strengths and accomplishments that educators, families and children bring to our Centre. We focus on building nurturing, respectful relationships and providing holistic care alongside engaging, play-based educational programs that support each child’s
learning and development.

The Centre operates according to a philosophy of open management and is governed by a volunteer Governance Board. We aim to reflect the local community and encourage participation, collaboration and open discussion about issues relevant to the Centre and to early childhood education and care.

SHNC Long Day Care is located in a fit-for-purpose building in the heart of Surry Hills. Our facilities have been designed specifically for childcare to support children’s safety and wellbeing, offering an open-plan environment across two indoor rooms and an outdoor space. The building uses sustainable materials, maximises natural light, and utilises recycled water. The outdoor area includes a retractable roof for climate control, allowing children to enjoy activities like playing in the sandpit, riding bicycles, and tending to a mini vegetable garden.

• Supportive, community-based centre – A small, welcoming centre close to Sydney CBD and public transport.
• Experienced, qualified educators – Our long-standing, dedicated, and passionate team provides exceptional care.
• Educational and school readiness program – Our programs reflect children and families’ interests, responding to children’s curiosity and enhancing their ongoing learning and development.
• Exceeding NQS – We exceed the National Quality Standard in Quality Area 5: Relationships with Children and consistently meet all other areas.
• Fresh seasonal menu – Provided by a leading childcare catering company.

Our service is part of the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre, a not-for-profit non-government organisation that has been operating in Surry Hills for 40 years. As a not-for-profit organisation all proceeds from our Long Day Care go back into the Centre to improve our facilities and provide additional, ongoing training for our professional child educators.