Above: St Anthony's Child Care Centre educator Trish Crofts with kids Yousef Ali, 4, Amar Chahal, 3, Leiroy-Jay Kerr, 4, and managing director Evet Guirguis.Picture: Luke Fuda
STAFF at St Anthony's Child Care Centre in Ashcroft are putting their hands up for excellence in childcare.
The independent facility on Elizabeth Drive was accredited by the Education and Communities Office of Education with exceeding the quality of standards and requirements.
The centre which has been opened for 18 years is the only childcare facility in South Western Sydney to get the accreditation.
It was also one of the only few centres that was awarded in Sydney.
Managing director Evet Guirguis said the long day care centre was dedicated to providing children with a good education and a healthy and safe environment.
"It takes dedication, hard work and teamwork," she said. "It's always been a challenge but safety and education are a priority for us," she said. "We offer hope and a great education."
Early childhood educator Trish Crofts said the staff had worked hard to meet the needs and requirements of the education board. "We have a fantastic education program and work in collaboration with parents," she said. "We have a fantastic group of staff that work to meet the needs of each child.
"This is a bit of hope for our community — to get 'exceeding' you know you've done everything right. We've really come out shining here."