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The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

74-76 Lawrence Street, Freshwater, NSW, 2096 view map
Verified
5.0
(02) 9072 0436

Care Type:

Long Day Care, Pre-school

Hours:

7:30AM to 6:00PM

Vacancies

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Your enquiry will be sent directly to the The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater.

Address:

74-76 Lawrence Street, Freshwater, NSW, 2096

5.0

Rating Score

Read our 11 Reviews

Our daughter started at The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater at 11 months old and 6mths later she is absolutely thriving. The incredible management and care staff have not only given us the confidence that she is being well looked after but they have helped shape and nurture her development beyond our expectations. The daily photograph updates, the meal options, the learning programmes and the constant variety of activities are just some of the highlights. We adore drop off and pick up times when we get to connect with the staff, who are always very happy to spend time with us chatting about our daughter’s day. Thank you TLC for making the transition to daycare so seamless and enjoyable for our family.

- Claire Smith

About The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

We are conveniently located for families in or commuting through Northern Beaches, ideal for families in Freshwater, Harbord, Queenscliff, Curl Curl, North Manly, Fairlight and Brookvale.

Many of our Children go on to attend local schools such as St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, supporting a smooth transition to school.

We offer nurturing care and quality early education for children from 6 weeks to 6 years, with flexible hours (9, 10, 11, and 12-hour sessions) to suit busy families.

Our Learning Environments

Our children benefit from familiar faces as they grow, creating a sense of continuity:

  • Nursery (0-2 years): A safe, nurturing environment for babies to explore with tailored sensory and social experiences.
  • Toddler (2-3 years): Play-based learning encourages curiosity, confidence, and social skills.
  • Preschool (3-6 years): A stimulating learning environment that prepares our children for school through our Enhanced Learning Program.

We’re proud to have qualified teachers and educators, supported by a team of national education experts, ensuring the highest quality childcare and early education.

Innovative Early Learning Programs

Our teachers deliver the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF or the national curriculum) through play-based learning that covers language, literacy, numeracy, STEM, social, and emotional development. Our program also includes:

  • Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR), an evidence-based program developed by Queensland University of Technology to support children’s executive function and self-regulation.
  • Environmental and social sustainability learning experiences.
  • Personalised learning plans for each child.
  • Local school connections.

We focus on strong family partnerships through regular learning and development conversations with your child’s lead educator, learning showcases, and in-centre family events. Our Xplor app provides real-time updates and learning summaries daily to keep you informed on your child’s journey.

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Services Provided by The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

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Kindergarten/Preschool Programs

Kindergarten/Preschool Programs

Our centre offers the NSW Government-approved "Start Strong" Preschool Program , providing access of 600 hours of quality preschool education annually for children aged 3–5 years . This program includes fee relief funding to make early childhood education more affordable for families.

Our Enhanced Learning Program for Preschool children focuses on:

  • Numeracy & Literacy: Developing key skills for lifelong learning.
  • Self-Regulation: Fostering emotional control and resilience.
  • Social & Emotional Development: Supporting independence and building healthy relationships.
  • Creativity & Problem-Solving: Encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

With extended hours and a year-round program (excluding public holidays), our Preschool program is delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers committed to supporting your child’s individual development.

Additional Benefits Include:

  • Government subsidy: Further reduces out-of-pocket Preschool fees in addition to your eligible Childcare Subsidy (CCS).
  • Personalised Learning Plans: Tailored to your child’s unique needs.
  • Rhythm and Resilience Program: Music and movement to improve emotional regulation.
  • School Readiness: Preparing your child for a smooth transition to school.

We also engage with local schools and provide transition statements, ensuring your child feels confident and prepared for the next steps in their education journey. Stay connected with your child’s progress via our Xplor platform, which offers regular updates on their learning and development.

About the curriculum

About the curriculum

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space: 6 weeks – 2 years

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication and cues (body language, facial expression and sounds) and through experimentation. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play including sensory play, music time, story time and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

Toddler Space: 2 - 3 years

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, role playing and reading experiences.

On any given day the Toddlers can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns and participating in counting songs and games.

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as, turn-taking, developing self-confidence and emotional self-regulation. Our skilled team helps children through talking, planning and role modelling.

Preschool Space: 3 – 6 years

Preschool is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program has school readiness at its core, encouraging active engagement in learning and supporting a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.

The oral language supports literacy learning and a child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our Preschool children's literacy development by engaging in rich discussions, reading, storytelling, dramatic play and experimentation all of which introduce new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations.

Throughout the Preschool year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning experiences. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Our goal in the Preschool year is to prepare children and families for a smooth transition to primary school.

Health and Nutrition

Health and Nutrition

Our centre chef prepares and cooks nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating across a wide variety of food.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters.

In Person Tour

Want to see the centre first hand? Book a tour with The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater below.

Fees & Vacancies

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0-1 years

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Toddler

1-2 years

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Pre-Kindy

2-3 years

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Kindy

3-5 years

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Your enquiry will be sent directly to the The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater.

The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater Reviews (11)

5.0

Rating Score

Claire Smith image

Claire Smith

Jun, 2025

Our daughter started at The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater at 11 months old and 6mths later she is absolutely thriving. The incredible management and care staff have not only given us the confidence that she is being well looked after but they have helped shape and nurture her development beyond our expectations. The daily photograph updates, the meal options, the learning programmes and the constant variety of activities are just some of the highlights. We adore drop off and pick up times when we get to connect with the staff, who are always very happy to spend time with us chatting about our daughter’s day. Thank you TLC for making the transition to daycare so seamless and enjoyable for our family.

Response from the owner 29 Jun 2025

Hi Claire, We’re thrilled to receive your 5-star rating! It’s wonderful to hear that our staff have helped shape and nurture your daughter's development beyond your expectations. Your kind words inspire us to continue providing exceptional care and education. Kind regards, The Learning Sanctuary Team

Alberto Martínez Lesta image

Alberto Martínez Lesta

Apr, 2025

We recently transferred our daughter to The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. The team made sure the transition was smooth for our whole family, and most importantly, they helped our daughter feel happy and settled in her new room from the very beginning. A special shout-out to the Junior Kinder educators—they’ve been incredibly supportive, warm, and always ready to help our daughter achieve her goals. I highly recommend TLS Freshwater to any family looking for a nurturing, professional, and child-focused environment.

John Price image

John Price

Apr, 2023

My youngest has been with Learning Sanctuary for 2.5 years and the crew has been amazing. A number of staff also recognised me from previous centres where my older children attended, and connected with them when they came through the doors on dropoffs. The centre manager and her team did an outstanding job through COVID and subsequent staff shortages, and deliver care with clear proactive communication, and most importantly kindness. It's wonderful when humans in educational and care roles...actually care.

How The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater Compares

with Freshwater, 2096

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Above average

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Suburb Average

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Price

The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

Contact Centre

Suburb Average

$168

NQS

The National Quality Standard is an industry benchmark defined by the government.

The Learning Sanctuary Freshwater

Meeting

Suburb Average

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NQS Rating Breakdown

Overall

Meeting

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Educational Program and Practice Meeting
Children's Health and Safety Meeting
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Staffing Arrangements Meeting
Relationships with children Meeting
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities Meeting
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