Long day care centre Li’l Achievers can now offer up to 79 places a day, a huge jump from its original 24 places.
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The Gunnedah centre received confirmation of the licensing from the Department of Education and Training on Monday morning following an inspection of the new building on the previous Tuesday.
Owner Brooke Patriquin said the expanded part of the centre “passed with flying colours”.
“It was really exciting. We were all here,” she said.
It’s been all-go since the licensing came through, with plenty of time spent on the phone informing parents that their children can now start attending the centre.
“The parents have been really happy to be able to start care,” Mrs Patriquin said.
A handful of children started right away, but many more are expected by early December.
“I’ve given families two weeks to start,” Mrs Patriquin said.
“Next week our numbers will be doubled.
“We’ve started two of our new staff already and next week it’s all hands on deck.”
Mrs Patriquin said it is a relief to be able to meet the demand for childcare.
“With those extra spots that are vacant, if parents ring up, I can say, ‘Yep, I can book you in’ but before I couldn’t; we had a waiting list,” she said.
“We're excited to be able to offer families the places that are needed.”
At the centre’s official opening on November 16, Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said the expansion would make a big difference to families and would help to “meet the immediate need” for childcare.
In just six months, an old house on the new site was raised to the ground and a new building constructed with two pre-school rooms, a large kitchen, offices, a new reception area and a large new playground out the front.
Director Linda Gallagher said the “vibe” from the parents has been very positive and many were impressed with the new building.
“It’s wonderful to meet the new families,” she said.
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“They can’t believe the enormity when they come through the door.”
Mrs Gallagher said the centre’s 18 staff were now focused on settling in with the children and making the new rooms fun learning environments.
“It’s been a race and a lot of decisions had to be made all at once,” she said.
“I’ve been impressed with how the children are settling into the environment.”
Mrs Patriquin said she and her husband Richard were glad they had made the investment in the community but she was still getting used to having such a large centre.
“The whole process has been surreal,” she said.
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