Early Years Program
The Early Years Program supports families and their children with disability and/or developmental delay to enrol, engage and learn meaningfully at their local early childhood education and care (ECEC) service.
How does the program work?
Families / carers
are supported to enrol their child with disability/delay at a local STaR-affiliated ECEC. Additional services, including parent/carer workshops, information, advice, referral and advocacy, help to ensure ongoing, wrap-around support for the whole family.
Children with disability / delay
have an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which aligns with the family/carer priorities, the Early Years Learning Framework, NDIS and allied health/therapy goals. This plan is updated 3+ times a year.
Educators
in the STaR-affiliated ECEC are coached and mentored with fortnightly visits from a Special Educator to develop and implement the child’s ILP and receive ongoing education and skills training. Qualified STaR Early Childhood Educators provide release for the ECEC educators, ensuring educator/child ratios are maintained.
Transition to school program
is provided in the year before school, including family/carer workshops, support for the school enrolment process, additional school orientation visits, and information sharing with the receiving school. Support in Term 1 of school for family/carer, school and child is also provided if required
How is the Early Years Program funded?
The Early Years Program is provided at no cost to families/carers or our affiliated Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)services. Families/carers are required to pay the usual fees of ECEC. The program is funded by our generous sponsors, philanthropy and the Department of Social Services.
STaR-AFFILIATED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES LOCATIONS
Explore & Develop Baulkham Hills is a purpose-built centre that provides a welcoming, home-like environment for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. With a strong focus on community engagement, the centre offers regular excursions that enhance children’s learning and connection with the world around them.
Kids Early Learning Doonside North is a service of Blacktown City Council, providing high-quality early childhood education for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. The centre offers a supportive, nurturing environment where children can explore, learn, and develop through engaging, play-based experiences.
Midson Road Child Care Centre is a family-owned service providing high-quality care for children from birth to 6 years. The team of dedicated professionals works together to create a nurturing environment that feels like a home away from home.
Kids' Early Learning Kings Langley North is a service of Blacktown City Council, providing high-quality early childhood education for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. Programs, activities, and learning experiences are individualised to suit each child's interests, stage of development and social skills, with collaborative involvement and feedback between families and educators.
Kids' Early Learning Marayong is a service of Blacktown City Council, providing high-quality early childhood education for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. The outdoor environment has a separate babies yard and play area. Green space includes sandpits, sensory garden, mud kitchen, stepping stones and veggie patches.
Noah’s Ark Preschool is a community-based, not-for-profit service, part of the Quakers Hill Uniting Church. Rated "Exceeding" in the National Quality Standards, the team offers a nurturing environment for children aged 2 to 6 years, fostering growth, development, and strong community connections.
FAQ’s
Families can enrol their child at a STaR-affiliated Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) service by contacting the service directly to enquire about availability and enrolment.
OR complete the enquiry form below, letting us know where you located, and we will contact you to discuss what ECEC service has availability.
If your child is already attending a STaR-affiliated ECEC service, you can speak to the service director or your child’s educators about enrolling in the STaR Early Years Program.
You can also contact STaR directly and we will take you through the enrolment process.
Enrolment in the Early Years Program is based on your child’s individual needs rather than a specific diagnosis. We consider factors such as age, developmental needs, and how our program can support their learning and development. If you have questions about eligibility, please contact us to discuss your child’s situation.
A formal diagnosis is not required to join the Early Years Program. If you have concerns about your child’s development, speech, or other areas, we encourage you to contact us. We can discuss your child’s needs and determine if the program would be a good fit for them.
We understand the importance of support for parents, and we offer a few programs that may be helpful for you. We recommend starting with our MyTime Playgroup, which provides a supportive environment for parents and carers of children with disability or developmental delays. Additionally, we run Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) workshops, offering practical strategies to support your parenting journey.
We also provide professional development opportunities for early childhood educators. If the educators working with your child at their current ECEC service are interested, these workshops help them build skills and strategies to better support children with disabilities and developmental delays.
If you're interested in any of these programs or would like more information, feel free to reach out, and we can discuss the best option for you.
The Early Years Program is offered at no cost to families and is funded through generous sponsors, philanthropy and the Department of Social Services (DSS).
Our aim is to provide support without adding any financial burden or barriers. If you have any questions about the program or would like more details, please feel free to reach out.
Yes, you will still be required to pay the regular daily fees at your child’s ECEC service. The Early Years Program is an additional support that complements your child's current learning environment, but it does not cover the regular fees for their care and education.