Gumnut Cottage has been serving the community since 1989. The building is owned by Coffs Harbour City Council and our service is operated by a Management Committee, who maintains financial and managerial responsibility whilst reflecting the diversity and needs of our community.
Gumnut Cottage is open 7:15am – 6:15pm, Monday to Friday. We close on all NSW public holidays and for three weeks over the Christmas/New Year period. Gumnut Cottage caters for children between 6 weeks to 6 years of age accommodating 52 children per day.
- Possum Room – 12 children (6weeks- 2 years) Adult to child ratio 1:4
- Wombat Room – 15 children (2 years – 3 years) Adult to child ratio 1:5
- Wallaby Room – 25 children (3 years -6 years) Adult to child ratio 1:10
At Gumnut Cottage each age group has their own unique indoor learning environment. Our Wombat and Wallaby children share a large outdoor learning space while our Possums have their own outdoor learning space which caters for their specific learning and developmental needs.
At Gumnut Cottage we offer a nutritious and healthy morning, afternoon tea and late afternoon tea as well as delicious lunch time meal prepared daily by our talented in-house cook in accordance with the Munch and Move program. We also cater for children’s individual dietary requirements when needed to support our families.
At Gumnut Cottage we strive to improve the service we provide to the community by continually working on our Quality Improvement Plan. Recent projects that we have successfully completed is the renovations to our outdoor play space, planted a Bush Tucker Garden and a beautiful mural painted by a local Indigenous artist. Our next project is to renovate our kitchen.
For more information about our service please call our friendly team to arrange a visit; We can provide you with a copy of our Parent Information Handbook and give you a tour of our centre.
Your Gumnut Team
The Educators at Gumnut Cottage are qualified and experienced in providing education and care programs utilising the Early Years Learning Framework which guide our educational principles and practices.
Currently a number of our dedicated team have taken on a variety of leadership roles to help guide and focus our pedagogical and reflective practices. These pivotal areas revolve around Inclusion, Indigenous Culture, Sustainability, STEAM, Health and Safety and Munch and Move.
Currently we employ five University trained Early Childhood Teachers who are strongly supported by a team of educators with a Diploma, Certificate III in Children’s Services and a Certificate III Children’s Services Trainee. Our team actively engages in professional development as we recognise that learning is ever evolving.
Director and Administration
Possum Room (6 weeks to 2 years old)
Wombat Room (2 to 3 years old)
Wallaby Room (3 years to school age)
Other Gumnut Team Members
