An art classroom with a table filled with colorful supplies including watercolor paints, markers, paper, and a painting of rainbows on a sign.

Big Bear Academy St Andrews

• 3 Glasgow St, St Andrews NSW 2566

• Monday – Friday (7:00am – 6:00pm)

• Toddler, Preschool (18 Months – 6 Years)

• Phone: (02) 9603 1696

• Email: bigbearacademy.standrews@gmail.com

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Why choose Big Bear Academy?

  • A colorful illustration of a yellow backpack with blue and red accents on a blue background.

    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.

  • Simple illustration of a yellow and green butterfly on a green background.

    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.

  • Spacious natural outdoor area

    Professionally landscaped natural outdoor area created using natural materials. Although we are a 24 place service, the outdoor area is large enough for triple the amount of children.

    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 provided daily - 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.

  • Watercolor illustration of four heart-shaped balloons in pink, red, and orange, on a pink background.

    More 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.

  • Illustration of diverse hands forming a circle around a globe, symbolizing unity and global cooperation on a blue background.

    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!

A woman smiling outdoors in front of green leafy bushes, wearing a black and light blue collared shirt with the logo 'Big Bear Academy'.

Meet the nominated supervisor

Miss Claudia

Hi, my name is Claudia and I am the Centre Director at Big Bear Academy St Andrews. With over 25 years in early childhood education, I’ve been fortunate to work across many roles that have shaped my leadership and strengthened my commitment to quality early learning.

Building genuine, lasting relationships with families is one of my greatest passions, as I believe children thrive most when families and educators work together. There is nothing more rewarding than watching children grow in confidence, resilience and curiosity.

At St Andrews, I strive to create a warm, inclusive and inspiring environment where every child feels safe, valued and ready to explore. Since joining Big Bear Academy in February 2024, I’ve continued to grow as a leader through the guidance and support provided, helping me better support our educators, children and families.

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Boo Boo Room

Toddlers: 2 - 3 years old

  • Our Boo Boo Room provides a warm, inviting, and engaging environment where children can immerse themselves in rich, play-based learning experiences. The space is thoughtfully designed to support a wide variety of developmental opportunities, including dramatic play, construction and building, creative arts, sensory exploration, and access to calm, nurturing spaces for rest and regulation.

    Every area within the Boo Boo Room is intentionally curated to spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and support each child’s individual learning journey. It is a welcoming environment that inspires children to explore, discover, and experience the joy of play and learning.

  • Our curriculum is grounded in a play-based approach that supports meaningful, authentic learning experiences for every child. Educators thoughtfully plan and document the curriculum each week, ensuring it reflects the children’s emerging ideas, interests, and strengths. Family and community input is highly valued, helping to create a responsive and interconnected learning environment.

    Within our toddler programme, the curriculum also focuses on understanding each child’s developmental stage and nurturing the skills they are steadily building.

    Through intentional planning and rich, play-based experiences, we support children to grow confidently within the group setting and develop essential foundations for lifelong learning.

The Yogi Room

Preschool: 3 - 6 years old

  • Our Yogi Room is a thoughtfully designed learning environment that invites children to explore, create, and engage in meaningful play. The space is intentionally provisioned to offer a wide range of learning opportunities, including science and discovery, group experiences, and early literacy and numeracy exploration. Every area is curated to promote a sense of togetherness, collaboration, and shared learning.

    The environment is dynamic and responsive, continually evolving to reflect the children’s interests, ideas, and ongoing projects.

  • Our curriculum planning is thoughtfully documented each week by our dedicated educators. Every learning experience is intentionally tailored to support each child’s developmental goals, reflect their individual interests, and incorporate meaningful contributions from families and the wider community.

    Our play based programme empowers children as capable and active learners. We believe that children learn best when they are immersed in hands on, engaging, and interactive experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence, and independence.

    Our approach extends well beyond traditional school readiness models. We are committed to fostering a lifelong love of learning by embedding essential pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills within rich play-based environments. Our qualified educators work to ensure each child is well prepared not only for a successful transition to school, but for continued learning and development throughout their lives.

Virtual Tour

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Book a tour!
Exterior view of Big Bear Academy, a preschool with a brick building, black fence, and playground with slide, surrounded by trees and flags.
Bright classroom with tables set for a meal, decorated with flowers, and various educational displays and toys. Large windows let in natural light.
A brightly lit preschool classroom with small tables and chairs, toys, books, and educational decorations on the walls, including a cozy reading corner with plush toys and a large bulletin board filled with children's artwork and photos.
An indoor children's play and learning area with small tables and chairs, a rocking chair, a potted plant, and wall decorations, including educational displays and children's artwork.
A classroom display about the ocean, featuring a 3D model of the ocean with toy animals, shells, and signs, on a colorful carpet with educational posters and artwork on the walls.
A bright, organized preschool classroom with play areas, tables, chairs, educational displays, and toys.
A table set for a meal with pastel-colored cups, white bowls, and a decorative cloth, with a leafy plant centerpiece, in a brightly lit room with photos and artwork on the wall.
Bright classroom with large windows, round table with chairs, patterned rug, and various educational displays and artwork on the walls.
A whiteboard with blue writing that reads 'Creation Station.. 'What can you create?', surrounded by spinning tools, a basket with crafts supplies, and soft plush toys in the background.
Whiteboard with pink writing asking "What can you CREATE using puffy paint?" surrounded by colorful puffy paint cups with brushes in a classroom or art space.
Bright, spacious classroom with round tables and chairs, bulletin boards, a large circular rug, and large windows revealing an outdoor play area.
Yellow construction helmet with a
Bright and colorful preschool classroom with rugs, tables, and educational materials, including a globe, world map, and art supplies, with large windows allowing natural light.
Table with baking dough balls, colorful plastic numbers, scissors, rolling pins, and a bowl of multicolored buttons.
A classroom or activity space with a whiteboard that reads 'Creation Station... What can you create?' with a heart and flower illustration. On the table, there is a basket of craft supplies, and in the background, plush toys resembling a blue dinosau
A classroom or art room with a table set up for painting projects, featuring watercolor paints, markers, colored paper, and a small canvas displaying a rainbow of colors.
A table set for a meal with white bowls and plates, pink, yellow, and green utensils, and a centerpiece with pink paper flowers in a green pot, with a second table in the background with similar tableware and decorations.
Indoor play area with colorful dresses hanging on a rack, a wooden toy kitchen, and a table set with white dishes; a black chalkboard wall has writing that says 'Welcome to Big Bear Cottage'.
A wooden deck with a large tree growing through it, featuring a cozy seating area with two cushions, a fluffy rug, and children's books. In the background, there is a play area with sand and toy dump trucks, a playhouse, and a backyard with trees and
A small wooden animal enclosure with a dirt floor containing four plastic dinosaur and animal toys and a small tree stump in the center.
Children's backyard with a sandbox, toys, a small playhouse, and a shaded patio area with a table and chairs, adjacent to a brick house with a slide and outdoor stairs.
Colorful playground area with a blue slide, climbing structures, and a tree in the center, surrounded by artificial grass and enclosed by wooden fencing.
A scarecrow dressed in plaid shirt and bandana, standing in a garden bed with a small plant, two blue watering cans, a green fence background, and colorful artwork and signs on the fence, including a welcome sign and children's drawings about gardeni
Outdoor play area with a wooden deck, low table with plates and cups, decorative pillows, a patterned rug, kids' playground with slides and climbing structures, and a tree in the background.
Indoor play area with a chalkboard wall with the words 'Welcome to Big Bear Cottage' written in light blue, a wooden play kitchen, a clothing rack with colorful dresses, and a table set with white dishes and a small plant.
Child's backyard with sandbox, play equipment, shaded sitting area, playhouse, and a table with toys under a tree.
Backyard with artificial grass, a sandbox, small slide, and a large tree. House with brick walls and large windows in the background.
Backyard with green lawn, small wooden shed, sandbox, brick house with large windows, trees, and solar panels on neighboring rooftops.
Child's backyard playground with a small blue slide, a tree with a wooden fence around its base, a grassy area, and a brick building with large windows in the background.
Backyard with artificial grass, sandbox, wooden deck, small slide, large tree, brick house, and fence, sunny day with blue sky.
Backyard with grass, a blue slide, a wooden playhouse, mature trees, a brick house, and a green fence under a cloudy sky.
Kid's outdoor playground with a miniature road, traffic signs, slide, and artificial grass, surrounded by a brick house, trees, and fences.

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