About child care services

There are a range of child care and preschool services you can access in the Northern Territory (NT).

These include:

• long day care
• family day care
• outside school hours care
• in-home care
• occasional care.

They may be offered by private providers, community groups, government agencies, individuals, babysitters or nannies.

Long day care

Long day care services provide care and education programs for children from birth to school age.

The services generally operate from 7:30am to 6pm to cater for the needs of families.

Children are usually grouped in rooms according to age and developmental stage with professional staff rostered to ensure appropriate staffing at all times.

Family day care

The family day care service comprises family day care educators who provide regulated care and education programs in their own home.

This service can provide flexible care including before and after school, weekends and overnight care.

Limits apply to the number of children who can be cared for in a home at one time.

The family day care coordination unit recruits, trains, monitors and supports family day care educators.

Outside school hours care

Outside school hours care provides supervised care and recreation programs for primary school age children:

• before and after school
• school holidays
• pupil-free days.

The services are generally located in primary schools but can also operate from child care centres or other community facilities.

Preschool or kindergarten

Preschool is a structured, play based learning program delivered by a qualified teacher.

Children usually go to preschool at the age of 4.

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