(Posting under an alias for privacy, but I need to warn other parents about this center.) I just wanted to drop a quick review because I genuinely wish I never put my child here. We had to pull our toddler out after less than a year due to multiple, concerning incidents. The biggest red flags were the safety issues combined with the operations. They seemed to blame our child for most incidents, and they are constantly understaffed. This instability caused extreme turnover in the children's classes—it felt like the class makeup changed almost every month as well as lots of staff departing. The environment just didn't feel stable or safe. I truly wish more parents would take the time to review this place to warn others. Please look elsewhere for care; we are so relieved to be gone.

I am writing this review to share my deep appreciation for Little Zak’s Gladesville, especially for how they supported my child during a very sensitive time—just after receiving his autism diagnosis. The care and understanding they showed made a huge difference, helping my child feel safe and welcomed, and easing the challenges often faced by neurodivergent children. My child joined Little Zak’s Gladesville at the beginning of this year in the 4–5 years room, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the care and support provided. The transition from his previous daycare was incredibly smooth. From the very first day, the educators were warm, attentive, and welcoming. At a very sensitive time, just after receiving his diagnosis, Elise showed remarkable understanding and compassion, helping me feel supported and making the transition stress-free. Whenever challenges arose, the team handled everything professionally and with genuine care. I am especially thankful to Anju, whose kindness and warmth naturally earn the respect of the children, and to Kath, who has developed a very close and special bond with my child. The care, attention, and dedication she shows have been instrumental in his growth, confidence, and happiness. Mr. John also played an important role before he left. Throughout the year, I’ve seen my child flourish—interacting confidently with peers, learning new skills and speaking more. Every day, I feel reassured knowing he is happy, safe, and supported. For families of neurodiverse children looking for a nurturing, understanding, and supportive environment, I wholeheartedly recommend Little Zak’s Gladesville. The dedication and care of the staff, especially Kath and Anju, have made a truly remarkable difference in my child’s development and happiness.

Great experience at Little Zak’s Gladesville! Been sending our son to this centre for almost a year now. Great centre and with spacious area to play around for kids. Our son really enjoy his day doing various activities throughout the day. Exceptional educators with so much professionalism and enthusiasm. We feel safe and secure sending our son to this centre and happy with his progress over the months! Good leadership and friendly management, Miss Elise & Miss Kate providing weekly centre updates and news! Well done to all educators, Little Zak Gladesville! Looking forward to year 2026! Thank you.

IMMEDIATE WARNING: Severe Safety Breaches, Staff/Child Ratio issues, and Management Failure. I am re-posting this review to advocate for the children in our community who cannot speak for themselves. We withdrew our 21-month-old son from Little Zak's Academy Gladesville after 10 months due to persistent, serious violations of the National Quality Framework (NQF). The educators are warm and the facility has a fantastic "wow" factor, but no physical luxury can compensate for failure of safety and supervision. 🚩Issue 1: Breaches of Staff-to-Child Ratio This provider consistently operated in breach of Educator-to-child ratios, a violation of national regulation. Evidence: We frequently observed low staffing levels (e.g., 21 children with only 2 educators and 16 babies with 3 staff). Impact: This led to babies being left unattended, crying, and in one instance, sitting in soiled nappies. We often waited up to 30 minutes at drop-off until adequate staffing levels were present. 🚩Issue 2: Supervision Failure and Management Deception Our son was bitten by other children on five separate occasions. The investigation into the October 8th incident showed management misrepresented the facts in the incident report Evidence: Review of the video footage established a clear discrepancy between the reported incident details the center shared with us and the actual events, confirming that an educator failed to intervene immediately as our son was bitten and then hit on the head—a detail management ignored in their verbal and written reports. No Educators from our son’s room were immediately present and again, was a breach of staff to children educators 🚩Issue 3: Management Failure. The Centre Director consistently overpromised and failed to deliver improvements. When challenged on the staffing crisis, management repeatedly used excuses citing "staff personal emergencies," highlighting a systemic lack of contingency planning for legal compliance. Graciously, the Centre waived our 4-week notice period, acknowledging the circumstances of our departure. We have filed a formal complaint with the NSW Department of Education for completeness. Parents should reconsider this facility, as the safety of their children may be compromised.

I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews here, which surprised me, as our experience was quite different. We’ve since moved to a smaller centre, and it’s been the best decision for our family. In my opinion, my son was never truly settled at LZ Gladesville, and I thought maybe it was just him or how it was for small kids. Since moving, he’s never been happier, day and night comparison. I’d recommend asking around before deciding what’s right for you.

The support from the staff at Gladesville is close to none. My child always comes home telling me all the fun activities they do. A massive thank you to Elise and the team for all the hard work they do. I would recommend this centre 100 times over.

Elise and the team are amazing! They’re always so warm, welcoming, and genuinely care about every child. My little one has grown and learned so much since starting here, and I feel completely at ease knowing they’re in such good hands. I couldn’t recommend this centre more highly!

We love Little Zak’s Gladesville! Elise and the team have been an exceptional support for my daughter and for me too. I cannot thank them enough, they have gone above and beyond and I am so..so grateful! We will miss them next year when Lulu starts school!

We love our Little Zaks Family! Elise the Manager has successfully built a warm, engaging and enthusiastic team! Miss Dani, Miss Eliza, Miss Georgia, Miss Dia, Miss Michelle, Miss Asvita are all legends in particular to Lily's care.

Little Zak’s Gladesville stands out for its consistent quality, dedicated staff, and strong relationships with children and families. It’s clear that the team takes pride in creating a positive and enriching experience for every child.