Childcare services in the NT

Childcare centres, also known as long day care or centre-based care, provide care and education programs for children from birth to school age. They usually operate between 7:30 am and 6 pm to cater to families' needs, such as those who work regular weekdays.

Children are usually grouped in rooms according to age and developmental stage.

Benefits of using centre-based childcare:

• Childcare centres are more reliable as there are multiple caregivers to provide backup and continuity.
• Centre-based providers employ qualified early childhood educators who offer structured learning and development programs.
• Children have the opportunity to play and interact with a larger group of peers, which helps to develop their social skills and communication.
• Childcare centres tend to have more resources, such as educational toys, learning materials and dedicated play spaces.

Family day care services are run by educators who provide care and education programs from their home. This service can provide flexible care including before and after school, weekends and overnight. Limits apply to the number of children who can be cared for in a home.

Benefits of using a family day care:

• Family day care can offer more flexibility for families with unconventional work schedules.
• The home-based environment can be more comforting for children, especially younger children or those with separation anxiety.
• Family day care can be more affordable than centre-based care.
• In a family day care setting, the smaller group sizes mean children can receive more individualized attention and tailored activities.

Outside school hours care (OSHC) offers supervised care and recreation programs for primary school age children before and after school, school holidays, and on pupil-free days.

These services are generally located in primary schools but can also operate from childcare centres or other community facilities.

For children with a birthday between 1 January and 30 June, they can start preschool at the beginning of the school year (Term 1) in the year they turn 4.

For children with a birthday after 30 June, they can start preschool on or after their 4^th birthday. They will need to attend preschool for a full school year by re-enrolling the following year.

Most preschools in the NT are part of a school, but some long day care services may also provide a preschool program.

Preschool hours at government schools are 15 hours per week, but how each school structures these hours may vary. For example, some schools may offer morning or afternoon sessions, while others offer two full days and one half-day.

Government schools in the NT have priority enrolment areas, which are the residential area in a school’s catchment. Students who reside within a school’s priority enrolment area will have precedency over those who reside outside of the enrolment area.

In-home care (IHC) is an approved childcare service that allows families to access government-subsidised childcare in their own home. IHC educators can care for up to five children from the same family and provide quality early childhood education that’s tailored to each child’s needs.

Benefits of in-home care:

• In-home care delivers quality early childhood education in a child’s home environment.
• Care provided in the home supports families who work non-standard hours or live in a remote area.
• Tailored care can be provided for children with complex or challenging needs.

You can learn more about in-home care at the Australian Government Department of Education.

Occasional care (sometimes called casual or flexible care) is childcare offered on an ad hoc basis; this could be flexible days, or reduced hours such as a half-day or a few hours.

Casual care may be offered by childcare centres depending on the provider’s availability and vacancies.

Benefits of occasional care:

• Casual care enables families to attend appointments or meetings on days or times outside of their usual childcare arrangements.
• Even during short visits, children’s development is supported through playing and socialising with peers, and structured educational activities.
• Casual care provides families with peace of mind knowing they have reliable options for temporary care in times of illness or unplanned situations.