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SDN Children’s Services opens new service in Sydney’s Macquarie Park
Freya Lucas
Jan 10, 2025
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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) service provider SDN Children’s Services has opened a new long day care service in Sydney’s Macquarie Park, offering a dedicated autism-specific preschool program to support autistic children’s transition to school.
Catering for 90 children aged between six weeks and six years of age, the service aims to support the inclusion of all children, and has been designed with the principles of inclusion and neurodiversity in mind.The outdoor space at the purpose-built centre provides a safe and stimulating environment for all children to explore and learn and includes a bike track, two large sand pits, as well as water play and sensory areas to encourage learning through exploration, curiosity, problem-solving and creativity.
All staff are focused on inclusive practice and each child and family is supported with an individual approach.
The children enrolled in the Autism Specific Preschool program will benefit from small groupings, with one educator for every four children, compared with the usual preschool ratio of one staff member for every ten children.
The Autism Specific Preschool program caters for 12 autistic children a day while also being fully part of the SDN Macquarie Park community.
“We are aware that some families with autistic children are unable to access early childhood education in the vital year before school,” SDN CEO Kay Turner said.
“Everyone belongs here at SDN, and we will partner with families of autistic children to ensure a smooth transition to school.”
Children enrolled at the centre will have on-site access to early childhood intervention services and Children's Therapies which they can fund through their NDIS packages.
SDN Macquarie Park is centrally located on a quiet street in Macquarie Park, with easy access and convenient parking. It is also close to public transport links, Macquarie University and several major employers in the Macquarie Park business district.
In 2025 SDN will celebrate 120 years of supporting children's wellbeing, learning and development in inclusive environments.
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