Up to 40 children, ages 2.5 to 6, with a generous outdoor classroom, the same director for years, and educators who have stayed with her for many years. Open 7am to 6pm, 50 weeks a year. Child Care Subsidy approved.
Our kindergarten has been on Warrimoo Avenue since 1991, with up to 40 children aged 2.5 to 6 across 2 classrooms, Koalas and Joeys. Many of our educators stay for years, and many families stay too, often through a second child and sometimes a third.
Our yard is generous, with gum trees, a cubby, a sandpit, a worm farm and a vegetable garden the children help look after. Outdoor play is a big part of most days.
I have led the centre since 2017, and our practice is guided by a Reggio-inspired approach that we have thoughtfully developed over many years. We see every child as capable, curious and full of ideas.
In April 2025, I travelled to Reggio Emilia, Italy with the Reggio Australia Study Group, visiting the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre. The experience offered a meaningful opportunity to listen, observe, and reflect alongside others who share a deep respect for children's thinking and learning.
I came back with new ideas. We write down and photograph what children do, so families can see their learning. We set up our rooms and yard with care, because the space itself teaches. And we start from the children's own questions. These reflections have gently shaped and extended our everyday practice, while also affirming what we already believe: that children learn through relationships, they show their ideas in many ways, and our educators learn right alongside them.
St Ives Chase Kindergarten is a small preschool-focused service supported by sector organisations, inclusion support and a wider Eikoh team that helps us maintain continuity for children and families.
Our centre has its own team of permanent and regular casual educators who know our children, routines and approach. When extra cover is needed, familiar educators from our sister centres in the Eikoh group may step in, so children continue to see known faces.
Our team draws on trusted Australian early childhood organisations and the NSW/ACT Inclusion Agency. We work with families and inclusion support to strengthen each child's participation in the centre.
We are Meeting the National Quality Standard and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, with daily attention to active supervision, staff checks, sun safety, outdoor play and children's wellbeing.
For families, this means a small centre feel with the reassurance of familiar backup, shared standards and current sector guidance.
Tina has led the centre since 2017, with Lisa alongside her since 2010. Around them is a team of educators who bring decades of combined experience to the children they look after every day, several of them studying their early childhood degrees as they teach.
Nahid joined the team in 2025 and brings over 25 years of early childhood experience. She believes children learn best through play, relationships and a strong sense of belonging, and values trusting connections with children, families and the wider community. She is in the final year of her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
Lisa has been part of the St Ives Chase team since 2010 and is a familiar, reassuring face for many of our families.
Rebecca joined the team in 2020 and works full-time in the Koalas classroom. She is in her final year of a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Primary Education (Birth-12), and brings her studies into her practice each day. She is passionate about creating a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels safe and confident.
Jenny brings 7 years of early childhood experience to the team. Before joining us, she worked as an Inclusion Support Educator, supporting children with additional needs to feel fully included in learning. As a bilingual educator, she values building meaningful connections with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Tara joined us in 2023 and is studying her Bachelor of Education at Macquarie University.
Emily joined the team in 2024 and brings over 20 years of experience working with children. She has supported families across London, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Sydney, in roles ranging from nanny to newborn night nanny to educator, and has recently completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Bianka joined us in early 2026 and is studying her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care with Open Colleges. She loves building meaningful connections with families and her fellow educators, and most of all forming strong, positive relationships with the children.
The best way to meet our team is in person. They're who you'll see at drop-off and pick-up every day.
Book a tourChoose between preschool hours or extended long day care, from 2 to 5 days per week. Child Care Subsidy approved, so most families pay significantly less out of pocket.
Most families don't pay the listed daily rate. Once your Child Care Subsidy is applied, your real out-of-pocket fee, the "gap fee", is much lower. Use this estimator to get a rough number based on your family income, days per week, and which option you're considering.
If you have an older child also in approved care, the higher subsidy rate (up to 95%) applies to the younger sibling. The option and fee shown above will represent the younger sibling for this calculation. Available only if family income is under $370,727 (2025-26 threshold).
This estimate uses the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy rules for the 2026-27 financial year (effective 6 July 2026). Your CCS rate is calculated from your combined family adjusted taxable income:
The subsidy applies to the lower of the centre's hourly fee or the government's hourly rate cap of $15.19 (centre-based care, 2026-27). Each option above has its own session length, which changes the hourly fee calculation.
Second child higher rate: If you have a second child aged 5 or under in approved care and your family income is under $370,727 (2025-26 threshold), the higher rate uses its own income test (separate from the standard rate). For 2026-27 it goes down step by step:
5% withholding: Centrelink keeps back 5% of your subsidy during the year, in case your income estimate was too low (this is the standard default rate). The figures above include this withholding, so they reflect what you'll actually pay each fortnight. If your estimate was right, you get it back at tax time. You can change the withholding rate in your myGov account.
Activity test and the 3-Day Guarantee: From 5 January 2026, CCS-eligible families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (about 3 days per week), regardless of work or study activity. Some families can access up to 100 hours per fortnight: families who work or study more hours, families with an approved exemption, or families with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child in care. For 4 or 5 days per week of care, this distinction matters: if your fortnightly hours of care exceed your subsidised cap, the hours above are charged at the full fee.
This is an estimate only. Centrelink will give you your exact rate after you lodge a claim through myGov. We're happy to walk through your specific situation on a tour, or you can ring Tina directly on 02 9449 8829.
We love St Ives Chase Kindy. Our two sons have both been there, with one still currently attending. We've lived all over Sydney and still drove our eldest down to St Ives Chase Kindy each day. If you're looking for a service that acts as a second home, then St Ives Chase Kindy is it.
Eight years ago, we sent our daughter here and she had a safe, joyful experience. We still chose to send our second child here years later. Director Tina is highly responsible, always responsive to parents' needs, and stands firm on the right values.
I cannot express enough how much I cherish St Ives Chase Kindergarten. The team is truly exceptional, going above and beyond to care for our children. Tina, with her kindness and nurturing spirit, runs the school seamlessly, making me feel completely confident that my son is not just looked after, but genuinely cared for.
The team at Chase provide an ideal structure and rhythm for the kids, that we feel sets them up well for primary school. The events they hold for kids and parents and the regular communications mean you are not just joining a kindergarten, you are joining a community. Having checked out numerous other alternatives before choosing Chase, the yard and the play equipment are exceptional.
Since our family recently moved to Australia, we had many worries about sending our kids to kindergarten, both language-wise and culturally. Both of our children have happily adapted and are truly enjoying their time here. Because it's not a large centre, each child receives more personal attention. The director, Tina, is always warm and professional. She's honestly one of the most lovely people I've met.
We absolutely love the warm staff, community vibe and huge space here, couldn't recommend it enough. The app posts show how much fun they're having whilst learning so much through all the well-structured, play-based activities. Our little girl is off to St Ives North Public School next year and we feel this preschool has been excellent preparation for her.
Two things shape the day: a play-based approach we've refined over many years, and an outdoor classroom under mature gum trees, where the children spend more time outside than inside.
Our work is shaped by a Reggio-inspired approach that has been thoughtfully practised and refined over many years. We see children as capable, full of ideas, and active researchers of their own world. Our planning begins with careful observation. Rather than following set themes, we respond to children's interests and theories as they unfold.
Joeys Room. Generally our younger group, with a focus on play, connection, and discovery. Educators set up inviting, open-ended experiences that encourage curiosity: natural objects to build with, things to touch and explore, and simple activities set up to spark curiosity. Children explore at their own pace, returning to ideas, building confidence, and expressing themselves in many ways.
Koalas Room. Generally our older group, where children's ideas are explored more deeply over time. Projects emerge from shared interests and are revisited across days or weeks. Through drawing, building, and discussion, children test their thinking with educators alongside them.
Both rooms cater for children aged 2.5 to 6. We try to group older and younger children separately where it makes sense, but it isn't a strict cut-off and rooms are tailored to each child's stage rather than their age in months.
Mature gum trees overhead, a cubby, a sandpit, a worm farm, a vegetable garden the children look after. There are days the children barely come inside.
We set up simple, inviting activities outdoors to encourage children to explore and be curious. Natural materials like leaves, sticks, bark, stones and water sit alongside tools such as magnifying glasses, clipboards and drawing materials. Children might make pictures with natural items, build with sticks, or look closely at bugs and plants. We follow their interests and support them to work together, solve problems, and share ideas. Educators learn alongside the children, asking questions to extend their thinking.
The children feed the worm farm with their morning tea scraps. They notice when the wattle is in flower and when the jacaranda drops. On Wattle Day they learn that the wattle tree has been important to First Nations people for far longer than the rest of us have been here. Caring for a small piece of land is the start of caring for a bigger one.
7 things we hold ourselves to. Tap each one to read more.
Child safety comes before everything else. We hold ourselves to the National Quality Standard and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, and we review our policies, procedures, and practices continuously. We listen to children. We take their voices seriously. Active supervision, professional practice, and current NSW guidance run through everything we do.
Educators see children as capable, curious, and full of potential. They follow children's interests, listen to their ideas, and support learning through meaningful, hands-on experiences, helping each child feel valued and confident.
At the kindergarten, we honour the idea of the hundred languages by giving children many ways to express their thinking and ideas. Children might draw, paint, build with blocks and natural objects, use clay, move their bodies, sing, tell stories, or explore in nature. Educators provide open-ended materials and time for children to create, communicate, and revisit their ideas in different ways. This supports each child to express themselves, share their thinking, and learn in ways that are meaningful to them.
The educators document what the children do. Photographs, quotes, the drawing a child made on Tuesday morning. We pin it on the wall, slowly, over weeks. The documentation tells the children that what they noticed mattered. It also tells us, as educators, where to take the project next.
We see the environment as the third teacher: the space itself invites children to learn. Our spaces are calm, inviting, and thoughtfully arranged to support children's learning and independence. Indoors and outdoors, we provide natural materials, open-ended resources, and areas for creativity, exploration, and quiet reflection. Under the gum trees, children connect with nature through play and discovery. Each space is carefully set up to spark curiosity, encourage collaboration, and support children to explore their ideas. The environment grows and changes with the children, reflecting their interests and making learning visible.
Families and community are at the heart of our kindergarten. We value the strong connections we build over time, often welcoming siblings who already feel a sense of belonging. We honour the diverse cultures within our community by celebrating festivals such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, Easter, and Christmas, as shared by our families. We also acknowledge the Country on which we learn and play, fostering respect and connection to the land. From the very first morning, we work in partnership with families to create a warm, inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and a true sense of belonging.
We care for the land by helping children build respect and connection to nature every day. We spend time outdoors under the gum trees, noticing changes in the seasons, caring for plants, and observing living things.
Children learn to look after their environment by recycling, reducing waste, and using natural materials in their play. We talk about the importance of the land and acknowledge the Country we learn and play on. Through these everyday experiences, children develop a sense of responsibility, respect, and care for the world around them.
Families want to know their child is safe with us. We hold ourselves to the National Quality Standard and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Every educator, casual and contractor who works with children holds a current NSW Working with Children Check. We verify each one before they start and track expiry through the Office of the Children's Guardian.
Educators position themselves to see and hear every child, count them at every transition, and never leave a child alone with one adult out of view. Our ratios meet or exceed the legal minimum in every classroom.
Children are taught they can speak up about anything that doesn't feel right, here or elsewhere. We take what they say seriously. If a concern is raised, we act quickly and follow our legal reporting obligations, including mandatory reporting and the NSW Reportable Conduct Scheme.
We share children's learning with the people who matter most: their families. Daily photos and observations are shared privately through the OWNA app. We keep public images limited and strictly consent-based, and avoid using close-up, identifying photos of children on social media. Our children's faces are not marketing content, and their image, name, location, and daily routines deserve to be protected. We are careful about photos. This is one way we keep your child safe.
If you are ever unsure or concerned, please speak with Tina directly. Our centre policies cover child protection, supervision, behaviour guidance and emergency procedures.
Take a look at some of our spaces, indoor and outdoor, and the kinds of play we set up for the children each day.
Our rhythm flexes with the seasons, the weather, and what the children are most interested in on any given day. Here's roughly how it looks.
A few recent moments from our days, from quiet corners of play to busy afternoons in the garden.
Most of our children go on to St Ives North Public School, St Ives Public School and Pymble Public School. Many to Sydney Grammar St Ives Preparatory, Brigidine, Masada, Knox and Pymble Ladies' College. We have walked, hand in hand, to St Ives North's Book Week parade more than once.
School-readiness is the habit of listening in a group. The patience to wait. The confidence to ask. The fine motor skills built by holding a real paintbrush every day, rather than tracing letters too early. The stamina to sit through a story. The trust that an adult who is not your parent will look out for you.
Those are the skills and habits every Sydney North Shore school says it values, public or independent. We build them slowly, through play, over a year or two. By the time your child walks into their first year of primary school, those things feel ordinary.
Set in a quiet residential pocket of St Ives, with generous gardens and play space all the way out the back. A short drive from Mona Vale Road, and easy on the way in from Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra and Wahroonga. Whether you're searching for a preschool, kindergarten, daycare or long day care in the St Ives area, this is what we are.
Can't find your question? Give us a call on 02 9449 8829. We're always happy to chat.
Most things should be labelled with your child's name so they don't go missing or get mixed up. A small backpack with:
You don't need to send a hat. We supply a broad-brimmed hat at no charge that stays at the centre, so your child always has one ready, even on days you forget to pack one. Sunscreen is also supplied and applied throughout the day, but please send your child with a first layer already on in the morning.
We're a nut-aware centre. We ask families to leave nut products at home, and we keep the centre free of obvious nut foods (peanut butter sandwiches, Nutella, whole nuts, and so on). Educators check lunch boxes each day and put anything that contains nuts to one side until home time.
The reason we say "nut aware" rather than "nut free" is honesty. We can't guarantee that no trace of nuts ever enters the building, since we don't prepare every food on site and food can be processed in shared facilities. What we can guarantee is that every educator is alert to allergies, that we manage them carefully, and that we work closely with each family who has a child with allergies. Please tell us about any specific allergies on enrolment so we can plan together.
From 2.5 years of age, through to when they start primary school (typically age 5 or 6). St Ives Chase Kindergarten is a dedicated preschool, with two classrooms set up specifically for the kindergarten years.
7:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. We're open all year round and close only for public holidays and a short break over Christmas.
Whenever works for your family between 7:00am and 9:30am. Many families arrive between 8:30 and 9:00am so their child has time to settle in before the morning's activities start. Children arriving much later can find it harder to join in once their peers are already absorbed in their day, but we understand mornings don't always go to plan, so just let us know if you're running late.
Our educators are very experienced at supporting children struggling with separation. You can help by staying for a short while, saying a quick goodbye, and leaving when you say you're going. Always say goodbye. Leaving without saying goodbye makes your child more upset, not less.
If your child is distressed, hand them to a staff member and take cues from them. You're welcome to call during the day to check in.
Under 3: that's completely fine. We supply nappies (included in the daily fee for under-3 children) and change children whenever they need it. Most children naturally transition out of nappies during their time with us, somewhere between 2.5 and 3, often led by what they see their friends doing. We work with you on this, if you're actively toilet training at home we'll keep things consistent at the centre, and if your child isn't ready yet we'll keep them comfortable until they are.
From 3 onwards: we expect children to be confident using the toilet independently. By that age, being out of nappies is part of the readiness that helps a child settle into the older group and feel capable among their peers. If toilet training is still a work in progress as your child approaches 3, please talk to us. We're happy to chat through where they're at.
Not at all. Every child is different, and we follow each child's lead. Rest time runs from 1:00 to 1:45pm every day. Children who need a sleep can have one on a comfortable bed, and children who don't are offered quiet activities instead, like our Favourite Book Bag. The goal is a calm, restful break in the middle of the day for everyone.
We teach through play, guided by the Early Years Learning Framework. The program follows what the children are curious about. One week it might be how a koala lives in a eucalyptus tree, painted after a week thinking about mammals. The next, the structure of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with magnetic tiles. The children listen, take turns, manage their things, ask their own questions, look after each other. They build early literacy and numeracy through real materials and play. By the time they start big school, the habits feel ordinary.
Please keep your child home if they have a temperature, need pain-relief or cough medicine, have a coloured discharge from their eyes or nose, are vomiting or have diarrhoea, have an unexplained rash, or are generally unwell.
After a fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea, children must be symptom-free for at least 24 hours (48 hours for vomiting and diarrhoea) before returning.
We're a CCS-approved service. Most families significantly reduce their daily fees. From 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families get at least 72 hours per fortnight via the 3 Day Guarantee. Your subsidy percentage depends on your household income. Apply through your myGov account linked to Services Australia. Once approved, the subsidy is paid directly to us and we reduce your fees accordingly.
Not sure what your percentage will be? When you come for a tour, Tina can walk through your specific situation with you and help you estimate your CCS rate before you commit.
Please do, in fact we'd encourage it. A tour is the best way to see whether the feel of the centre is right for your family. You meet Tina and the educators, see the playground and the classrooms, watch how the day flows, and ask all your questions. Tours usually take about 30 minutes, and you're welcome to bring your child along. Book through the form below or call us on 02 9449 8829.
Family circumstances change, and we understand that sometimes you need to adjust your child's days or make a move. We ask for 4 weeks' written notice for any change to permanent days or for withdrawal, which gives us time to plan carefully for your child's transition and for the group. Your $500 holding deposit is applied to your final invoice when you leave, or refunded if 4 weeks' notice has been given.
You can send your notice by email to either:
If you'd like to talk it through first, we're always happy to chat. Just give us a call on 02 9449 8829.
Book a tour with our team. A walk around the space, time to ask questions, no pressure. Usually 30 minutes, and you're welcome to bring your child.