Our Story
Family-owned early learning in Elderslie, caring for Macarthur children since 2012.
One simple idea, back in 2012
Macarthur Early Learning opened in 2012 with a simple but powerful vision: to create a nurturing, high-quality early learning environment where children feel safe, valued and inspired to grow.
We’re a privately owned long day care service on Macarthur Road in Elderslie — next door to Mawarra Public School and an easy run from Camden town centre, Spring Farm and the surrounding Macarthur communities.
Being privately owned means we can make thoughtful decisions that put children, families and educators first. We’ve never chased growth for its own sake. We’ve grown the way we wanted to: through families who come back, and through parents who recommend us to their friends and relatives.
Early childhood isn't just preparation for school — it's the foundation for life.
Built around the letters of our name
Our centre philosophy is written around the letters of our name — Macarthur Early Learning Centre. Four ideas that shape every day here.
Meaningful Relationships
We believe warm, respectful, trusting relationships are the foundation of children's learning, wellbeing and development — so every child feels safe, secure and valued. We work in genuine partnership with families, whose knowledge, culture and aspirations shape each child's learning journey.
Exploration & Environment
We value learning environments as the child's third teacher. Our indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to inspire children to investigate, imagine, create and discover — making choices, taking appropriate risks, solving problems and building independence through open-ended play.
Leadership & Learning
We believe every child is capable, competent and full of potential. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standard, our educators observe children's interests, celebrate their strengths and plan experiences that let them think, problem-solve and grow at their own pace.
Commitment & Connection
The safety, wellbeing and rights of every child are our highest priority. We are committed to a child-safe environment where children feel respected and empowered to express their thoughts and ideas, and we welcome and embrace diversity in all its forms.
Read our philosophy in full
‘M’ for Meaningful Relationships
At Macarthur Early Learning, we embed meaningful relationships in our daily practice and believe it's the foundation of children's learning, wellbeing and development. We are committed to building warm, respectful and trusting relationships with every child, helping them to feel safe, secure, valued and confident to learn, grow and reach their full potential.
By working in genuine partnership with families, we value their knowledge, culture, experiences and aspirations, recognising that collaboration creates the best outcomes for children. Through open, honest and respectful communication, we work together to support each child's individual learning journey.
We also believe strong connections with our wider community enrich children's learning and strengthen their sense of belonging. By building meaningful partnerships with local organisations, schools and community services, we create opportunities for children to develop an understanding of the world around them while fostering respect, inclusion and connection.
Together, we create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment where children, families, educators and visitors feel respected, valued and connected.
‘E’ for Exploration & Environment
We value learning environments as the child's third teacher. Our indoor and outdoor learning environments are thoughtfully designed to inspire children to investigate, imagine, create and discover.
By providing welcoming, flexible and engaging spaces, children are encouraged to make choices, take appropriate risks, solve problems, collaborate with others and develop independence, through provocations and open-ended play.
Our indoor environments promote creativity, communication, literacy, numeracy and social and emotional development through a balance of intentional teaching, play-based experiences and child-led learning. We provide inviting spaces that encourage children to explore, think critically, express themselves and build positive relationships with others.
Our outdoor environments are valued as an extension of our classrooms. They provide opportunities for active play, exploration, investigation and connection with the natural world. Children are encouraged to develop confidence, resilience and physical skills while learning about sustainability, caring for living things and respecting the environment.
‘L’ for Leadership & Learning
We believe every child is capable, competent and full of potential.
Our educators support children's learning through play-based experiences, intentional teaching and meaningful interactions. We follow the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standard (NQS) to ensure our programs are engaging, purposeful and responsive to each child's individual learning journey.
We observe children's interests, celebrate their strengths and plan experiences that encourage them to think, problem-solve, explore and grow at their own pace. We recognise that every child learns differently, and we value each child's unique abilities, ideas and achievements. We create inclusive learning environments where everyone feels accepted, supported and has a genuine sense of belonging.
As educators, we are committed to continually learning, reflecting and improving our practice. We lead by example, fostering respectful relationships, encouraging curiosity and helping children develop the confidence and skills they need for lifelong learning. Our educators complete the full planning cycle when planning and assessing children's learning.
‘C’ for Commitment & Connection
At Macarthur Early Learning, the safety, wellbeing and rights of every child are our highest priority. We are committed to providing a child-safe environment where children feel safe, respected, valued and empowered to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas.
We believe every child has the right to belong, to be themselves and to become the best version of who they are. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, we celebrate each child's unique identity, strengths, culture, abilities and interests.
We welcome and embrace diversity in all its forms. We respect and value children, families and educators from all cultures, backgrounds, languages, beliefs, family structures and abilities. By listening to children and respecting their views, we help build confidence, independence and resilience. Children's voices are valued and respected at Macarthur Early Learning. Our commitment to children's safety is paramount. It is embedded and weaved into all aspects of our learning, professional development and decision making with families and team.
Through these strong connections, we create a caring community where children feel secure, confident and connected. Through our commitment to ongoing reflection, professional learning and continuous improvement, we strive to ensure every child is protected, respected and able to reach their full potential.
We implement this philosophy with respect and acknowledgement to the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather and play. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Small enough to know every family
We’re deliberately sized to run a full age progression from birth to five — six distinct spaces, each set up for exactly where children are at — while staying small enough that we know the families at the gate by name.
Since opening we’ve earned the community’s trust the slow way: consistent staff, a welcoming front door, and a genuine commitment to getting better every year.
We know that choosing childcare is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. So we hold ourselves to high standards, we talk openly when things come up, and we keep the culture built on respect and care.
More than a childcare service — a community built on trust, experience and a genuine passion for early education.
Measured against the National Quality Standard
Every approved early learning service in Australia is assessed and rated by its state regulatory authority against the National Quality Standard — seven quality areas covering everything from the educational program to health and safety, staffing and governance. At our most recent assessment, we were rated Exceeding NQS in two of those seven areas.
Exceeding NQS
Quality Area 2 — Children's Health and Safety
Exceeding NQS
Quality Area 7 — Governance and Leadership
EYLF-aligned program
Belonging, Being & Becoming — Australia's national learning framework for children birth to five
Service Approval SE-00011271 · Approved centre-based long day care service · Menu approved under NSW Health’s Munch & Move program
From first steps to the first day of school
Children move through five age-based rooms and a shared outdoor space, so each transition is a short step into a room they already know — with educators they already recognise.
Joey's Room
0–1 years
Koala's Room
1–2 years
Wombat's Room
2–3 years
Wallabie's Room
3–4 years
Kangaroo's Room
4–5 years · school readiness
Outdoor Spaces
All ages
The people behind the centre
Our Team
Laura, Sharna and Fiona lead a team of long-standing educators.
Our Kitchen
Julie has cooked for our children for nine years, on a Munch & Move approved menu.
Community & Events
Incursions, celebrations, community partnerships and family days that bring everyone together.
Come and see us for yourself
The best way to understand a centre is to walk through it. Book a tour and we’ll show you the rooms, the playground and the people your child would spend the day with.