Epping North YMCA Early Learning Centre

We looked at a number of childcare services in the area before making a decision.
We also completed a number of orientations as well, and YMCA exceeded our expectations. It was the only one that didn't change on any of the orientation days. They were consistent with everything. Steph is an absolute pleasure to deal with also. They explain everything in detail, and they don't take payment out before your child has started like most of the other childcare centres nearby. The centre is great with hygiene which was very important to us.

Our child has just commenced in the babies room. All staff are extremely lovely and friendly.
My daughter happily goes to the staff without any fuss at all, which was a shock as she doesn't even warm up to family members that quickly. Orientation was great. I got to spend time in the room watching my child as well as watching the staff with other children.
On pick up they advise of the day our child has had. I'm well informed of what meals she has eaten, milk and water intake, if she has slept for the day, how they comforted her, nappy output, and day activities. They ensure sunscreen and a hat on before any child goes outside. We can't thank the staff of the babies' room enough for their efforts it does not go un noticed. You are all doing an amazing job.

We have recommended YMCA to family and friends, and we have shared our experience with all.
Absolutely can not fault them.
Thank you to the YMCA Team.
Looking forward to our baby blooming in your care next year as well.

My son going to Ymca from 2019 never had issues, but my daughter start in 2022. Few months back staff has been changed and I can see the difference. Babies been ignored, they don’t change nappy on time no dedication. If you raise concerns nothing changed. I am having issues with staff tried to bring up in staff and management attentions but never see any action. Staff just stand in room talk over phone and ignoring babies crying. I found my daughter crying for milk and laying on educator’s feet. BIG NO FOR BABIES ROOM, kinder is amazing.

Very friendly and caring educators……present the kids with lots of learning and new activities everyday.

My kids are happy in Ymca that’s what parents want. All staffs are friendly and nice. Ymca is good in terms of hygiene as well.

Great facility, management and teachers are very caring towards children and accommodating to parents, honestly not a single fault.

My both kids have been in this centre and I could definitely see some great learning capabilities and devlopment in my kids. Staff really cares about parent’s every concern, and everything is communicated in a timely manner- Centre has great vibe, beautiful fresh plants, yummy food served to kids and amazing friendly staff.

My son has been going there since he was a year old. He loves his educators and the friends he's made. The centre managers know all the kids by name and are always happy to answer questions or just have a chat about the kids.
Things have been tough the last couple of years due to COVID but they are settling back into normality.

I have nothing but great things to say about YMCA Epping North. My kids have been with me whilst I have been working full time from home and I was finding it so hard to let them go but I knew had to do it. After looking at so many childcares I came across YMCA and from the first orientation they attended I was blown away by how welcoming everyone was and how they made my kids feel so comfortable. I have not had one issue with them and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone. The staff are fantastic, my kids are happy, I know they are safe and they love everyday they attend! Definitely made this process an easy one for the whole family.

We have been sending our son to this centre – worry free - for the past 3 yrs now, since he was 8mths old & we highly recommend this day care centre. The staff are amazing & genuinely care for the well being of the children. The rooms are clean & thoughtfully laid out to encourage development & play amongst the kids. The meals served are healthy & delicious and the chef looks after any special dietary requirements. The management team are constantly improving & introducing new programs at the centre to teach the kids about different cultures, keeping healthy, exploring nature and they also have a few pets at the centre as well. We are absolutely going to miss this place when our son starts school.

My son was at another service and it was horrible, so I removed him from there. So then I visited a few other childcares centres in this area before deciding to enroll my son to Epping North YMCA Early Learning Centre. But I had the best feeling about this centre that this is the one for my son, when I had a centre tour conducted by the centre manager. The centre manager made me feel comfortable and was amazing and still is. All the staff are very easy to communicate, they listen to your concerns, really friendly. A year on my son doesn't want leave the centre because he is having so much fun and loves his teachers. The centre manager and staff go beyond their responsibilities and even take the children to their car at pick up time, that's a bonus. The centre provides a excellent program and have animals on the premises, which is great for the children's learning on how to nurture them. I definitely recommend this centre to anyone

Avoid them
Hungry money and thiefs
They care about over charging you more than they care about the kids
Not recommended

AVOID EPPING NORTH YMCA ELC

The whole centre is messed up. Staff leaving and always changing. The centre manager doesn’t even respond to parents and families enquiries.

Communication is bad. Centre manager is always off, some days I call for her and I’m always told she’s not in lmao. The centre smells horrible. Their indoor resources needs to be replaced just by looking from outside the doors and gates the whole yard looks disgusting. I don’t know if they ever considered an outdoor safe space for crawling babies and infants when they built and designed their centre. Even worse I’ve spoken to one parent and they mentioned their child had a nappy rash and next day overheard a few educators screaming from one end to another they’ve run out of wipes and their centre manager has been away since Monday. Wow just wow. The many ongoing incidents at this centre is unbelievable after having conversations with other parents who’ve left the centre for the same reasons. Where’s the high quality care and educational programs you offer?

Where are your ECE teachers? You offer funded programs and your ece teachers don’t even show up? From a parent who’s left your service she also mentioned you are still hiring for another ECE for room 2? Why has it taken this long to find one? Yes there’s sessional Kinder but have you looked into the real reason why staff don’t last at your centre? Why do your good staff leave? Why doesn’t the centre manager work 5 days straight? Why does the centre look like an Indian centre with the majority of staff all from India? Where’s the diversity balance in your sector? Why are babies being put in one room with 4-5 year olds?

No age appropriate soft climbing resources for babies and infants I feel sorry for those educators standing around with non stop crying babies in both arms. And I wonder why my child has scratches in his groin area and when I called the educator that answered said, my child’s room educators have gone for the day lmao.

So many different new Educators every day. Good educators are always leaving. WHY?
The whole centre needs an upgrade and please upgrade the centre manager too. Room 5&6 room Educators especially the room leader so unprofessional and always looking like she wants to run away from her job. Caught her rolling her eyes one time when she saw me walking towards her. It’s like she was annoyed by my presence. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CENTRE.

If I had the option to give negative stars, I would. My child got a very bad nappy rash after attending the care for 4 days. When I raised the issue with the room staff, I was told that it was my responsibility to provide nappy rash cream. Anyways the centre manager was supportive and promised to look into the matter but 6 weeks that my child went there, his bottom was not healed 100 percent.
Secondly, everytime I left my baby at the centre, I would request him to be fed breakfast. Staff never asked (except for a couple of occasions by only 1 staff) if he's had anything?
And to make matters worse when I requested, they would say the kitchen is closed and breakfast gets finished by 8. Mind you i was requesting at 8: 15 for 10 month child.
Even after repetitive assurances by the centre manager, message was not communicated to the staff properly.
Extremely frustrating and disappointing experience for 6 weeks for our family.
Would never reccomend this care to anyone. Barring one or two staff member, everyone else there would just treat kids as a job and not as someone's heart. Wish they could learn some compassion from other childcare centres esp WALLABY CHILDCARE, EPPING.

I dont know anything about this early learning center personally, although today I was so horrified at the way a teacher was yelling at one of the kids. I was getting my kids out of the car as I was parked outside this learning center, and as doing so, this teacher was asking the kids to go inside. But with the last one or two kids she had left to go in she yelled "Get inside now! Or il throw your bag in the bin! Come on! Do you want your bag in the bin? Get inside! Listen to your teacher! "

Omg. I was appauled. And I didnt even hear any tantrum like behaviour from the child at all from where I was so it was odd to hear a teacher yelling like that - first of all so unproffesional, and second of all, the child wasnt doing anything to provoke this? Maybe took a little too long? I dont know. Not that there is an excuse to talk to someone elses child like this. If it was my children being spoken to like that by a teacher I would be fuming. Thats somones little child. And I just felt so bad for this little kid. As parents we somtimes raise our voices at out kids and we feel bad for it, but we are their parents, you would never expect this from their own teachers! Its just unacceptable. And very unprofessional. Our kids, at this age they're so young they dont have their voices yet and seeing this today just had me fuming. Check in with your children and ask questions if they do attend here. Im just dissapointed to see and hear this today. Thursday 22/04 around 12.35pm. If that helps figure out what teacher it was, and what class was being ran.

Center manager is very good, no issues with staff but cant see everyday updates.daily journel never shows up my son, even though i asked them. They should update about every child and every day.

I visited nearly all daycares in the area before deciding to enroll my daughter to ymca. The staff are nice and friendly and the teachers listen and pay attention even to the smallest issues. Very happy so far