Childcare in Sydney
There are 3,832 approved childcare services in the Sydney urban area: 2,472 offer long day care, 448 run a kindergarten or preschool program and 1,112 offer before and after school care. 16% of rated services are Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent, against 18% nationally.
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Suburbs with the most childcare in Sydney
Blacktown
39 services · 0 Exceeding or Excellent
Merrylands
37 services · 2 Exceeding or Excellent
Castle Hill
36 services · 9 Exceeding or Excellent
Baulkham Hills
32 services · 7 Exceeding or Excellent
Bankstown
31 services · 1 Exceeding or Excellent
Liverpool
31 services · 1 Exceeding or Excellent
Penrith
30 services · 5 Exceeding or Excellent
Auburn
28 services · 4 Exceeding or Excellent
Seven Hills
26 services · 3 Exceeding or Excellent
Greenacre
25 services · 2 Exceeding or Excellent
Hurstville
25 services · 1 Exceeding or Excellent
Kellyville
25 services · 1 Exceeding or Excellent
Highest-rated suburbs
Suburbs with at least 5 rated services, ranked by the share rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent.
| Suburb | Rated services | Exceeding or Excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Colah | 6 | 4 (67%) |
| Turramurra | 14 | 8 (57%) |
| Lilyfield | 9 | 5 (56%) |
| Terrey Hills | 9 | 5 (56%) |
| Cronulla | 10 | 5 (50%) |
| Airds | 6 | 3 (50%) |
| Brookvale | 13 | 6 (46%) |
| Crows Nest | 9 | 4 (44%) |
| Manly | 9 | 4 (44%) |
| Annandale | 7 | 3 (43%) |
Services rated Excellent
Excellent is the highest rating, awarded by ACECQA to services that apply after being rated Exceeding. 4 services in Sydney hold it:
- Belrose Community & Children's Centre, Belrose
- Explore And Develop Annandale, Annandale
- Uniting Airlie Preschool Oatlands, North Parramatta
- Warrawee Care Centre, Warrawee
How the ratings work: National Quality Standard ratings explained.
Types of care in Sydney
| Type of care | Services in Sydney |
|---|---|
| Long day care | 2,472 |
| Kindergarten or preschool program | 448 |
| Family day care schemes | 77 |
| Before and after school care | 1,112 |
| Vacation care | 927 |
Services that offer more than one type of care are counted once for each. Family day care is counted by scheme, not by educator.
What childcare costs in Sydney
The Department of Education publishes fees by state, not by city. Long day care in New South Wales averaged $14.85 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $149 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. What a family pays after the subsidy depends on income:
| Family income | Subsidy rate | Daily gap fee |
|---|---|---|
| $80,000 | 90% | $15 |
| $120,000 | 84% | $24 |
| $180,000 | 72% | $42 |
For a 10-hour day at the New South Wales average fee, one child under school age, before the 5% of the subsidy that is withheld until the year is balanced. Work out your own with the CCS calculator, or see childcare fees by state.
All suburbs in Sydney
- Abbotsbury 1
- Abbotsford 4
- Acacia Gardens 3
- Agnes Banks 1
- Airds 6
- Alexandria 11
- Alfords Point 2
- Allambie Heights 4
- Allawah 1
- Ambarvale 5
- Angus 1
- Annandale 7
- Annangrove 3
- Appin 4
- Arcadia 1
- Arncliffe 11
- Artarmon 13
- Ashbury 4
- Ashcroft 2
- Ashfield 17
- Asquith 6
- Auburn 28
- Austral 14
- Avalon 3
- Avalon Beach 5
- Balgowlah 7
- Balgowlah Heights 3
- Balmain 10
- Balmain East 1
- Bangor 6
- Bankstown 31
- Barangaroo 1
- Barden Ridge 5
- Bardia 4
- Bardwell Park 1
- Bardwell Valley 1
- Bass Hill 11
- Baulkham Hills 32
- Bayview 1
- Beacon Hill 3
- Beaconsfield 1
- Beaumont Hills 4
- Beauty Point 1
- Beecroft 7
- Belfield 8
- Bella Vista 7
- Bellevue Hill 3
- Belmore 15
- Belrose 10
- Berala 2
- Berkshire Park 1
- Berowra 8
- Berowra Heights 4
- Beverley Park 1
- Beverly Hills 9
- Bexley 21
- Bexley North 2
- Bidwill 2
- Bilgola 1
- Bilgola Plateau 1
- Bilpin 1
- Birchgrove 1
- Birrong 2
- Blackett 4
- Blacktown 39
- Blacktown South 2
- Blair Athol 3
- Blairmount 1
- Blakehurst 2
- Blaxland 6
- Blaxland East 1
- Bligh Park 4
- Bondi 13
- Bondi Beach 2
- Bondi Junction 12
- Bonnet Bay 2
- Bonnyrigg 8
- Bonnyrigg Heights 4
- Bossley Park 8
- Botany 10
- Bow Bowing 2
- Box Hill 12
- Bradbury 5
- Breakfast Point 1
- Brighton Le Sands 2
- Brighton-Le-Sands 9
- Bringelly 1
- Broadway 1
- Bronte 4
- Brooklyn 1
- Brookvale 15
- Bundeena 3
- Burraneer 1
- Burwood 12
- Burwood Heights 2
- Busby 3
- Cabramatta 13
- Cabramatta West 2
- Caddens 1
- Cambridge Gardens 3
- Cambridge Park 6
- Camden 11
- Camden Park 1
- Camden South 1
- Cammeray 7
- Campbelltown 21
- Camperdown 4
- Campsie 15
- Canley Heights 6
- Canley Vale 10
- Canterbury 3
- Canterbury South 1
- Caringbah 21
- Caringbah South 6
- Carlingford 18
- Carlton 7
- Carnes Hill 2
- Carnis Hill 1
- Carramar 1
- Carss Park 2
- Cartwright 2
- Castle Cove 1
- Castle Hill 36
- Castlecrag 3
- Castlereagh 2
- Casula 11
- Catherine Field 2
- Cattai 1
- Cecil Hills 5
- Cecil Park 1
- Centennial Park 2
- Chatswood 21
- Cheltenham 3
- Cherrybrook 11
- Chester Hill 12
- Chifley 8
- Chippendale 3
- Chipping Norton 6
- Claremont Meadows 4
- Clarendon 1
- Claymore 5
- Clemton Park 1
- Clovelly 4
- Cobbitty 6
- Colebee 2
- Collaroy Plateau 7
- Colyton 5
- Como 3
- Como West 1
- Concord 10
- Concord West 5
- Condell Park 15
- Connells Point 2
- Constitution Hill 1
- Coogee 8
- Cranebrook 15
- Cremorne 5
- Cromer 5
- Cronulla 10
- Crows Nest 9
- Croydon 12
- Croydon Park 8
- Currans Hill 5
- Daceyville 3
- Darling Point 1
- Darlinghurst 3
- Darlington 3
- Davidson 1
- Dean Park 2
- Dee Why 9
- Denham Court 5
- Denistone 2
- Denistone East 4
- Dharruk 3
- Dolls Point 1
- Doonside 12
- Double Bay 4
- Dover Heights 4
- Drummoyne 6
- Duffys Forest 1
- Dulwich Hill 6
- Dundas 6
- Dundas Valley 4
- Dural 12
- Eagle Vale 2
- Earlwood 10
- East Granville 1
- East Hills 4
- East Killara 1
- East Kurrajong 1
- East Lindfield 1
- Eastern Creek 4
- Eastgardens 1
- Eastlakes 2
- Eastwood 15
- Ebenezer 1
- Edensor Park 8
- Edgecliff 2
- Edmondson Park 11
- Edmonson Park 1
- Elanora Heights 4
- Elderslie 7
- Emerton 3
- Emu Heights 2
- Emu Plains 7
- Enfield 4
- Engadine 20
- Englorie Park 1
- Enmore 2
- Epping 21
- Ermington 14
- Erskine Park 6
- Erskineville 5
- Eschol Park 1
- Eveleigh 2
- Fairfield 16
- Fairfield East 1
- Fairfield Heights 1
- Fairfield West 2
- Fairlight 3
- Faulconbridge 3
- Five Dock 14
- Forest Lodge 1
- Forestville 7
- Freemans Reach 2
- Frenchs Forest 8
- Freshwater 7
- Gables 3
- Galston 3
- Georges Hall 11
- Girraween 5
- Gladesville 11
- Glebe 10
- Gledswood Hills 7
- Glenbrook 4
- Glendenning 7
- Glenfield 7
- Glenhaven 5
- Glenmore Park 15
- Glenorie 5
- Glenwood 10
- Glossodia 2
- Gordon 4
- Gordon East 1
- Grantham Farm 3
- Granville 15
- Grays Point 3
- Green Valley 11
- Greenacre 25
- Greenfield Park 2
- Greenwich 2
- Gregory Hills 7
- Greystanes 21
- Grose Wold 1
- Guildford 20
- Guildford West 1
- Gymea 11
- Gymea Bay 3
- Haberfield 8
- Hammondville 5
- Harbord 2
- Harrington Park 5
- Harris Park 6
- Hassall Grove 3
- Haymarket 1
- Hazelbrook 3
- Heathcote 4
- Hebersham 2
- Heckenberg 3
- Henley 2
- Hillsdale 2
- Hinchinbrook 4
- Hobartville 2
- Holroyd 1
- Holsworthy 8
- Homebush 5
- Homebush Bay 1
- Homebush West 5
- Horningsea Park 2
- Hornsby 19
- Hornsby Heights 5
- Horsley Park 3
- Hoxton Park 6
- Hunters Hill 8
- Huntingwood 1
- Hurlstone Park 4
- Hurstville 25
- Hurstville Grove 3
- Illawong 4
- Ingleburn 14
- Ingleside 1
- Jamisontown 2
- Jannali 10
- Jordan Springs 2
- Kareela 2
- Katoomba 7
- Kearns 3
- Kellyville 25
- Kellyville Ridge 6
- Kemps Creek 2
- Kensington 8
- Kenthurst 8
- Kentlyn 1
- Killara 8
- Killarney Heights 3
- Kings Langley 7
- Kings Park 1
- Kingsford 6
- Kingsgrove 9
- Kingswood 14
- Kirrawee 12
- Kirribilli 1
- Kogarah 8
- Kogarah Bay 1
- Kurmond 2
- Kurnell 2
- Kurrajong 2
- Kyeemagh 2
- La Perouse 1
- Lakemba 11
- Lalor Park 5
- Lane Cove 20
- Lane Cove North 3
- Lane Cove West 2
- Lansvale 1
- Lapstone 2
- Lavender Bay 1
- Lawson 4
- Leichhardt 20
- Len Waters Estate 1
- Leonay 2
- Leppington 14
- Lethbridge Park 2
- Leumeah 8
- Leura 3
- Lewisham 4
- Lidcombe 16
- Lilli Pilli 2
- Lilyfield 9
- Lindfield 13
- Little Bay 1
- Liverpool 31
- Llandilo 1
- Loftus 5
- Londonderry 3
- Long Point 1
- Lucas Heights 1
- Luddenham 2
- Lugarno 2
- Lurnea 10
- Macquarie Fields 15
- Macquarie Park 10
- Malabar 5
- Manly 9
- Manly Vale 4
- Maraylya 2
- Marayong 9
- Maroubra 18
- Maroubra Junction 2
- Marrickville 24
- Marsden Park 12
- Marsfield 3
- Mascot 13
- Matraville 12
- Mays Hill 1
- Mcgraths Hill 2
- Mcmahons Point 1
- Meadowbank 6
- Melonba 2
- Melrose Park 1
- Menai 11
- Menangle Park 2
- Merrylands 37
- Merrylands West 3
- Middle Dural 1
- Middleton Grange 5
- Miller 7
- Millers Point 1
- Milperra 4
- Milsons Point 2
- Minchinbury 7
- Minto 15
- Miranda 18
- Mona Vale 7
- Monterey 2
- Moorebank 11
- Mortdale 9
- Mortlake 4
- Mosman 19
- Mount Annan 7
- Mount Colah 6
- Mount Druitt 19
- Mount Druitt South 1
- Mount Hunter 1
- Mount Kuring-Gai 1
- Mount Pleasant 1
- Mount Pritchard 7
- Mount Riverview 2
- Mount Vernon 1
- Mulgoa 3
- Narellan 10
- Narellan Vale 5
- Naremburn 4
- Narrabeen 6
- Narraweena 6
- Narwee 10
- Neutral Bay 5
- Newington 3
- Newport 3
- Newport Beach 1
- Newtown 10
- Nirimba Fields 1
- Normanhurst 4
- North Balgowlah 1
- North Bondi 3
- North Curl Curl 1
- North Epping 1
- North Kellyville 5
- North Manly 2
- North Narrabeen 3
- North Parramatta 15
- North Richmond 7
- North Rocks 7
- North Ryde 17
- North Strathfield 6
- North Sydney 15
- North Turramurra 3
- North Willoughby 1
- Northbridge 5
- Northmead 10
- Norwest 2
- Oakdale 1
- Oakhurst 4
- Oakville 5
- Oatlands 3
- Oatley 9
- Old Guildford 5
- Old Toongabbie 4
- Oran Park 9
- Orchard Hills 7
- Oxford Falls 2
- Oxley Park 4
- Oyster Bay 4
- Paddington 9
- Padstow 12
- Pagewood 5
- Palm Beach 1
- Panania 12
- Parklea 1
- Parramatta 22
- Parramatta East 1
- Parramatta West 1
- Peakhurst 12
- Peakhurst South 1
- Pemulwuy 4
- Pendle Hill 10
- Pennant Hills 7
- Penrith 30
- Penshurst 8
- Petersham 5
- Phillip Bay 1
- Picnic Point 4
- Pitt Town 3
- Plumpton 7
- Potts Hill 1
- Prairiewood 3
- Prestons 17
- Prospect 2
- Punchbowl 23
- Putney 3
- Pymble 11
- Pyrmont 6
- Quakers Hill 22
- Queens Park 1
- Raby 5
- Ramsgate 1
- Randwick 23
- Redfern 8
- Regents Park 4
- Regentville 3
- Revesby 15
- Revesby Heights 1
- Rhodes 6
- Richmond 9
- Riverstone 13
- Riverview 1
- Riverwood 10
- Rockdale 9
- Rooty Hill 10
- Ropes Crossing 3
- Rose Bay 15
- Rosebery 11
- Rosehill 8
- Roselands 7
- Rosemeadow 6
- Roseville 8
- Roseville Chase 1
- Rossmore 3
- Round Corner 1
- Rouse Hill 16
- Rozelle 5
- Ruse 8
- Rushcutters Bay 1
- Russell Lea 2
- Rydalmere 7
- Ryde 20
- Sadleir 2
- Sans Souci 10
- Schofields 13
- Seaforth 9
- Sefton 6
- Seven Hills 26
- Shalvey 2
- Silverdale 1
- Silverwater 1
- Smeaton Grange 1
- Smithfield 13
- South Coogee 4
- South Granville 5
- South Hurstville 6
- South Penrith 4
- South Turramurra 2
- South Wentworthville 6
- South Windsor 10
- Spring Farm 9
- Springwood 8
- St Andrews 3
- St Clair 15
- St Helens Park 7
- St Ives 22
- St Ives Chase 1
- St Johns Park 3
- St Leonards 10
- St Marys 17
- St Peters 2
- Stanhope Gardens 4
- Stanmore 7
- Strathfield 15
- Strathfield North 2
- Strathfield South 2
- Summer Hill 7
- Surry Hills 10
- Sutherland 10
- Sydney 13
- Sydney Olympic Park 5
- Sylvania 11
- Sylvania Waters 2
- Tallawong 3
- Taren Point 1
- Telopea 1
- Tempe 5
- Terrey Hills 9
- The Oaks 4
- The Ponds 6
- The Rocks 1
- Thornleigh 8
- Toongabbie 19
- Tregear 1
- Turramurra 14
- Turrella 3
- Ultimo 10
- Valley Heights 1
- Varroville 1
- Vaucluse 9
- Villawood 4
- Vineyard 3
- Wahroonga 17
- Waitara 7
- Wakeley 1
- Warragamba 3
- Warrawee 2
- Warriewood 8
- Warrimoo 4
- Warwick Farm 1
- Waterfall 1
- Waterloo 8
- Wattle Grove 4
- Waverley 8
- Wentworth Falls 4
- Wentworth Point 1
- Wentworthville 22
- Werrington 5
- Werrington County 2
- Werrington Downs 1
- West Hoxton 7
- West Pennant Hills 11
- West Pymble 6
- West Ryde 10
- Westleigh 1
- Westmead 13
- Wetherhill Park 1
- Wetherill Park 7
- Whalan 6
- Wheeler Heights 1
- Wilberforce 3
- Wiley Park 4
- Willmot 2
- Willoughby 8
- Windsor 1
- Windsor Downs 1
- Winmalee 5
- Winston Hills 10
- Wollstonecraft 1
- Woodbine 1
- Woodcroft 2
- Woollahra 6
- Woolloomooloo 3
- Woolooware 5
- Woronora 1
- Woronora Heights 2
- Yagoona 16
- Yarrawarrah 1
- Yennora 1
- Yowie Bay 2
- Zetland 6
Frequently asked questions
How many childcare centres are there in Sydney?
There are 3,832 approved childcare services in the Sydney urban area, including 2,472 that offer long day care and 1,112 that offer before and after school care. Many services offer more than one type of care.
How much does childcare cost in Sydney?
Long day care in New South Wales averaged $14.85 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $149 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. A family earning $120,000 pays about $24 a day after the subsidy. Fees vary by centre, so check each service directly.
How many Sydney childcare services are rated Exceeding?
571 of the 3,599 rated services in Sydney (16%) are rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent, compared with 18% across Australia.
Which Sydney suburbs have the most childcare?
Blacktown (39), Merrylands (37) and Castle Hill (36) have the most approved services in Sydney.
Services and ratings: ACECQA National Registers, export of 29 October 2026. City boundary: ABS Significant Urban Area (Sydney), ASGS Edition 3 (2021), matched to services by postcode. Fees: Department of Education, Child Care Subsidy data report, June quarter 2026.