A children's playground with a small path, a red tricycle, a red and yellow tricycle, a traffic light showing green for go, and trees and a fence in the background.
A classroom creation station with a whiteboard that says 'Creation Station... What can you create?' and a basket of craft supplies on a table.
Whiteboard with pink text reading, 'What can you CREATE using puffy paint?', on a table in a classroom or craft room, with cups of puffy paint in assorted colors in the foreground, and chairs, tables, and art displays in the background.
A classroom display illustrating a model of the ocean with various labeled miniature sea creatures and ocean features, including sharks, whales, shells, waves, and sand, on a green carpet. Behind it are blackboards with children's artwork and a woode
A table set for a gathering with pastel-colored cups, white plates, and a decorative table runner, along with a potted green plant in the center, in a room with wall photos and artwork.
A table with dough balls, colorful plastic counters with numbers, a bowl of buttons, scissors, rolling pins, and a wooden frame, suggesting a children's play or craft activity.
Interior of a cozy cottage with a small kitchenette, a wooden table set for dining, colorful dresses hanging on a clothing rack, and a chalkboard wall with 'Welcome to Big Bear Cottage' written on it.
A classroom or art room with tables set up for children's activities, including paint, markers, and paper. The table in the foreground has a watercolor palette, papers, and a small easel with a rainbow painting. In the background, there is a larger t
Children's play area with books, colorful cushions, and a wall with various sensory toys and activities. A table with grass-like surface has numbered blocks and wooden sticks.
Children's outdoor play area with a miniature road including traffic signs, a scooter, and a tricycle, surrounded by trees and a building in the background.
A classroom with a focus on a table displaying a Tic Tac Toe game made of wooden blocks with X and O designs, a yellow sign labeled 'Kitchen' with illustrations, and potted plants. The background shows a play area with shelves, a round rug, tables, a
Children's sandbox with toy construction vehicles, including a yellow dump truck, small excavator, and toy bulldozers, along with a red bucket and shovel, set in an outdoor play area with landscaping and a building in the background.

Your child’s learning journey starts here

White directional arrows pointing left, right, and downward on a bright green background.


Where Little Learners Thrive

More than just childcare, Big Bear Academy is a family - where little learners become big dreamers!

Big Bear Academy provides high-quality early learning in a nurturing and engaging environment. Our centres focus on play-based learning, creativity, and school readiness, ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.

With a high ratio of educators to children, we offer personalised care, fostering strong relationships and a true sense of belonging. Our safe, allergy-friendly spaces encourage exploration and development, with nutritious meals provided daily.

Children drawing hopscotch with chalk on the pavement while wearing hats, guided by an active educator in a grassy outdoor area.
Solid yellow background with no objects or features.

Your Child’s Growth Comes First

At Big Bear Academy, every moment is an opportunity to inspire a lifelong love of learning.

We embrace a fluid, holistic approach to learning, recognising that each child learns best in their own way. By integrating play into our curriculum, we create memorable, engaging experiences that help children retain knowledge naturally.

Our play-based learning fosters creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional development, ensuring children grow academically and personally.

Children's hands reaching into a table of toy sea animals, including sharks, fish, and seaweed, simulating an underwater scene showing motor skill development and active play-based learning.
Red background with a large, hand-drawn red heart in the center.

Our Values

A graphic illustration of three smiling cartoon faces with tears, sitting together with a red heart above them, radiating lines indicating love and happiness.

Respect

We create a space where children and families are valued and respected.

For our team, we create a nurturing, inclusive and forward thinking environment with continuous learning, teamwork and deep respect for the Early Childhood and Education profession.

A funnel diagram with five sections representing stages of qualitative research: 'Exploration' in red, 'Understanding' in light blue, 'Preliminary Research' in yellow, 'Confirmatory Research' in pink, and 'Final Results' in darker red. Arrows indicate flow from exploration to final results.

Inclusion

We celebrate diversity, making sure every child, family and educator feels respected, supported, and included in all learning and play activities.

We are all connected by kindness, support for one another and genuine care.

Three illustrated plant seedlings at different growth stages with soil mounds beneath each.

Unwaivering commitment

We’re dedicated to nurturing each child’s holistic growth through personalised learning experiences that support emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development.

A cartoon illustration of a lightbulb with a black background.

Engaging environments

We inspire creativity and exploration, giving children the freedom to express themselves and discover new ways to solve problems through imaginative play and activities.

When children are engaged, that's when they learn...when children enjoy learning, that's when they develop a love of learning

Four jigsaw puzzle pieces, three orange and one blue, arranged to form a square shape.

Collaboration

We believe in building strong partnerships with families and educators to create a supportive learning environment that nurtures each child's potential.

We also value the support of our network including local community members, professionals inside and outside the industry that can provide us valuable opportunities to refresh our methods and upskill our team.

Blue informational poster for Big Bear Academy emphasizing holistic learning, child development, self-expression, emotional wellbeing, and decision-making skills, with three multicolored crayons in the top right corner.
Blue poster with the title 'Flexible Daily Routine' and rainbow graphics, promoting adaptable daily routines for child development through community input, weather, and children’s interests.
Blue promotional graphic for Big Bear Academy highlighting its all-inclusive daily fee, which covers nappies, wipes, nutritious meals, and events, with a note on resource rotation and no extra charges for premium service.
Blue informational poster for Big Bear Academy emphasizing school readiness, including the academy's focus on helping children transition to school, working with local schools and providers, with the words 'ABC' stylized in the top right corner.
A blue informational graphic promoting Big Bear Academy, emphasizing the importance of outdoor environments for children's development. It features a heading, descriptive text, and a small illustration of flowers in the bottom left corner.
A blue informational poster about Big Bear Academy highlighting the importance of communication with families for child care.
Blue informational graphic for Big Bear Academy highlighting nutritious and colorful meals prepared by chefs with locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing support for all dietary needs.
Information board about Big Bear Academy, highlighting its founding in 2019 by Aussie couple Andrew and Maxine, emphasizing high-quality care, a fun and creative environment, a safe space with a dedicated team, and a strong ethical code.
Blue background with white text explaining why to choose Big Bear Academy, emphasizing respect for the team, work/life balance, support, and leadership. A small orange flower is at the bottom left corner.
Blue poster with yellow outlined star graphics, text explaining Big Bear Academy's values of continuous growth, resource updates, mentorship, and ongoing development, emphasizing team and community involvement.

Our Locations

Bright classroom with tables, chairs, toys, artwork, and educational materials, a preschool or childcare setting with high child safety and quality education measures.

Macquarie Fields

See what 49+ families say!

Bright, spacious preschool classroom with large windows, tables and chairs, a circular rug, indoor plants, bulletin boards, and various toys and educational materials with high child safety and quality education measures.

St Andrews

See what 19+ families say!

Bright, colorful preschool classroom with learning and play areas, tables with educational materials, and decorative plants on the ceiling with high child safety and quality education measures.

North Rocks

See what 5+ families say!

State of the art new childcare centre development for Minto NSW for infants to 6 year old children with high child safety and quality education measures.
Faint background text reads 'Creative Success' on a white background.

Minto

We’re an Approved Centre for the NSW Child Care Subsidy!

Big Bear Academy is an approved centre offering the NSW Government Child Care Subsidy to eligible families. Depending on your child’s age and subsidy level, you could save up to 85% on our daily fees, making child care more affordable.