Thank you for choosing St Nicholas Early Education for your child’s early education and care journey. We are delighted to welcome you to our community and look forward to partnering with you to provide the best possible experience for your child.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
St Nicholas would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we learn, play, and work – the Awabakal, Biripi, Wiradjuri, Wonnarua, and Worimi people.
We pay respect to elders, who hold deep knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and thank them for sharing their traditions, customs, and memories. In the spirit of recognition and reconciliation, we acknowledge the importance of connecting with our true history, acknowledging the past, and uniting for a better future.
At St Nicholas, we are committed to nurturing curious minds, fostering creativity, and supporting children as they grow, learn, and flourish. Our dedicated team of educators are passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and engaging environments where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.
This handbook has been designed to provide some of the information you need about our programs, policies, and services. We hope it serves as a helpful resource, but please don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team with any questions you may have.
Thank you for entrusting us with the education and care of your child. Together, we can create a strong foundation for their future.
Warm regards, The St Nicholas Early Education Team
OUR STORY
What is St Nicholas?
We are a community in which children and young people develop the cultural, physical, and educational skills to belong in a contemporary world. Collectively, St Nicholas provides education services spanning early education, out-of-schoolhours care, and vocational education.
Why are we called St Nicholas?
The origins of St Nicholas recognise the kindness, generosity, and care of a man who led a life advocating for children and vulnerable people. As a Catholic Saint, his work enabled children to lead happier, more fulfilling lives through his connection, compassion, and care. St Nicholas became associated with the act of giving at Christmas time and, as a result, has formed the basis of the modern Santa Claus. We have acknowledged St Nicholas’ commitment to children’s needs by honouring his legacy through the provision of quality education and care for all.
The meaning behind our logo
One of the most meaningful elements in the St Nicholas Early Education logo is the three crayon icons. These crayons symbolise the Holy Trinity—a central teaching of the Catholic Church—and serve as a gentle reminder of the faith-based values that guide our work. At the same time, they reflect the creativity, exploration, and joy of childhood, which are central to our approach to early education.
Prayer
God of life and love, send down your blessing on this St Nicholas Early Education Centre and all who come here: team members, children, families and carers.
Under the patronage of St Nicholas who was known for his gift giving, may this community be blessed with an abundance of your gifts.
And may these gifts from God be shared generously with all who come here.
Amen.
Vision
Our vision is to support ‘families as the first school of the social virtues that every society needs’*.
Our vision goes beyond education and care for the individual. We want to have a positive impact by creating inclusive environments where every child is supported in their moral, social, intellectual and physical development.
*Gavissimum Education n3.
Values
Mission
St Nicholas is a welcoming and safe environment for children.
We believe in supporting and partnering with families and communities to nurture and inspire children as they develop the skills to flourish at home, in care, and in society.
Purpose
Our ‘Why?’ is the driving force behind everything we do, uniting us with a shared commitment: ‘We believe in supporting communities to flourish.’
Philosophy
Founded in key principles of Catholic Social Teaching, namely human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, stewardship and social justice, St Nicholas partners with families and communities to enrich the education, development and wellbeing of children enrolled in its services. At St Nicholas, we recognise families as children’s first, and most influential teachers. Therefore, our educators respect the diversity of background and uniqueness of each child and their family, and value strong partnerships with families.
As an organisation dedicated to the support and development of communities, St Nicholas identifies the importance of incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and is committed to reconciliation. Our educational programs embed the rich cultural traditions, languages, and arts of our First Nation’s people and build upon local, regional, and national cultural knowledge.
Our services enable children to become active and informed contributors to their world through community connections. By actively participating within communities, children explore more complex concepts that are relevant to their lives and surrounding environments. As a result, children can develop understandings of their role and responsibilities as an active member of their community.
St Nicholas offers a welcoming environment, where children have opportunities to explore, discover and reflect upon their learning. We recognise children as being active agents in their own learning journeys and build their confidence as learners through respectful relationships, intentional teaching, and inspiring learning environments. By providing child-led, play-based programs tailored to the needs of the individual child, we create an inclusive environment where children feel a sense of belonging.
At St Nicholas, we are committed to upholding a child safe culture where every child is protected,
respected, and empowered. Embedding child safety into everyday practices, policies, and relationships, ensures children’s rights to protection, participation and agency are fostered. Through ongoing professional development, clear and transparent reporting processes, and strong collaboration with families and communities, we demonstrate a shared commitment to safeguarding children and nurturing a culture of safety, trust, and accountability.
Learning is a lifelong journey, and St Nicholas is committed to the education and professional development of our team. We offer teachers and educators a variety of pathways to continue
their own learning through formal qualifications, professional learning, and networking opportunities. St Nicholas has dedicated specialists who support service teams to reflect upon, plan and develop their knowledge and practice to continually enhance the offering of our services.
At St Nicholas, we recognise our responsibility to positively influence sustainability and are committed to increasing awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals. All our services are operated with GreenPower – 100% clean renewable energy. Additionally, our ongoing commitment to sustainability is evident in the educational program where children learn about protecting, preserving, and improving our world, to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
By actively promoting the values of Compassion, Integrity, Justice, Participation and Hope, St Nicholas provides a positive environment to foster and celebrate lifelong learning.
History
St Nicholas Early Education was established in 2015 by the Catholic Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle, driven by a desire to support and partner with families. In early 2016, two early education centres opened – one in central Newcastle and the other in Singleton – marking the beginning of our commitment to delivering high-quality early childhood education and care.
Following strong community support, St Nicholas expanded its network of Early Education centres, continuing to provide trusted, reliable care for families across the region.
In 2018, St Nicholas OOSH (Out of School Hours) was launched to extend our support to primary school children and their families. This service offers quality education and care before and after school, as well as during school holidays.
Recognising the growing need for dedicated, qualified early childhood professionals, St Nicholas Pathways was established in 2019. Pathways provides practical training and meaningful career opportunities for school-based students and others interested in joining the early childhood education and care sector.
Looking ahead, St Nicholas remains committed to walking alongside families and communities— supporting, nurturing, and inspiring children and young people as they develop the skills to thrive at home, at school, and in life. From the early years and into the future, St Nicholas is with you every step of the way.
OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Curriculum
St Nicholas educators and teachers plan and implement a play-based program, which is responsive to children and enables both intentionality and spontaneity in teaching and learning. Our team members develop the educational program in conjunction with children and families, and are guided by the national Early Years Learning Framework.
National Quality Framework (NQF)
St Nicholas Early Education’s curriculum complies with the National Quality Framework (NQF), which comprises the National Law and Regulations, National Quality Standard (NQS), Approved Learning Frameworks—the Early Years Learning Framework—and Assessment and Rating process.
Learn more about the National Quality Framework
Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)
St Nicholas Early Education’s curriculum is aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which draws on extensive Australian and international research which establishes the early years as a vital period in children's learning, development and wellbeing.
The Framework recognises children as competent and capable learners who have rights and agency. It specifically emphasises play-based learning and the intentional role played by both educators and children in extending and enriching learning.
Learn more about the Early Years Learning Framework
Play-based learning
At St Nicholas Early Education, we believe play is the foundation of learning and development for children. Our play-based learning approach to education fosters creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning.
Play-based learning enables children to explore, discover, and make sense of the world around them through hands-on, meaningful experiences. This approach is child-centred, where learning is guided by the children's ideas, choices, and developmental stages. Teachers and educators are responsive to children by planning intentionally to enrich their learning through the educational program.
Benefits:
• Enhanced cognitive development
• Strong social and emotional growth
• Focus on language and oral literacy
• Increased refinement of fine and gross motor skills
• Engagement in creative and imaginative thinking.
Our educators support children to learn through play by:
• Providing intentional teaching opportunities to support children’s knowledge, skills and concept development
• Providing resource rich environments with diverse opportunities to explore a range of learning areas including literacy, maths, creative arts, social and emotional wellbeing and community and culture
• Offering open-ended materials to enable to children to engage creatively and expressively as they build confidence as learners
• Encouraging children to investigate, solve problems and engage in critical thinking
• Assessing children’s learning through a range of strategies including observations, documentation and reflections.
Transition to School program
St Nicholas Early Education’s Transition to School program is designed to support children’s successful transition from early childhood education to primary school. The program focuses on children’s social, emotional language, cognitive, and physical skills to strengthen their holistic learning, development and wellbeing to successfully embark on the next stage of their learning journey.
During the year prior to attending school, teachers and educators work with children to support them in:
• Developing independence in routine tasks such as dressing, toileting, and eating and becoming more responsible for their own belongings
• Strengthening social skills to build confidence in expressing their needs to others and developing and maintaining friendships
• Regulating their emotions to cope with new situations and challenges
• Building executive functioning skills, listening to others and following simple directions
• Fostering the child’s individual stage of development.
Children may be involved in:
• Visiting school grounds to familiarise children with facilities
• Visiting school libraries and canteens
• Visiting the kindergarten classrooms.
Learn more about our Transition to School program
Inclusion and diversity
St Nicholas Early Education offers inclusive early childhood education and care services to meet the needs of all children through:
• Building strong relationships with children and families
• Responsive environments
• Developmentally appropriate resources
• Embedding inclusive practices throughout the educational program.
In creating an inclusive space through setting and practice, we can offer children an environment that fosters active participation and a sense of belonging.
Steady Steps Toolbox
The Steady Steps Toolbox is a customised, inclusion-focused resource developed by St Nicholas’ Pedagogy Team to support and enhance educators' efforts in embedding and promoting inclusive learning.
Learn more about St Nicholas’ Steady Steps Toolbox
Our environments
St Nicholas is committed to providing children with contemporary learning environments that are safe and engaging, with a rich and diverse range of experiences that promote children’s learning and development.
As part of this commitment, we ensure our environments are:
• Reflective of the children within the space
• Clean, safe, and well-maintained
• Inclusive, supportive and nurturing
• Resourced with high-quality resources
• Environmentally responsible.
Sustainability
At St Nicholas, our pledge to sustainability is unwavering. We are deeply committed to promoting a healthy environment for children, families, staff, and communities. We strive to create a nurturing environment that fosters environmental awareness, instils sustainable values, and positively impacts our world.
Our commitment to sustainability includes:
Renewable energy – St Nicholas’ centres and services are powered by 100% renewable energy since July 2023.
Sustainability in education – We encourage sustainable practices like recycling, conserving water, and reusing materials as part of daily routines.
Reducing waste – Our services implement practical strategies to reduce waste, such as composting and, wherever possible, using recyclable resources in craft and play.
Natural resources – Wherever possible, we use natural and repurposed materials in our activities to support creativity and reduce environmental impact.
Green spaces – Our services provide access to outdoor areas and encourage nature-based play and learning.
Community engagement – St Nicholas collaborates with local groups to promote sustainability.
Read our Sustainability Plan
OUR PEOPLE
Working together as one
Our team is comprised of educators and teachers who have varying experience and qualifications in early childhood education and care, ranging from those beginning their career to bachelor-qualified teachers.
All St Nicholas team members complete child protection training and hold a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). Where required, staff also possess first aid, anaphylaxis, and asthma management qualifications.
Visit the foyer display at your local St Nicholas Early Education centre to learn more about our educators and their qualifications.
Our vocational education arm, St Nicholas Pathways, supports all St Nicholas educators to build fulfilling careers in early childhood education and care through high-quality, practical training that fosters professional growth, builds meaningful connections, and equips learners with the skills to flourish in a dynamic and rewarding sector.
Learn more about St Nicholas Pathways
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
Collaborative partnerships
At St Nicholas Early Education, we understand that families are a child’s first and most important teacher. We value the unique knowledge, experiences, and culture you bring to your child’s learning journey and are committed to fostering collaborative partnerships with every family to ensure the best outcomes for children.
Open communication, mutual respect, and shared goals ensure that your child flourishes in an environment where their learning and development are supported both at home and within our centres.
Communication and feedback
At St Nicholas Early Education, we value open and honest communication with families about their child’s education and care experience. Key updates are shared digitally, while daily conversations at drop-off and pick-up provide valuable opportunities for direct communication. For urgent matters, our team will contact you by phone, and we encourage families to reach out by phone whenever needed.
We also welcome ongoing feedback from families to ensure we meet your expectations and continuously improve our services. Additionally, we conduct an annual Family Feedback Survey, which offers families the opportunity to share anonymous feedback about their experience. The insights from this survey guide our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care and education for your child.
Your voice is essential to our partnership, and we are here to listen and support you every step of the way.
The Complaint Process
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO RAISE CONCERNS WITH YOUR PRIMARY CONTACT AT THE AGENCY OR THEIR MANAGER. IF POSSIBLE, THEY WILL SEEK TO RESOLVE ANY ISSUES AT FIRST CONTACT
How to make a complaint
1. PREPARE THE COMPLAINT
Consider what happened, where and when, witnesses, relevant documents, options for resolution.
2. CONTACT THE AGENCY
Talk with someone at St Nicholas you feel comfortable with, in person, by phone, email or online. Any complaint alleging a serious incident or a breach of the National Law has occurred will be reported to the regulatory authority.
3.
WORK WITH ST NICHOLAS TO RESOLVE YOUR CONCERNS
A person will be allocated to work with you to find a satisfactory solution and resolve the complaint effectively, efficiently and as quickly as possible.
Review Options
4. CONTACT THE DIOCESAN COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT SERVICE
If you are unable to reach a resolution, the Diocese can offer support to you and the agency.
5.
INTERNAL REVIEW (OUTSIDE ST NICHOLAS)
If options for resolution at St Nicholas have been exhausted, the Diocese will work to close the complaint by agreement or Administrative Review.
6.
EXTERNAL REVIEW
You are expected to progress through the Diocesan complaints process before you engage any external review options. However, external review options include NSW Ombudsman, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission or independent legal advice.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
St Nicholas Early Education offers a safe environment that supports the health and wellbeing of all children, families, and team members.
Medical care and safety
At St Nicholas Early Education, the health, safety, and wellbeing of every child in our care are our highest priorities. We are committed to providing a secure and nurturing environment supported by professional medical and safety practices.
To view St Nicholas’ policies and procedures regarding:
• Managing illness
• Asthma and anaphylaxis
• Medication
• Immunisation
• Emergencies
• Incidents and injury
• Sleep and rest
• Sun safety.
Scan to learn more
Food and nutrition
At St Nicholas, we understand the vital role that nutrition plays in the overall wellbeing and development of young children. Our commitment is to provide children in our care with meals that are both nutritious and delicious. Recognising the diversity of our communities, we take pride in accommodating various cultural and specialist dietary requirements, ensuring that every child’s unique needs are met.
Each of our centres has a dedicated centre cook who prepares fresh meals daily, ensuring quality, consistency and care in every dish.
All meals at St Nicholas Early Education centres adhere to the National Healthy Eating Guidelines for Early Childhood Settings, and Munch & Move program. These guidelines serve as a blueprint, guiding us in creating menus that promote balanced nutrition and contribute to the establishment of lifelong healthy eating habits.
St Nicholas Early Education offers all children in attendance:
Each meal is meticulously curated to offer a diverse array of foods, promoting healthy choices and a balanced diet for your child. A meal planner is available for you to view at the service.
Recognising the rich diversity of our communities, St Nicholas ensures meals accommodate various cultural preferences.
Download
Child safeguarding
St Nicholas is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of all children, families and staff in our community.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
As an agency of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, St Nicholas is committed to:
• Fostering communities of safeguarding, including open and respectful communication about issues of safeguarding with individuals, families and groups
• Upholding the dignity and rights of all children and vulnerable adults and seeks to empower them to have their voices heard
• Training all relevant personnel in safeguarding knowledge and skills including indicators of abuse, supporting people to disclose abuse and reporting abuse
• Working closely with statutory authorities to report alleged abuse and support them to investigate those allegations
• Developing our risk assessment and management systems for all diocesan activities and personnel
• Developing the breadth and depth of our auditing and compliance regimes
• Implementing and maintaining compliance with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.
Office of Safeguarding
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and St Nicholas have an abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of children and vulnerable persons.
The Office of Safeguarding is an integral part of the Diocese and St Nicholas, and is placed outside the Diocese’s services, programs and parishes, overseeing their safeguarding standards in operation.
The Office of Safeguarding works with NSW Police, the Office of the Children’s Guardian, the Department of Community and Justice, and other statutory authorities and specialist authorities within the Catholic Church in Australia to fulfil its responsibilities and maximise the safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons.
The Office of Safeguarding supports the Diocese to promote and uphold the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as an institution of the Catholic Church in Australia.
Learn more about the Office of Safeguarding
ENROLMENT AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION
Getting started
How to enrol
Detailed instructions on how to enrol your child with St Nicholas Early Education.
What to expect from a centre tour
At St Nicholas Early Education, we believe visiting our centres is the best way to experience the welcoming, nurturing environment we provide for children and families. A centre tour is your opportunity to explore our facilities, meet our passionate educators, and learn more about how we can support your child's early education journey.
Here’s what you can expect during your tour:
Welcome: You’ll be greeted by one of our friendly team members, who will guide you through the tour and answer any questions you may have.
Explore our environments: Discover our purpose-built indoor and outdoor learning environments, including engaging play areas and relaxation spaces.
Program: Learn about our educational program and approach to early childhood education, designed to foster your child’s learning, development, and wellbeing, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Meet the team: Meet your Centre Director and the service’s team of qualified educators, who will share insights about the care and learning experiences we provide.
Q&A: Take the time to ask any questions you have about the enrolment process, fees, or anything else that matters to your family.
Our goal is to ensure you feel confident and excited about choosing the best possible early education experience for your child.
Checklist – items you will need to pack:
Labelled bag with two extra sets of clothes
Supply of bottles with formula or breast milk
Water bottle or sipper cup
Comforter
Wide-brim hat
Single fitted sheet + light blanket (2+ years)
Your child’s first day – what to expect
We understand that the first day of care can be both exciting and overwhelming for children and parents. We strive to ensure that your child’s first day at our centre is a positive experience for everyone.
Upon arrival: You can expect a warm welcome from our friendly staff who will be there to greet you and your child/ren upon arrival.
Our educators will introduce themselves and guide you through what the day will look like and what to expect. Your child will be introduced to their new environment, meet the other children in their room, and be invited to participate in the morning’s experiences.
Throughout the day: After you leave, our dedicated educators will work to create a safe and nurturing environment where your child can feel comfortable and at ease.
We welcome you to call the centre throughout the day to check in.
At pick-up time: At the end of the day, our educators can provide you with a summary of your child’s day, including information about their routines, play experiences and any special moments they had.
Delivery and collection of children
Opening hours and public holidays
St Nicholas Early Education centres are open 51 weeks of the year with extended operating hours to support the needs of working families. While we remain closed on weekends and public holidays, our centres are designed to provide reliable care throughout the year.
Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information on the specific operating hours for your local St Nicholas centre.
Absences and
cancellation
We understand that plans can change, and we encourage families to notify us as soon as possible regarding absences or cancellations to ensure accurate records and maintain the smooth operation of our services.
For more information about delivery and collection of children, or absences and cancellations, view St Nicholas’ policies and procedures.
St Nicholas Early Education is committed to ensuring the safe arrival and collection of children. St Nicholas will only allow collection of children by an authorised person detailed in the child’s enrolment form.
St Nicholas will provide instructions on how to sign children in and out of care upon enrolment.
Fees and inclusions
St Nicholas Early Education fees may vary.
For full details of your service’s fees, speak to a team member at your local centre.
Included in the cost of care:
• Nutritionally prepared meals
• Nappies and wipes
• Educational programs delivered by dedicated and qualified early childhood educators and teachers
• High-quality learning environments
• Sunscreen
• Priority enrolment at Catholic Schools.
View St Nicholas’ fee and finance policies and procedures
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a government payment available to families to help cover up to 90% of the costs of childcare. The subsidy is paid directly to your child care provider to reduce the amount of out-of-pocket fees that you pay. Your out-of-pocket costs depend on how much CCS you are entitled to, depending on your family’s individual situation.
Below is a general guide:
• Families earning less than $80,000 annually may receive up to 90% of childcare fees.
• Subsidies gradually decrease for families earning more, with a cut-off threshold for households earning above $530,000 annually.
• The number of subsidised hours depends on your family’s activity levels.
To estimate your subsidy, you can use the Child Care Subsidy Calculator available on the Services Australia website. This tool provides a quick and accurate estimate tailored to your family’s circumstances.
Learn about the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlements available to St Nicholas families
“The best early education centre around. We’re over the moon with the quality provided by St Nicholas.” – Cherie, Parent – ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION CHISHOLM
“I trust that my children are not only learning, but also having a lot of fun.”
– Therese, Parent – ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION RAYMOND TERRACE
“St Nicholas has exceeded our expectations in every possible way. We couldn’t be happier.”
– Sandy, Parent – ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION SINGLETON
“The quality of care is amazing and the staff are warm, friendly and welcoming.”
– Jo, Parent – ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION CARDIFF
“We are so thankful to St Nicholas for always making our family feel welcome and supported.”
– Lisa, Parent – ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION CARDIFF
“My child loves the environments and experiences that St Nicholas provides.” – Leanne, Parent
– ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION MAITLAND
“Everybody greets us with a smile and knows us by name. It’s great to be a part of such a caring community.”
– Paul, Parent – ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION NEWCASTLE WEST
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS
St Nicholas OOSH
St Nicholas OOSH delivers high-quality before and after school care, as well as vacation care, in a safe and supportive environment designed for children aged 5-12 to flourish.
Our programs foster independence, creativity, and a sense of community through engaging, inclusive activities tailored to each child’s unique needs and interests.
By complementing children’s school experiences, St Nicholas OOSH helps them build confidence, develop new skills, and form meaningful friendships.
As an extension of the St Nicholas Early Education experience, our OOSH services ensure a seamless transition to school-aged care, maintaining the same high standards of care and support that families can trust.
Catholic Schools
For more than 180 years, Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle have offered families a nurturing, encouraging and safe environment for their children to learn, achieve, and grow.
Catholic Schools educate more than 21,000 students across primary schools, secondary schools, and two K–12 schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (CDMN), ensuring that every student receives a quality education in a supportive environment where they can grow academically, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
Priority enrolment at Catholic Schools
Families of St Nicholas Early Education receive greater priority enrolment at Catholic schools. Enrolment priority is per the following order:
1. Siblings of students currently enrolled in the Catholic primary school to which the application is being made.
2. Catholic families living within the school’s catchment area (in priority order):
• Catholic families that have strong demonstrable links to the local Catholic Parish.
• Catholic families who participate irregularly in the life and worship of the Parish.
• Catholic families who do not participate in Parish life but whose children attend a CDMN St Nicholas Early Education centre.
• Catholic families living within the school’s catchment area that do not participate in Parish life.
3. Families whose children attend a CDMN St Nicholas Early Education centre and live within the school’s catchment area.
4. Families of other Christian denominations living within the school’s catchment area and committed to supporting all aspects of Catholic education.
5. Other families living within the school’s catchment area and committed to supporting all aspects of Catholic education.
*Subject to the Catholic Schools of MaitlandNewcastle’s Enrolment Policy and the availability of places at your preferred school.
