What is happening at Jolly Frog Westmead?
We are renovating our Westmead centre at 5 Howe Street to create a brand-new space for our children and families. Jolly Frog has been part of the Westmead community since 1959, and this renovation is an investment in the centre’s next chapter.
If you have been down Howe Street lately, you will have seen fencing, builders and equipment. A building site can look worrying when you don’t know what is behind it — especially when you are choosing care for your child. So here is what is happening, what it means for your family, and what the finished centre will look like.
Is the centre still open during construction?
Yes. Jolly Frog Westmead is open as usual throughout the works. All of our rooms, our program, our hours and our educators are running as normal, for long day care and for After School Care.
Day-to-day routines carry on as they always have: children learn, play, eat and rest in their usual rooms, with their usual educators. Current families don’t need to do anything differently.
Is it safe for children while the building work is going on?
The works are kept apart from the children. The building site is fenced off from the rooms and playground children use, and heavy or noisy work is scheduled outside care hours or kept away from children’s rest times.
Children’s safety and comfort come first in every decision we make about the works. If you have any question about the building work, please ask us when you call or visit. We would much rather answer it than have you wonder.
What will I see if I visit for a tour?
You will see fencing and some building activity around the site as you arrive. Behind it, the centre is running as normal: you can look around, meet the educators and ask us anything, just as you could at any other time.
We know a building site is not what most families expect to see on a childcare tour, and first impressions matter. That is why we are telling you now, before you visit. Ask us about the plans while you are here — we are excited to show families what is coming.
What will the new Jolly Frog Westmead look like?
The plans show a new street frontage with a secure, gated entry, a redesigned outdoor play area and bright, open learning rooms. The images on this page are artist’s impressions, so the finished centre may differ in detail.
- A new street frontage — a secure, fenced entry with separate gates for pedestrians and the driveway.
- A redesigned outdoor play area — a grassy hill with a crawl-through tunnel, a timber climbing frame, a sandpit, water play and a bike track.
- Bright, open learning rooms — big windows, natural timber furniture and plenty of child-height shelving for books and toys.
Are fees reduced during construction?
Yes. We are offering reduced fees while construction is under way. Ask us for the details when you call or book a tour.
Our standard daily fees, and how the Child Care Subsidy and NSW Start Strong bring them down, are set out on our fees and subsidy page.
Why enrol now?
Families who join us during the works become part of the Jolly Frog community while the new centre takes shape, and will be among the first to enjoy it when it opens. You get the same care and educators today, reduced fees during construction, and a brand-new centre to grow into.
When will the works be finished?
We will share the expected completion date as soon as it is confirmed, and update this page as the works progress. In the meantime, the centre is open as usual.