Long Day Care vs Preschool vs Family Day Care

Long day care

Best for: working parents needing full-time or regular part-time care year-round.

• Centre-based, usually open 7 AM – 6 PM, 50–52 weeks per year
• Caters for children from 6 weeks to school age
• Structured curriculum based on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)
• Eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
• Qualified early childhood educators and teachers required
• Fees typically $120–$155/day (before CCS)
• Waitlists can be long — apply early

Family day care

Best for: families who want a smaller, home-like environment with flexible hours.

• Care is provided in an approved educator's home
• Small groups — typically up to 4 children under school age at once
• More flexible hours than most centres — some carers offer early starts or late finishes
• Eligible for the Child Care Subsidy
• Cares for children from birth to school age (sometimes older)
• Fees typically $100–$135/day (before CCS)
• Quality varies — check each educator's registration and NQS rating

Preschool / kindergarten

Best for: families wanting school-readiness focused care for 3–5 year olds.

• Typically 15 hours per week (NSW Government-funded); some private preschools offer more
• Usually term-time only (4 terms per year) — not available school holidays
• Focus on preparing children for formal schooling
• Community preschools in NSW are eligible for NSW Government Start Strong funding, which reduces costs
• CCS also applies if it is an approved service
• Lower cost per session than long day care, but does not cover a full working week
• Not suitable as sole care for working parents without supplementing with other care

Side-by-side comparison

Feature	Long day care	Family day care	Preschool
Ages	6 weeks – school age	Birth – school age	Typically 3–5 years
Hours	Full day (7 AM – 6 PM)	Flexible, varies by carer	~15 hrs/week, term-time
Available year-round?	Yes	Usually yes	Term-time only
CCS eligible?	Yes	Yes	Yes (if approved)
Group size	Larger (by room)	Small (up to 4–7)	Varies (8–25)
Typical cost (before CCS)	$120–$155/day	$100–$135/day	$50–$90/session

Costs are approximate. Always confirm with individual providers.

Which should you choose?

Most working parents with children under 3 use long day care. Once children reach 3–4, some families supplement with or transition to preschool for the school-readiness focus. Family day care is a strong option if you prefer a small group environment or need hours that don't suit standard centre opening times.

Many Newcastle families use a combination — for example, long day care three days per week and preschool two mornings per week in the year before school.