Samaritans Early Learning Centre, NewcastleA 41 Darby Street, Newcastle 2300
P 4929 2093
F 4929 7463
M 0439 418 780
E selc@samaritans.org.au
Coordinator, Ros Woodley
E rwoodley@samaritans.org.au
We are a non-profit community based child care service, sponsored and managed by the Samaritans Foundation, Anglican Diocese of Newcastle. We provide high quality care for children aged from 8 weeks to 5 years. We are open for 50 weeks per year, Monday to Friday, from 7.45 am to 5.45 pm.
Above right: Samaritans Chief Executive, Cec Shevels, with Early Learning Centre children at the 2007 Christmas Appeal launch at Bishopscourt.
The original centre was located near Market Town shopping centre in Newcastle West, and was opened in February 1989 as a purpose built occasional care centre. As the needs of the community changed and demand for places grew, we increased our numbers and moved to our current site in Darby Street. We now provide Long Day Care as well as occasional care.
We are licensed to care for 53 children per day, which includes a maximum of 12 children aged from 8 weeks to 2 years, 16 children aged from 2 years to 3 years, and 25 children aged from 3 years to 5 years.
Our centre provides a caring, safe and fun learning environment which encourages the development of skills and friendships.
The centre has 3 playrooms, 3 cot rooms, a nappy change room, laundry, and kitchen and staff room. The children are grouped in the different playrooms according to their ages. The children aged from 0 to 2 years are cared for in the Wattle Room, the children aged from 2 years to 3 years are cared for in the Bottlebrush Room, and the children aged 3 – 5 years are cared for in the Gumnut Room.
Each room follows its own daily routine designed to best meet the needs of the children and the staff. We “age” group the children because we believe it allows for a much more flexible environment for the older children, and a safer environment for the younger children. The children from the Wattle, Bottlebrush and Preschool Rooms, have an opportunity to play together in the mornings and afternoons.
All of our staff are trained in some level of childcare.
We incorporate the NSW Curriculum Framwork in our daily programme, where the children are free to chose from a range of actvities following their own interests.
In addtion to the occasional care and long day care, we offer a school readiness programme for the 3-5 year olds which provides them with skills and knowledge to take into the next step of their education.
Forms
Please read the information booklet below (waiting list form included).
Somewhere safe for me to stay
And eat and rest and love and play
My parents work but I don’t mind
A loving centre is what I find
Rules are few and simple and caring
I’m learning about friends and about sharing
Time at this centre is loving and fun
And I’m so lucky I’m left here by Dad or Mum
Never be concerned when I’m out of your sight
Samaritans makes sure I’ll be alright. _________________________________________________________________________________________
Samaritans Early Learning Centre, Woodberry
A 11 Lawson Ave, Woodberry 2322
P 4966 2695
P 4966 0689 (playgroup area)
F 4966 4742
Email: woodberry@samaritans.org.au
Coordinator, Samantha Kulupach
P 4966 4206
M 0408 667 718
Email: skulupach@samaritans.org.au
Woodberry Early Learning Centre is a non-profit community-based child care service, sponsored and managed by Samaritans, the welfare arm of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Newcastle.
We provide high quality care for children aged from 6 weeks to 5 years. We are open 8.30am – to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday 49 weeks per year.
We are licenced to cater for 29 children a day, 5 aged under 2 years, 5 aged 2-3 years and 19 aged 3-5 years.
Our centre’s programme is based on the NSW Curriculum Framework. The children are encouraged to choose from a different range of activities for development and learning while stimulating and challenging their mind and development skills in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. We incorporate an Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander perspective into our programme.
We offer a school readiness programme for 3-5 year olds, encouraging their skills and knowledge to further prepare them for school.
The centre has 2 playrooms. The room for 0-3 year olds is called Jarjums and the room for 3-5 year olds is called Booris.
The Centre is situated opposite Francis Greenway High School and is in the Woodberry Family Centre, sharing the building with Ben Soc and Catholic Care.
Information Booklet
Please download the information booklet (available soon) and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
