Long day care is centre-based childcare and early education for children from birth to school age, run from a purpose-built service by a team of educators. It is the type most families picture when they say “childcare”, and it is the main alternative to family day care and standalone kindergarten.
If you are starting to look at options, the names can be confusing. Here is what each type means and how they differ.
In long day care, children attend a centre that is built for the purpose, with rooms grouped by age and a shared outdoor area. The number of children a centre can enrol is set by the regulator and depends on the size of the building and outdoor space. Children are usually grouped by age, such as babies and toddlers up to two, two to three year olds, and three to five year olds.
Several educators work across the day to meet staffing requirements, often in shifts. If one is away, a casual educator can step in. Opening hours and fees vary by service, so it is worth checking the details for each centre. Long day care services that are approved for Child Care Subsidy can pass the subsidy on to eligible families as a fee reduction.
Family day care is run by an educator who works from their own home or another agreed venue. Groups are small. Under the national rules, an educator can care for up to seven children, with no more than four of them under school age. Many families are drawn to the smaller group and the home setting. Family day care services have a coordinator who makes regular visits, and children may be cared for by another educator in a different home if their usual educator is on leave.
Both long day care and family day care sit under the National Quality Framework, so educators in both are required to hold early childhood qualifications. Both can be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy.
Kindergarten is a different thing from childcare. It is the year before Prep, and it focuses on getting children ready for school through an approved kindergarten program. A kindergarten program can be offered in a standalone kindergarten, or inside a long day care centre, which means children can do their kindy year in the same place they have been attending since they were younger.
In everyday use, “childcare” and “daycare” mean the same thing, and “long day care” is the more formal name for centre-based care. If you see “child care centre”, “day care centre” and “long day care centre” in a search, they usually refer to the same kind of service. “Early learning centre” is another common name, and it reflects the educational programs that run alongside the care.
| Long day care | Family day care | Kindergarten | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Purpose-built centre | Educator’s home or agreed venue | Standalone kindy, or inside a long day care centre |
| Group size | Larger, grouped by age in rooms | Small, up to 7 children, no more than 4 under school age | Varies by service |
| Educators | A team, working in shifts | Usually one educator, with a coordinator who visits | A teacher leads the program |
| Age range | Birth to school age | Mixed ages | The year before Prep |
| Child Care Subsidy | Available for approved services | Available for approved services | Depends on the setting |
The right fit depends on your family. Some questions to think about:
Visiting is the best way to decide. At Wings, you can see our centres in Manly, Algester, Ripley and Stafford Heights, and read about how our programs work on our curriculum page.
Long day care is a type of childcare. It is centre-based care for children from birth to school age. Family day care and outside school hours care are other types.
No. Long day care is a care setting, and kindergarten is an education program for the year before Prep. Some long day care centres offer an approved kindergarten program.
From birth to school age, grouped into rooms by age.
No. Some families keep their child in one centre through kindy, and others move between services.
