St Andrews
Welcome to Big Bear Academy - St Andrews!
Opened in 2022, Big Bear Academy St Andrews is our second service and we are super proud of it!
St Andrews caters to 37 children per day from
ages 18 months to 6 years old.
There are two rooms at the service:
Boo Boo room catering to children from 18 months to 3 years old
Yogi room catering to children from 3 to 6 years old
Maxine, the owner, was the Director at St Andrews from opening until 2024 and loved every minute of it!
Visit us:
Location: 3 Glasgow St, St Andrews NSW 2566
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday - 7am to 6pm
Contact Number: (02) 9603 1696
Why choose Big Bear Academy?
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Leading school readiness programs
Our highly qualified team will help prepare your child for their transition to school through our carefully tailored program. This includes, but is not limited to group discussions, shared stories, role play, lunchbox week, name writing practice, learning programs (Reading Eggs, Math seeds), road safety and vision & dental checks.
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Fluid learning & play environment
Fluid learning that continually evolves on a weekly (sometimes daily!) basis to support each child’s development, evolving interests as well as any community or cultural aspects. Fluid learning has many benefits including encouraging decision making.
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Spacious natural outdoor area
Professionally landscaped natural outdoor area created using natural materials.
We believe the great outdoors is a second classroom and use every opportunity to venture outside when we can!
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Fresh & abundant meals daily
Nutritious meals cooked onsite daily by our chef in our commercial kitchen - there is no food budget as we believe healthy eating is critical to a child’s development.
We are a Munch & Move approved service (a NSW healthy eating and physical movement government initiative) and are continuously kept up to date with the latest developments in this space.
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Trusted reputation in the community
We prioritise relationships as trust is important and has to be earned from children and families. We understand putting your little one in care can be challenging for both the child and families.
At Big Bear Academy we ensure all children and families feel safe, secure and supported. Our experienced and qualified educators will provide children (and sometimes families!) with cuddles and reassurance too.
We are the smallest service yet the most recommended in the area for a reason.
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Double the amount of educators than required
High educator-to-child ratio all day, everyday with all team members full-time or permanent part-time.
Not only does this support children’s sense of belonging and wellbeing through continuity of care but also allows for timely communication via the web based Xplor application where learning, nutritional, toileting, sleeping and incident notifications are updated regularly throughout the day.
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Respect for our environment & community
We respect and care for our environments including our natural environment through sustainable practices, our cultural environment through inclusive practices, our community through outreach and our physical environment through caring for our resources and cleaning our service with hospital-grade cleaning system.
We ensure we pass on these ideas and habits to the children in our care so they can become confident and holistic global citizens.
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Feels like a home away from home
There is a strong sense of belonging as each child, family member and team member is able to be themselves and and is supported at Big Bear Academy.
At every opportunity, we make sure everyone who enters the service is comfortable knowing it’s a safe space to shine like the warm glowing ray of sunshine they are!
Meet the nominated supervisor
Miss Claudia
Hi, my name is Claudia, and I am the Centre Director of Big Bear Academy's service in St Andrews.
With over 25 years of experience in the early childhood education sector, I have been fortunate to hold a variety of roles that have shaped my approach to leadership and deepened my commitment to providing quality early learning.
One of my greatest passions lies in cultivating authentic, lasting relationships with our families and the broader community. These connections are at the very core of our service, forming a strong foundation from which our children can thrive. I firmly believe that when families and educators work in genuine partnership, children benefit in the most meaningful ways.
There is truly nothing more rewarding than witnessing the growth of our young learners watching them develop confidence, resilience, and an eagerness to explore and understand the world around them.
At St Andrews, I strive to create a warm, inclusive, and inspiring environment where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered to discover their identity. It is a privilege to lead a team dedicated to nurturing curiosity, fostering a love of learning, and laying the foundation for lifelong success.
Since joining Big Bear Academy in February 2024, I have been provided with valuable opportunities to further refine my leadership style and enhance my professional skills through comprehensive guidance and mentorship. Big Bear Academy's commitment to excellence in early childhood education has empowered me to grow as a leader, ensuring that I can effectively support our educators, children, and families in creating a high-quality learning experience.
I am obsessed with Tetris!
Daily Routine:
Boo Boo Room
Toddlers: 18 months - 3 years old
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Our daily routine is flexible, adjusting to the children’s needs, preferences, and weather.
7:00am - Breakfast & Indoor Free Play
8:00am - Indoor/Outdoor Play
9:30am - Morning Tea
10:00am - Learning activities
11:15am - Group Time
11.30am - Lunch
12:30pm - Rest Time
2:30pm - Afternoon Tea
3:00pm - Indoor/Outdoor Free Play
4:30pm - Late Snack
5:00pm - Indoor/Outdoor Free Play
6:00pm - Close
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Our curriculum is updated on a weekly basis by our educators tailored to support child’s developmental goals and incorporate their individual interests as well as family input and community
Activities include but are not limited to:
Table & Mat Activities
Gross Motor Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Arts & Crafts
Music & Movement
Science
Technology
Socialisation/Self
Cognitive Activities
Wellbeing Activities
Daily Routine:
Yogi Room
Preschool: 3 - 6 years old
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Our daily routine is flexible, adjusting to the children’s needs, preferences, and weather.
7:00am - Breakfast & Indoor Free Play
8:00am - Indoor/Outdoor Play
9:15am - Morning Yarning Circle
9:30am - Morning Tea
10:00am - Learning activities & School Readiness
11:45am - Midday Yarning Circle
12.00pm - Lunch
12:45pm - Rest Time & Quiet Activities
2:15pm - Afternoon Yarning Circle
2:30pm - Afternoon Tea
3:00pm - Indoor/Outdoor Free Play
4:30pm - Late Snack
5:00pm - Indoor/Outdoor Free Play
6:00pm - Close
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Our curriculum is updated on a weekly basis by our educators tailored to support child’s developmental goals and incorporate their individual interests as well as family input and community
Activities include but are not limited to:
Table & Mat Activities
Phonics & Literacy
Science
Technology
Socialisation/Self
Numeracy
Gross Motor Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Arts & Crafts
Music & Movement
Cognitive Activities
Wellbeing Activities
