Masada College Early Learning Centre.
A place where your child will be truly known.
Masada Cottage has been caring for children on Sydney’s North Shore for over 38 years. Located within the beautiful, leafy grounds of Masada College in St Ives, we welcome children from all backgrounds, aged two to five, into a warm and intellectually rich community.
Our program is grounded in the Harvard Project Zero Cultures of Thinking framework. Small class sizes, specialist educators, and a seamless pathway into one of Sydney’s leading independent schools mean that every child is set up for a strong start and a confident future.
Everything your family needs.
We are open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm. Families choose either a short day (7:30am to 4:30pm) or a long day (7:30am to 6:00pm). Three freshly prepared, nutritious meals are provided each day: morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.
Our teacher-to-child ratios are above government requirements, meaning your child receives genuine individual attention every day. We are an approved long day care provider, and most families are eligible for the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy, which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Our team is happy to help you understand what support is available to your family.
More than a childcare centre.
Masada Cottage children benefit from specialist programs taught by our Junior School teachers, including Music, Sport, and Jewish Studies. These programs enrich the early years experience and build a natural, familiar connection with the Junior School, making the move to Kindergarten feel like a continuation rather than a new beginning.
Families from all cultural and religious backgrounds are warmly welcomed at Masada Cottage.
Our Jewish Studies program introduces children to universal values of kindness, gratitude, and care for others.
No prior knowledge of Jewish life is needed or expected. Many of our families come from a wide range of traditions and find these values deeply familiar.
Space to explore, play and grow.
Our lush outdoor areas give children the room they need to move, discover, and develop. The sandpit, mud pit, and bike tracks encourage physical confidence and imaginative play.
Every indoor space is purposefully designed to support children’s cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and creative development.
School readiness starts here.
Our Kindy Readiness Program gives children a genuine, structured head start for Kindergarten. We build pre-literacy and numeracy foundations alongside the social and emotional skills that allow children to thrive in a classroom: how to listen, collaborate, and navigate new experiences with confidence.
Throughout the year, our four-year-olds visit Kindergarten classes, explore the Junior School Library, enjoy lunch with their Year 5 buddies, and attend school assemblies alongside Junior School students. By the time they start school, our children already feel at home.
The beginning of a journey that lasts.
Masada Cottage sits within Masada College, one of Sydney’s leading independent co-educational schools. Children who begin with us at two years old have the opportunity to continue through Junior School and Senior School, all the way to Year 12 graduation.
Our HSC Class of 2025 ranked 12th in NSW among non-selective co-educational schools. Choosing Masada Cottage is not just choosing an early learning centre. It is choosing a school community for the years ahead.
Come and see us.
The best way to understand Masada Cottage is to visit. Come and meet our educators, see the children at play, and ask us everything. We welcome families from all backgrounds warmly and without any obligation.
Grandparents are very welcome to join you.
Tours run once a month and are limited to five families. Places are strictly limited.