Koala Cottage

This place used to be absolutely amazing, a true hidden gem.Unfortunately over the past year, since new management has taken over, things have been changing profoundly, and not for the best.This has manifested in various ways, but across the board. 
Below are some of the changes we have noticed.- Educators: Most of the long standing, experienced educators have left. They used to be incredibly passionate, experienced (many years at the centre), qualified and genuinely caring for the kids, you could see it and feel it. They were not just colleagues, they were friends, they cared for each other, it was a beautiful team and a beautiful thing to witness. The new educators - while nice - just aren’t carrying the same passion, they are more distant, less confident and overall have less personality. It is also obvious they have only limited experience in the field.- Programs: The programs have reduced in scale and in intensity: while before a whole week would be allocated to a given theme providing many opportunities to explore it in depth, it is now given much less time. Programs like show and tell have also lost some emphasis with little to no feedback to the parents, and some kids regularly forgetting to bring their things. For context, the educators used to write down exactly what each child said in his/her presentation, what questions were asked and by whom and the answers provided, giving parents true insight into their child’s development and participation - this has disappeared. Activities at the centre have also somehow softened in their intensity: last year the messy play day, was real messy: kids came back covered in colour from head to toes, proper shower and real change of clothes needed! So much fun, biggest smiles on their faces, it was ridiculous! Our kids where so excited for it this year, but apart from a bit of shaving foam and water, there was not much more to do. They were really disappointed, and the change of clothes was really not required.- Eating: Emphasis on importance of eating seems to have also reduced: On several occasions recently our bkids have reported only eating say the pasta and not the sauce. There was no indication of this on the feedback from the centre. Apparently if you don’t like the sauce that comes with the pasta or the rice, you can simply skip it. Not a great way to encourage our kids to eat a bit of everything and expand their taste.- Outdoor time: The kids used to be outdoor all the time. After all, the outdoor space is absolutely fantastic and one of the great attractions of KC. They used to be outdoor in all seasons provided it was not raining or the air filled with bushfire smoke. There were many instances this year where in the morning the kids would be kept indoors for no apparent reason.This is not an exhaustive list, but some of the main things we have noticed.I have been really torn about writing this review and whether to publish it, as we used to really love the place with a passion. I also do not want the educators who work there to feel like they are not doing a great job, that is not the case. The old guard is still amazing and the new ones are trying their best I am sure, and they are nice enough, it’s just not the same - experience simply is not easily replaced.Ultimately, I feel most of the great reviews here date back to a different time, with a different atmosphere, a different team, a different passion and I feel sharing our view could help other families make a more informed decision.

Our family has been a part of the wonderful Koala Cottage community for the past three years. We have tried other day care centres and were so pleased to finally land here. The staff are authentic in their approach to caring for the kids, you can tell they really love their job and that the kids are the stars of the show! The activities are tailored to meet the kids interests and no two days are the same. The excursions and incursions are always very much looked forward to with excitement levels high on these days - they might be a bush walk, a visit from the fire brigade, puppet shows and more. KC has a great educational program where the kids learn about important topics like sustainability, Indigenous Australians and Anzac Day. I’m confident that my 5 year old is ready to bounce into kindergarten next year due to all the care and support from KC!

Wonderful childcare centre!Really well run, great staff, and a beautiful natural environment for our kids to spend their day.We've tried a few kindergartens as we've moved a couple of times, and Koala Cottage is head and shoulders above the rest. They have a great balance between teaching and preparing the children for school, and letting them just be kids and play.Our kids have always been happy to be dropped off in the morning, and have a smile on their face at the end of the day.

We've been exceptionally happy with the education and care of our kids by the staff at Koala Cottage. We have been part of the Koala Cottage family for more than five years with our two girls, and with our youngest starting school next year, we're sad that this year is our last. Koala Cottage is great - we've especially liked how staff integrate learning with having a lot of fun with the kids, and the cottage setting and lovely shaded outdoor play area are fantastic. We highly recommend Koala Cottage. James & Jess.

Totally satisfied with the level of care and professionalism at team Koala. There is a wonderful sense of community involvement here and we very much like the variety of learning being offered in the way of intentional and spontaneous play. Our daughter loves her educators.

Koala Cottage is a lovely local daycare. My son loves going there, and I can see why! The facility is well run, the staff are thoughtful and engaging, and they have lots of fun activities. I've been very impressed with how thoughtful the staff are. They interact well with families and plan activities that cater to the children's interests and learning styles. I'm so thrilled with the centre, and highly recommend it

We couldn't be happier with Koala Cottage, so glad we ended up going there. The education is great, my twins have learnt so much and are very ready for school. Most importantly the staff care so much about the kids that it's always a happy and safe place for the kids to be. Love it, would recommend it to anyone.

We really love Koala Cottage Child Care! Cathy and the team do such a great job, and our little guy always has so much fun there. Everyone is very professional, and the programme is always interesting for the kids. Great outside area, too. Thanks Koala Cottage!!

Wonderful childcare in Willoughby, I wish I had moved my children earlier. Great education program through all the years particularly preschool and school readiness and a beautiful atmosphere for having fun, making friends and learning. Good nutritious food and caring, dedicated staff. Children are always happy at drop off and pick up. Easy parking right out the front.

Fantastic centre!! Both my boys have attended and thrived at Koala Cottage. We tried a number of daycare centres before we found Koala Cottage and it hands down has the most dedicated and enthusiastic staff of anywhere. They genuinely care about the children and recognize their individual needs. Great communication with the families too. It's been a very enjoyable 5 years we've spent at Koala Cottage and we will miss them all so much. I have no hesitation in recommending Koala Cottage!