What is long day care?
Long day care (LDC) is centre-based education and care for children from birth to school age, open for a full working day. At Jolly Frog Kindergarten Westmead, long day care runs Monday to Friday, 7:00am–6:30pm, for children aged 0–5, following the national Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
It suits working families who need reliable, all-day care and a continuous early-learning program as their child grows from a baby through to the year before school. Fees are typically reduced by the federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for eligible families — check your entitlement with Services Australia.
What is preschool, and how is it different?
Preschool (also called kindergarten in NSW) is a play-based educational program for children aged 3–5 in the years before school, focused on school readiness. Jolly Frog Kindergarten Northmead is a preschool open Monday to Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm, for 3–5 year-olds.
Preschool emphasises the social, emotional, and early literacy and numeracy skills children need to start "big school" confidently. In NSW, the state Start Strong program helps reduce preschool fees for eligible 3–5 year-olds — see the NSW Department of Education for current details.
What is outside school hours care (OSHC)?
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) is education and care for school-aged children before school, after school, and during school holidays (vacation care). Jolly Frog Westmead offers OSHC so children are supervised and engaged around the school day.
OSHC is built around the school timetable and working parents’ hours, and is also subsidised by the Child Care Subsidy for eligible families.
Long day care vs preschool vs OSHC: side-by-side
The main differences are the child’s age, the hours, and the focus. Long day care covers ages 0–5 all day; preschool covers ages 3–5 with a school-readiness focus; OSHC covers school-aged children around school hours.
| Long day care | Preschool | OSHC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | 0–5 years | 3–5 years | School-aged (approx. 5–12) |
| Focus | Full-day education & care (EYLF) | School readiness (play-based) | Before/after school & vacation care |
| Typical hours | Full working day | School-style day | Before & after school; holidays |
| At Jolly Frog | Westmead — 7:00am–6:30pm | Northmead — 8:00am–5:00pm | Westmead |
| Main subsidy | Child Care Subsidy (CCS) | CCS and/or NSW Start Strong | Child Care Subsidy (CCS) |
Which option is right for your family?
Choose long day care if you need all-day care for a child aged 0–5; choose preschool if your 3–5 year-old is preparing for school and you want a school-readiness program; choose OSHC if your child is already at school and needs care around the school day.
- Baby to 5, full working days → long day care (Jolly Frog Westmead)
- 3–5 and getting ready for school → preschool (Jolly Frog Northmead)
- Already at school, need before/after/holiday care → OSHC (Jolly Frog Westmead)
- Not sure? Book a tour and we’ll help you work out the best fit for your child.