Early Learning Program « SDN Children's Services

SDN Children’s Services runs the Early Learning Program with funding from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services: Ageing, Disability & Home Care (ADHC), NSW Department of Education & Training (DET) and the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

SDN’s Early Learning Program (ELP) helps children aged from birth to five years of age who have disabilities or who aren’t developing in the same way as other children their age. We also work with the family and other carers to help the child’s learning and development.

To join ELP you need to live in the Parramatta, Holroyd or Auburn local government areas in Sydney, or your child needs to attend a pre-school or child care centre in one of those areas or selected centres in Blacktown. If you’re not sure, please contact us on 02 9897 3635.

To be part of the program, your child must have a diagnosed disability or developmental problem, or it must be likely that your child will have development problems if you don’t get help.

It’s also essential that family members and other carers are willing to try out our suggestions, when your child is at home or at their preschool or child care centre.

The ELP has limited places, and children are accepted based on a list of criteria. Once all places are taken, families go onto a waiting list.

For more information please see our Early Learning Program brochure

What can I expect in the Early Learning Program?

Our staff work in partnership with you and your child’s carers. We:

help you learn about your child’s strengths and learning needs
show you how you can use everyday situations to help your child’s learning
show you how to use play to help your child’s learning
give you information about other services in your local community
help you link up with others who can help you and your child.

What do Early Learning Program services include?

Early Learning Support (free service)

Individual family service planning, observation and assessment, service coordination, individual intervention planning, home-based strategies.

Early Learning Support (fee charged)

Developmental and cognitive assessment by a psychologist.

Early Learning Groups ($50 for a school term)

One and a half hour small group sessions for children and families to learn together, held on Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Preschool/child care centre resource and support service (free service)

This option must be supported by a request from your child’s pre-school or child care centre, and provides strategies for the centre or puts you in touch with other services who can do this.

Where is the Early Learning Program Early Learning Program?

If your child goes to a pre-school or child care centre in Parramatta, Holroyd or Auburn, most services will be provided at that centre, with some visits offered at home. If your child doesn’t attend one of those centres, services will be provided at home, and at SDN’s Child and Family Resource Centre at 28 Cowper Street, Granville.

Click here for a map.

The Child and Family Resource Centre is within easy walking distance from Granville railway station. Parking is available on the corner of Cowper and Rowell Street in a free two-hour Council car park. Local street parking is also available.

Drop-in opportunities, family counselling, early learning groups and some assessments and family meetings are also provided at the Resource Centre.

How long will my child be in the Early Learning Program?

When you first contact us, we’ll talk to you about the length of involvement in the program, and the type and amount of service available. This will be reviewed at the end of each 10-week term or as the need arises.

Children leave the ELP when:

they no longer meet the criteria
the family/child no longer wants to be in the program
the allocated terms of involvement have been completed.