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After-school and school holiday care in Smithfield

Miss Susan picks children up from Smithfield Public School and looks after them until 5pm. In the school holidays, she looks after children aged 5 to 11 from any school, in a small group in her home.

Susan's big leafy tree, with three children sitting together on a swing and a little birdhouse hanging from a branch
Miss Susan walking along the footpath hand in hand with two children in pink sun hats

Picking up from Smithfield Public School

Each afternoon, Miss Susan and the little ones walk up to Smithfield Public School to meet the older children. She has a big safety buggy with seatbelts for any little ones who are too tired to walk.

Back at Susan’s there’s afternoon tea, a hand with homework and lots of time to play. Miss Susan usually sets up something around what the children are into at the moment, like a science experiment or a game of soccer.

After-school care finishes at 5pm. Miss Susan is hoping to stretch that to 5:30 next year, so feel free to ask her if a later pick-up would help.

After School$47.10
Help with homeworkA late snackFun activities
Whole Day$141.30
Morning teaAfternoon teaBed sheets for rest timePlay and learning

A whole day in the school holidays is the same price as any other day.

What after-school and holiday care cost

After-school care is $47.10 an afternoon, and that includes:

  • Help with basic homework
  • A late snack
  • Something fun set up around their interests

Holiday care is $141.30 a day, the same as a regular day at Susan’s, with a minimum booking of nine hours.

Child Care Subsidy

Eligible families can claim the Child Care Subsidy for both after-school care and holiday care. It’s paid straight to the service and taken off your fees, so you pay the difference.

How much you get depends on your family’s situation, and Services Australia has all the details.

Three children in bucket hats gathered around a bucket on the lawn

School holiday care for ages 5 to 11

Holiday care is open to children aged 5 to 11, whichever school they go to, and they can keep coming until they turn 12.

Some parents call it vacation care and others say school holiday care. If you’re looking for either around Smithfield, Susan’s is at 806 The Horsley Dr, close to Fairfield West, Wetherill Park, Greystanes and Woodpark.

Your child spends the day in Miss Susan’s home with a small group, from 8am to 5pm.

What the holidays look like at Susan’s

Miss Susan plans the holidays around what the children are curious about, so each break looks a little different. Here are a few things from the last ones.

  • A child playing with water, scoops and containers outside

    Water park days

    On hot summer days the blow-up pools and water toys come out, and the yard turns into a little water park.

  • Flowers from the garden frozen in a tub of ice

    Frozen flowers

    Last holidays the children were keen on the garden and science, so they picked flowers from the garden and froze them in ice.

  • Little hands mixing dough in a big bowl

    Cooking together

    There’s cooking every week, like picking herbs from the garden for pizza and measuring ingredients for apple pies.

  • A basket of freshly pulled carrots from the garden

    Out in the garden

    Checking whether the strawberries have turned red, pulling carrots and feeding the tops to the worms.

If there’s an outing, Miss Susan shares the details with families in advance and arranges the permissions needed before it goes ahead.

More about learning through play

Why it helps to book early

Family day care groups are kept small by law. Miss Susan can look after up to seven children a day, and no more than four of them can be under school age.

So on a day when four little ones are booked in, there are three places left for school-age children. The sooner Miss Susan knows your dates, the easier it is to fit your child in.

7children in the group at most

Booking a place

  • Send Miss Susan the afternoons or holiday dates you need, with a call, a text or the enquiry form
  • Let her know your child’s age and which school they go to
  • She’ll tell you which days she has a place free
  • If your child is new to Susan’s, she’ll guide you through enrolling with Rainbow Bridge

It’s best to ask as early as you can, and it’s completely fine to ask even if your plans aren’t settled yet.

Looking for care for a younger brother or sister too? There’s care for babies and toddlers at Susan’s too.

Children sitting together at the little table in the garden An educator in a pink top and two children in sun hats checking the compost bin in the garden A child holding up a small handful of bright pink flowers gathered in the garden The little blue street library, full of books

Come and meet Miss Susan

If you’d like to see where your child would spend their afternoons or holidays, you’re welcome to come and visit, and you can bring your child along too.

Call, text or fill in a few details with your child’s age and the days you need, and Miss Susan will let you know what’s available and arrange a visit.

0451 201 076
Susan's big leafy tree in the late afternoon light, with the three children still on the swing
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