My daughter has been going to Headstart Clarendon since she was 7 months old (she is now almost 4). I believe this is one of the best childcare/pre-school centres in the area as they provide such dedicated care and education. I trust this service and the staff with my daughters' needs and care and have never had doubts in their abilities, and if I ever had any issues or concerns, I addressed them with the staff (teachers and director) and have been met with such support and consideration and updates on the situation. My daughter has built strong relationships with her teachers, and it shows through the values they hold.

I am extremely disappointed with my experience at Headstart Early Learning Centre Clarendon.<br><br>Just five weeks after my 11-month-old child started attending the centre, they sustained a fractured arm while in the centre’s care. At pick-up, my child was visibly distressed and crying, yet no staff member informed me that anything unusual had occurred or raised any concerns about their condition. It was only after leaving the centre and seeking medical attention that the fracture was diagnosed.<br><br>The treating doctor advised that this type of injury would have involved significant trauma for an 11-month-old baby. Given this, I find it extremely concerning that the injury appears to have gone unnoticed by staff and that I was not notified that anything serious may have occurred. Parents trust educators to recognise when an infant is in distress, particularly after an injury of this severity.<br><br>I was equally disappointed with the investigation that followed. Despite being a premium-priced childcare centre, there were no cameras in the room where the incident occurred to support an objective, evidence-based investigation. As a result, there was no independent way to determine what had happened or assess whether appropriate supervision had been provided.<br><br>What was particularly concerning was receiving assurances that the centre’s safety procedures had been followed appropriately, despite there being no conclusive evidence to support those conclusions. Without objective evidence, it is difficult to have confidence in the outcome of the investigation.<br><br>The lack of transparency, communication and accountability throughout this process resulted in a complete loss of trust in the centre. I ultimately made the difficult decision to withdraw both of my children.<br><br>Parents place enormous trust in childcare providers to keep their children safe and to communicate openly when incidents occur. I hope the centre strengthens its safety practices, improves incident reporting and communication with families, and implements measures that enable thorough, evidence-based investigations into serious incidents. No family should be left with unanswered questions after their 11-month-old child suffers such a significant injury while in care.

We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Headstart Early Learning Centre Clarendon. All of our children have attended the centre for a period over the years, and it’s been wonderful to see the consistent care, support and dedication the educators provide to every child.<br><br>From the moment they started, the educators have made them feel safe, supported and genuinely cared for. Watching them settle in so quickly, build friendships and enjoy going to preschool each day has been wonderful.<br><br>Although we’ve only been at the centre for a month this time around, we’ve already noticed such a positive difference. Our child is becoming more confident and independent, and he’s already developing many of the skills he’ll need for his transition to school next year. It’s been incredible to see how much he’s grown in such a short time.<br><br>The educators are kind, approachable and take the time to get to know each child as an individual. Communication with families has been excellent, and it’s clear the team is passionate about creating a nurturing environment where children feel valued, supported and encouraged to learn.<br><br>As parents, there’s nothing more reassuring than dropping your child off knowing they’re happy, engaged and genuinely cared for. We are so grateful for everything the team has done for our children, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Headstart Early Learning Centre Clarendon to anyone looking for a caring, supportive and high-quality early learning centre.

My son attended this centre for only seven months, and unfortunately, our experience went downhill very quickly. Things seemed to get worse with each passing month.<br><br>One of the biggest concerns was the loss of the wonderful educators who genuinely went above and beyond for the children. They were replaced with staff who couldn’t even pronounce my son’s name correctly, which was disappointing and made us feel like the personal care, love and attention had been lost.<br><br>Over time, my son regularly came home filthy covered in dirt, with dried food caked on his face and clothes. When they bothered to change his clothes, his dirty clothes were often mixed in with his clean bedding, which showed a lack of basic care and attention to hygiene.<br><br>We then received an email advising that the toddler and baby rooms would be combined to help with staff to child ratios. Even some of the educators expressed concerns that this change would hold the toddlers back in their development. I raised my concerns with the Centre Director Lourdes,<br>but received only a generic response.<br><br>Just a week later, on my son’s first day back after that email, he once again came home extremely dirty. I raised my concerns again, this time including the Area Manager, but unfortunately received another generic response with no meaningful action.<br><br>After speaking with several other parents, I realised our concerns were not isolated. Many had experienced similar issues, and some had even contacted the Department of Education.<br><br>At that point, we decided this environment was no longer the right place for our son. We withdrew him and enrolled him in another centre, where the difference in care, communication, and overall quality has been incredible.<br><br>Based on our experience, I would not recommend this centre to any parent who cares about their child’s wellbeing and development. If I could give negative stars, I would

Both my children attended Headstart. We've been so happy and grateful for the care and support they've both received. Both loved attending and adored their teachers.

Both of my boys attended Headstart Clarendon from the time they were babies until they moved on to Kindergarten, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to their education journey. They absolutely loved going every single day. The quality of education they received was outstanding. They developed so many valuable, lifelong skills that have set them up beautifully for school and beyond. As a school teacher myself, I was incredibly impressed — from the moment I walked into the centre, I fell in love with the layout, the learning environment, and the thoughtfully designed programs in place. The staff are warm, nurturing, and genuinely caring. I always felt that my children were valued and loved as if they were their own. That level of trust and reassurance as a parent is priceless. I truly can’t recommend Headstart Clarendon highly enough. If you are looking for quality early childhood education and care in the Hawkesbury, this is the place to be.

I love the feel and presentation of this service. The centre is always clean and inviting. You can see the pride the team take in their space. The tables are set with enticing activities for the children. It is lovely to arrive each day and have the educators show a genuine interest in you and your children. You are always greeted by name. I am so grateful of how easily my children transitioned into the service. Thank you

We initially toured this centre in the first week of January and spoke with the director as we were not looking at having our child start until May. We were assured multiple times by the director that if the spaces started to fill, they would contact us to see if we wanted to enroll early which sounded fantastic. We were also told multiple times that after being put on the waitlist, we would receive check ins every few weeks to confirm if anything had changed. We received no further communication from the centre. I then emailed the centre at the beginning of April to which I received no reply after a week and a half. I then called head office and was advised there were no spaces available for my child even though we had been told we would be advised if spaces started to fill. I was then told they would call me back 2 weeks later to provide me with a further update - yet again, a week and a half past this date and still no communication. After being so eager to enrol my child, the centre has been nothing but empty promises and no communication. My child has now been enrolled elsewhere.

I had the pleasure of entrusting my children, for the past 3 years, to Headstart Clarendon, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the care they provide. The staff genuinely cares for the well-being and development of each child, creating a nurturing and safe environment. The educators are exceptional, fostering a love for learning while promoting social and emotional growth. The facilities are beautifully designed, offering a stimulating and inviting space for kids to explore and thrive. Headstart Clarendon truly sets the standard for quality childcare. Thank you all for your dedication to our little ones!