Children First – Plumpton Long Day Care and Preschool Awarded Grant

We’re excited to announce a milestone for the Children First community. Our centre, Plumpton Long Day Care and Preschool, has been selected as one of the first recipients of the NSW Government’s $20 million funding initiative.

During a press conference on Wednesday, 10 April 2024, with Prue Car – Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning, alongside Murat Dizdar – Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, and Edmond Atalla – Member for Mount Druitt, it was announced that we are among the 16 early childhood services to benefit from the first round of grants under the Flexible Initiatives Trial.

The grant will be used to launch a new Integrated Early Intervention Preschool Program at the centre to support children with additional needs, diagnosed and undiagnosed. Additionally, the increase of our license by 10 places means we can now offer our services to 80 families in total.

The program aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), will equip children with the necessary skills to integrate at their own pace alongside their neurotypical peers. Central to our approach is a family-centred, partnership model of care. The model brings together educators, allied health professionals and families in a collaborative effort to achieve goals and developmental milestones at a pace which is defined by the child.

Families looking to join our community can enrol in the program for two days each week. The program, running for five hours, includes three hours of play-based activities, followed by two hours of integration into the long day care centre. Children can stay at the centre until 6:00pm, which accommodates the various needs of families, and the value of having time for respite.

Christy Old, Centre Manager at Children First – Plumpton Long Day Care, highlights the need, saying, “So many of our little ones, around a third, need additional support. We’re familiar with this challenge, especially in Western Sydney, where the need is great. Children First has a proven track record in supporting children with additional needs, and this funding will accelerate our ability to help families in Western Sydney.

Among those whose experiences have informed the development of this program are Natasha and Aiden, parents to young Arya, diagnosed with Autism in 2022. Their advocacy and feedback, along with many other families, have been instrumental as we’ve refined our approach to care.

“The difference is profound,” shares Natasha, Arya’s mother. “It’s more than care, it’s about understanding and nurturing each child’s potential. Seeing Arya’s growth has been a heartfelt journey, and we’re so grateful that this funding will open doors for more families to receive the support they need.”

We’re in the process of working with the council on essential updates to our centre, aiming to launch the new Integrated Early Intervention Preschool Program mid-year. For updates on our progress, please keep an eye on our Facebook page.

To learn more or to join the waitlist, contact us. We look forward to welcoming you to Children First – Plumpton Long Day Care.