Welcome to Sandcastles Childcare Elanora Heights! Our centre operates between the hours of 7:30 am and 6:00 pm to allow ample time for drop-offs in the morning and pick-ups in the afternoon.

Children in our care receive nappies as part of our service, which we do to make the early education experience more convenient for you and your family. In addition, we also provide breakfast, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea to ensure your child is well nourished throughout the day!

Our School Readiness program is tailor-made to try and help make the eventual transition from early education to formal education easier on both your child and your family. Taught by a Bachelor-qualified teacher who joins a team of quality educators, our learning environment is the optimal place for your child to grow and learn through play.

Our doors are always open to families who wish to tour our centre, so please feel free to reach out and organise one soon. We look forward to hearing from you!

Rachel Habib

What is your name?

Rachel Habib

How long have you been working in childcare?

I have been an early childhood educator for ten years after starting a certificate 3 traineeship in 2007. On completion of my certificate I continued to gain experience by taking on a variety of roles with the industry including Assistant Educator, Group Leader, Educational Leader, Assistant Manager and recently Centre Director. 

A majority of my teaching career has been spent with children aged 0-2 years; however, I have had experience working with toddlers and pre-schoolers as well.  Since having my son in 2015 my passion for early childhood education has grown. My goal is to ensure that each and every child is given the best opportunities to successfully prepare them for their educational and life journeys.

What is your favourite part of working at the centre?

My favourite part of working at Sandcastles Elanora Heights is the sense of family and community that exists here. I have been at Sandcastles since it opened in 2011; as has many of the staff. Although we have welcomed some new faces to our team over the years we have always prioritised strong and positive relationships with one another and with the families and children to attend the centre. It makes coming to work each day a real joy.

What qualifications do you hold?

Diploma of Children’s Services.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“Every child deserves a champion – An adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” – Rita Pierson

What inspired you to become an educator?

As a child I always wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a teacher. I have many fond memories of setting up make believe classrooms in my bedroom.

What values are most important to you in your team members?

I value educators who share my passion for the education and care of young children. As early childhood educators we play a crucial role in the development of a young child’s self-esteem, self-confidence and sense of agency. I believe that all educators should be continuously building upon their understandings of child development by examining their own beliefs alongside the latest research. This will enable them to provide the highest quality of care possible.

What is one of your hobbies?

I am in awe of the beauty of nature and finding new places to explore. Whether it is a long scenic drive, a bush or coastal walk around our beautiful Northern beaches or simply taking the opportunity to relax by the beach or Narrabeen lagoon my family and I spend as much time as possible outdoors.

What message would you like to tell parents considering your centre?

My team and I welcome all families who want to drop in and visit us.

Rooms

Facilities

Our service provides the following facilities:

• Nappies
• Breakfast
• Morning Tea
• Lunch
• Afternoon Tea
• Other meals – Late snack and fruit bowl
• Pin code security
• Sustainability program
• SMART Interactive Whiteboard
• In-house cook
• Fully air-conditioned
• Large, natural play environments
• Early Childhood Teacher
• Kindyhub – a parent communication app that connects families with their children’s progression, development and daily learning
• KindyNow – an app related to your child’s bookings within our centre

We’d love to welcome you to one of our Sandcastles Childcare & Early Education centres. If you would like to register your interest in a place at Sandcastles Childcare Elanora Heights, please fill out the childcare enrolment form below. One of our educators will then be in touch to discuss your needs.

Please note: filling in this form does not guarantee a place. We recommend visiting a centre for a tour and meeting our friendly educators.