I am a university qualified teacher and have over 5 years of experience in early childhood education and care.

I have only worked for SDN, because I share in our values and vision. I started at SDN as a practicum student and fell in love with the children, staff, and its warm working culture. I decided that this is the place that I wanted to work, and further develop my knowledge and skills as an Early Childhood Teacher.

I am very passionate in working with children and families. Children are the future. For me, the best thing about working in the early childhood sector is the fact that we are making a difference in a child's life, and get to experience joy of watching children grow into confident and independent individuals.

SDN Ngallia is located on the ground of Sydney University Cumberland campus, and has a spacious outdoor learning environment surrounded by green grass and a beautiful natural environment. Children would go on mini excursion with their educators to explore the university ground as well as the opportunity to use the ground for physical or motor skill activity.

SDN Ngallia has a strong sense of belonging, becoming and being. Many of our families are returning families, that had their other under our care. Our teaching community is diverse, with many different cultures and backgrounds, and many of our staff have worked here for more than a decade.

For me, the proudest moment is watching the children graduate from preschool, knowing that they are ready to take the next step in their life. This is also the saddest moment too.

Sorphon Nguyen is currently the acting Centre Director at SDN Ngallia. Sam Tang will return from parental leave in May 2021.

Growing bodies need movement and exercise. Growing minds need stimulus and exploration. Growing hearts need opportunities to play and mix with others.

At SDN we know that the best thing we can do for your infant or toddler is to support them to grow and develop in safe, unhurried, nurturing and challenging environments.

Because infants and toddlers are naturally curious, our centres have well-equipped indoor and outdoor areas that will keep your child moving and give them daily opportunities to explore their limits and grow their abilities.

Your child is unique and so we will devise a learning and development program based on what we know about your child’s interests, learning and development. Because they will always be changing and growing, we consistently review the program to ensure we are keeping up with your child’s development, providing them with the best learning opportunities.

Read more about our Child-led Educational program here.

Developed by university-trained early childhood teachers, our preschool program focuses on the whole child, building healthy bodies, caring hearts and curious minds.

We will draw on your child’s interests, strengths, needs and culture to plan and implement a program that best meets their learning and developmental needs.

The program is flexible and will give your child a voice in their learning and development. Your child will be our co-planner, sharing ideas and questions that drive their learning. Our preschool teachers will plan experiences for your child that focus on specific skills in an engaging and meaningful way to support their growing skills and knowledge.

We will immerse your child in a language-rich environment and support them to develop the skills and mindset they need for a successful start to school. Through planned play and learning experiences your child will develop the listening and social skills as well as a passion for learning with curiosity, enthusiasm, persistence, cooperation and focused attention they will need when they transition to school.

Our centres have a transition to school program where our educators work together with local kindergarten teachers and our preschool teachers attend transition to school meetings with local schools.

Read more about our Child-led Educational program here. 

Families in our urban-based centres often call our outdoor areas their “green oasis”.

SDN's outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They’re safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, and use their energy.

Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they’re playing outside, they’re inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace, and figuring out social customs like turn-taking.

These are just some of the reasons SDN invests in developing new, award-winning outdoor spaces with natural designs that inspire children’s curiosity, physical play, and social play.

0-2 Babies

• Nappies
• Change of clothes x2
• Hat – sun safe  
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Shoes and Socks
• Comforter – soft toy/blanket/dummy
• Bottles and milk formula/breast milk
• Blanket / Cot sheets

2-3 Toddlers

• Nappies / spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Comforter – for rest time
• Blanket /bed sheet 

3-5 Preschoolers  

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Blanket / bed sheet

SDN acknowledges the Wangal and Deerubbin people as the traditional owners of the area now known as Lidcombe.

SDN Ngallia opened on 23 June 1997 after SDN successfully submitted an expression of interest to the University of Sydney to manage the child care and education centre on its Cumberland campus. Ngallia means ‘the meeting place of the children’ in the local Aboriginal Dharruk language.

In 2000, SDN Ngallia temporarily closed because of the Sydney Olympics, and children were sent to other SDN centres for the duration of the games.

Since its beginnings, SDN Ngallia has undergone many changes, always maintaining and reflecting a strong connection with families in this vibrant and diverse university community.