What is daycare?
At a daycare centre, qualified early childhood educators care for infants, toddlers and young children in a safe, steady and nurturing environment. Flexible part-time or full-time hours accommodate parents who need help with childcare while they work, study, or manage other commitments.
Often the first step in a child’s educational journey beyond the home, daycare blends care with early learning opportunities. Each day includes a balance of play-based learning, meals, rest time, outdoor play, and engaging educational activities.
These structured routines foster social, emotional, physical, language and cognitive development. Here, young children can help build friendships, confidence and foundations for the education that follows.
For many families, daycare provides reliable care and the reassurance that their child is spending time in a supportive space designed for growth, connection and wellbeing.
What is preschool?
Preschool prepares children aged 3 to 5 years old for their first year of formal education. In some states, it takes children up to 6, and you’ll hear it called different names depending on where you live, including prekindy or kindergarten.
Led by qualified early childhood educators, preschool programs give children a gentle introduction to more structured learning while still allowing them to discover the world in a natural, playful way.
Through stories, music, art, movement, outdoor play and group experiences, children can strengthen their communication, social, emotional and problem-solving skills before they start school.
This makes the transition feel smoother and less overwhelming. Children have the opportunity to practise routines, follow simple instructions, make friends, share with others and grow more comfortable in a group learning environment.
The Australian Government recommends 15 hours of preschool education a week in the year before they begin school. This comes from the Preschool Reform Agreement, which funds 600 hours of preschool per year for every eligible child.
The key differences between a daycare centre and a preschool program
Daycare and preschool differ when it comes to the ages they accept, the routines and schedules they follow, the number of staff needed, and the fees they charge. Let’s take a closer look at each difference.
Age
Age is the main difference between daycare and preschool. Daycare opens its doors to children right across the early years, usually from around 6 weeks old up to 5 years. That broad range makes it a wonderful option for families wanting one familiar place that grows with their child, from the very first months through to the year before school.
On the other hand, preschool is designed specifically for children aged 3 to 5, focusing on this special window when little ones are curious, social, and getting ready for the leap into formal schooling.
Educator qualifications and ratios
Preschool programs are generally led by highly qualified early childhood educators with a formal degree. Meanwhile, many daycare centres bring together a strong team of qualified early childhood educators alongside certificate-trained care workers.
That said, staffing models differ from one early learning centre to the next. At Juniors Journey, we have qualified early childhood educators varying from university qualified teachers to Diploma / Certificate qualified educators in each of our daycare and preschool rooms.
These early education settings also have to meet their own minimum educator-to-child ratios under the National Quality Framework:
- Birth to 24 months: 1 educator to 4 children
- Over 24 months and under 36 months: 1 educator to 5 children
- 36 months to preschool age: 1 educator to 10 children in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia, or 1 educator to 11 children in Queensland, Victoria, the ACT, and the Northern Territory
- Over preschool age: 1 educator to 15 children
These ratios must be met at all times a service is operating, across every part of the centre, rather than room by room, and they apply even when children are being transported in the service’s care.
Opening hours
In many cases, the biggest practical difference between daycare and preschool comes down to how each one fits around family life.
Long daycare centres typically open early, close late, and stay open most of the year. Many also let you choose which days your child attends, subject to availability.
With extended hours, staff often work rotating rosters. Your child can get to know several educators across the week, and some educators move between age rooms, too. That variety can be a real gift, introducing children to different teaching styles and helping them grow comfortable with more than one trusted adult.
Preschools offer their own kind of rhythm. The hours are generally shorter, educators usually work set days, and programs run alongside school terms, so children see the same familiar faces each session.
Children often attend on certain days, such as Monday to Wednesday or Thursday to Friday, getting them used to a steady schedule in the lead-up to primary school hours.
Importantly, exact opening hours and staff schedules vary by centre. At Juniors Journey, our long daycare services and preschool program both run from 6am or 7am (depending on the location) to 6pm, making life as easy as possible for local families.
Costs
Fees are also worth considering when you compare preschool and long daycare.
Long daycare tends to carry a higher headline rate because you’re paying for longer days and year-round availability, with daily fees generally falling between $100 and $180. As preschool tends to involve shorter hours and run during school terms, the upfront fees are usually lower, though you’re buying fewer hours of care.
Which works out better for your budget really depends on how many days and hours your family needs. The good news is that several government supports bring both within reach for most families.
The Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy can reduce your childcare fees directly. How much you receive, and how many subsidised hours you qualify for, depends on three things: your family income, the type of care you use, and the hours of recognised activity you and your partner do each fortnight.
In NSW, the Start Strong program adds a second layer of fee relief on top of the Child Care Subsidy. For children in an eligible long day care preschool program, fee relief in 2026 is worth up to $2,563 a year for four-year-olds and up to $769 a year for three-year-olds.
The higher, maximum rates go to families and communities who need them most, with a standard rate available to everyone else.
One catch to remember when you’re comparing options: you can only claim fee relief from one service at a time, so it pays to nominate the centre where your child spends most of their week.
Learning focus
In the past, long daycare had a reputation for simply caring for children, while preschool was seen as the place for early education.
That distinction has faded over the years, largely thanks to the Early Years Learning Framework, the national approach that supports children’s learning from birth right through to the transition to primary school.
Today, both daycare and preschool programs are guided by this framework, which recognises play as a powerful part of early learning, giving children the chance to explore ideas, solve problems, build friendships, and develop a genuine sense of belonging.
Where they differ is in emphasis.
Preschool leans into school readiness, building early literacy and numeracy through structured, purposeful learning activities that help children feel confident walking into their first classroom.
In comparison, daycare combines childcare and education across a fuller day, weaving developmental milestones and everyday routines into younger children’s natural routine.
At Juniors Journey, we bring these two services together, pairing the warmth and consistency of all-day care with a genuine focus on early learning, so children get the very best of both worlds. More on this below.
Enjoy the benefits of daycare and preschool in one place
Across Australia, more families are choosing centres like Juniors Journey that bring long daycare and preschool together. With both services under one roof, children move gently from play-based exploration to more structured learning as they grow.
The advantage of this approach is continuity. Your child can settle into one familiar environment, build relationships with educators who know them well, and follow a schedule tailored to your family’s needs.
At Juniors Journey, we welcome infants, toddlers and preschoolers to three separate rooms, each with its own dedicated play space, activities and daily routine for age-appropriate learning.
Discover early education and care with Juniors Journey
At Juniors Journey, you don’t have to choose between quality childcare and school readiness. We welcome children from 6 weeks of age, supporting them through each stage of development as they move from nursery and toddler care into our preschool program.
Through play-based learning, caring routines and meaningful relationships, children are encouraged to explore, communicate, create and develop the skills they need for the next step in their learning journey.
If daycare and/or preschool feel right for your family, we would love to welcome you.
With early learning centres in Gateshead, Mildura and Eglinton, Junior’s Journey welcomes young children of all ages to explore, play and learn at their own pace.
Book a tour, enrol your child or speak with our team for more information.
