We are delighted to introduce the newest member of the Little Gumnuts family – our brand-new childcare centre, currently under construction in the vibrant suburb of Merrylands, NSW. Opening Early 2026, this marks the beginning of an exciting journey to bring exceptional early learning experiences to the local community.
At Little Gumnuts Merrylands, we are committed to creating a space where your child’s early years are filled with curiosity, growth, and meaningful connections. With our dedicated team of educators, thoughtfully designed facilities, and a rich, play-based curriculum, we aim to foster an environment where children can thrive.
We recognise the importance of these formative years and are devoted to making them inspiring and memorable for every child. Together, let’s embark on this exciting new chapter, where every day will be filled with opportunities for learning, exploration, and joy.
Stay tuned for updates and join us as we build the Little Gumnuts Merrylands story, creating a place where your child’s journey begins.
Our Merrylands centre is a brand-new, custom-built 84 place childcare service, thoughtfully designed to support children’s learning and development in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our passionate educators create a nurturing atmosphere where every child feels valued and supported, while also building strong partnerships with families and connections within the local community.
Meals, nappies, wipes, bedding, education programs and extra-curricular activities are all included in the daily fee.
An Enrolment Application Fee of $150 applies per child.
You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) which will reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Our Toddler Program fosters children’s confidence, communication skills, and curiosity through active, hands-on learning that engages all the senses. Our Toddlers are sensory explorers that are beginning to discover the world and their special place within it.
Our Platypus Room for toddlers aged 2-3 showcases free-flowing learning spaces with project tables, rotating stations, an art area, a reading nook, dramatic play zones, and sensory spaces, all designed to stimulate hands-on exploration. This environment supports the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of our Little Explorers, fostering curiosity, creativity, and independence.
We believe that the best outcomes for children are achieved when educators and families work in partnership. We actively communicate with families throughout the day to provide updates on their child’s experiences, eating, sleeping, and toileting routines for peace of mind and consistency between our service and home. Families receive in-person updates from their children’s educators as well as regular daily app updates through our communication app, KinderM8.
Our daily rhythm provides consistency and certainty, balancing indoor and outdoor play, music, wellbeing activities, group and rest times, nutritious meals, and both spontaneous and intentional teaching. Regular toileting, hand washing, and nappy changes are maintained, with families kept informed about their child’s learning, eating, sleeping, and toileting routines through our family communication app.
Fuelling growing bodies with nutritious and balanced meals is an important part of how we support children’s complete development. Our in-house chef prepares five fresh meals and snacks daily that are based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines for children. We incorporate learning about nutrition into our program to provide a solid foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle
Our Platypus Room accommodates a maximum of 20 children with a minimum staffing ratio of one educator per five children (1:5). When possible, our rooms operate with additional educators to best support children’s learning.
Our Preschool Program offers dynamic, child-led learning experiences that build foundational skills and seamlessly prepare children for their transition to school. Our Preschoolers are confident and empowered learners whose voices, interests, and choices are the centre of our program.
Our Kangaroo Room for preschoolers is purposefully designed to provide interactive opportunities that foster curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. Featuring project tables, a tinkering area for open-ended exploration, an art and craft space, a reading nook, a home corner, and early literacy and numeracy stations, these spaces encourage hands-on learning and imaginative play. This setup supports children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth to nurture their independence, communication, and readiness for school.
We believe that the best outcomes for children are achieved when educators and families work in partnership. We actively communicate with families throughout the day to provide updates on their child’s experiences, eating, and rest routines for peace of mind and consistency between our service and home. Families receive in-person updates from their children’s educators as well as daily app updates through our family communication app, KinderM8.
Our daily rhythm provides consistency and certainty, balancing indoor and outdoor play, music, wellbeing activities, group and rest times, nutritious meals, and both spontaneous and intentional teaching. Regular toileting and hand washing times are scheduled throughout the day.
Fuelling growing bodies with nutritious and balanced meals is an important part of how we support children’s complete development. Our in-house chef prepares five fresh meals and snacks daily that are based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines for children. We incorporate learning about nutrition into our program to provide a solid foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle
Little Gumnuts West Pymble stays connected with families using the KinderM8 app.
You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) which will reduce the amount you actually need to pay (your out-of-pocket costs).
Full details are available from the Service Australia Website, at the following two (2) links:
About the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
Our emergent curriculum, based on current early childhood research, recognises play as central to young children’s learning and development.. We focus on nurturing all aspects of children’s social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and spiritual development to support their complete wellbeing and growth.
focuses on creating a safe and nurturing environment where children develop resilience, autonomy, and positive self-identities, learning to adapt to changes and interact with empathy and respect during their formative years.
supports a sense of belonging and active participation in communities, encouraging children to respect diversity, understand fairness, and develop social responsibility and environmental respect.
provides opportunities for children to strengthen their social and emotional wellbeing and encourages them to take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.
nurtures key learning dispositions such as curiosity, creativity, and persistence, while developing skills in problem-solving, inquiry, and experimentation. Children learn to adapt and apply their knowledge across different contexts and resource their own learning by engaging with people, places, technologies, and materials.
enhances children's communication skills, enabling them to interact using verbal and non-verbal methods for various purposes, engage with diverse texts, and express ideas through multiple media. Children also learn to understand symbols and patterns and use information and communication technologies to explore and represent their thoughts.
Play-based learning capitalises on children’s inherent desire to play, using it as a dynamic context for learning and development. During play, children engage deeply, using their imagination to explore diverse concepts and environments. They experiment and discover, developing crucial skills through hands-on activities. This natural, joyful approach facilitates not just individual learning but also collaboration, as children work together, share ideas, and solve problems collectively. Through improvisation and creativity, they not only grasp foundational academic concepts but also enhance their social and emotional skills. This holistic approach ensures that learning is both meaningful and enjoyable, setting the stage for lifelong curiosity and growth.
The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the Australian National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care, and describes the principles, practices and outcomes essential to your child’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school.
The framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. There are five learning outcomes defined by the EYLF:
The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement for most education and care services for children around Australia.
The NQF aims to improve the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending education and care services, and promote continuous improvement in service quality.
The framework includes:
A key element of the NQF is the National Quality Standard (NQS) which identifies seven quality areas that are important to outcomes for children.
These quality areas are:
Services undergo regular assessments and are given a rating for each of these quality areas as well as an overall rating based on these results.
At Little Gumnuts, we ensure that you are consistently informed about your child’s learning and development. From the start of the year, our educators collaborate with families to set specific goals for your child, which are then pursued through tailored monthly learning experiences aligned with developmental milestones. Daily updates on your child’s activities are sent directly to your mobile device via KinderM8, keeping you connected and informed in real time. We also facilitate ongoing engagement through daily face-to-face interactions, monthly surveys, and annual family information evenings, where you can discuss your child’s development one-on-one with their Room Leader. Families also receive a bi-annual developmental summary with a comprehensive overview of your child’s progress.
The Child Care Subsidy, also known as CCS, is a government payment that reduces out-of-pocket costs for childcare.
Your family’s subsidy percentage is paid directly to your childcare provider. This is passed on to families as a fee reduction.
Families pay the “gap fee” between the daily fees charged and the subsidy amount. This is indicated on your fee invoice.
Centrelink withholds 5% of your Child Care Subsidy payments to accommodate for any changes to your expected and combined household income. This helps to reduce the likelihood of you getting an overpayment.
If you’re new to childcare, we recommend that you apply for the Child Care Subsidy as soon as possible.
To learn more abour CCS, click here.
At Little Gumnuts, we believe in fostering strong partnerships with families to enhance children’s learning experiences both within and beyond our centre. We recognise the vital role that families play in their children’s education and commit to enriching this relationship through open and continuous communication. Families are invited to participate actively in their child’s educational journey by attending centre events, leading group sessions based on their professional expertise, cultural heritage, or personal interests, and providing ongoing feedback. Such engagement not only helps in creating a supportive and inclusive community but also enriches the learning environment for all children. By maintaining open communication with our team, we are able to tailor our educational approaches to meet the unique needs of each child, thereby ensuring the best possible outcomes for every learner.