Explore & Develop

Welcome to Explore & Develop Baulkham Hills

Scroll down to learn more about our service.

Waitlist Virtual tour
7.00am – 6.00pm
98 Old Northern Road Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
(02) 8919 1199

We are a child-safe organisation

MEET THE OWNER

Merran

With over 20 years experience working in the Early Childhood sector including extensive experience as a nominated supervisor, Merran has helped many families through the early years of raising children and transitioning them to school.

A mother of four children, Merran is a highly skilled, experienced and passionate Early Childhood Educator who understands a family’s needs for high quality care and support. She values highly the importance of caring for children and feels that it’s a privilege to connect with children and their families on such a personal level.  In fact, a strong bond with each child and their family is at the core of every decision made at Explore & Develop Baulkham Hills.

Features

All Meals provided
On-site car parking
Family owned and operated
Early intervention support
Social skills program
School readiness curriculum
Music program
Sport programs

Our approach

As an owner-operated service, we are actively involved, accountable and deeply invested in the wellbeing of every child. Our relationships with children, families, caregivers and the wider community guide our service, our philosophy and our decision making. Safety remains our foundation: our supervision practices, communication with families and consistent leadership oversight reflect our commitment to high standards of care.

We understand that the earliest years require deep sensitivity, consistency and secure attachment. Our infant spaces are calm, responsive and intentionally designed to support individual routines, emotional security and developmental milestones. Our educators are highly attuned to each baby’s cues, building strong, trusting relationships that give families confidence and children a true sense of safety and belonging.

  • Where do I even start when it comes to reviewing not a daycare in my eyes but my little ones second home and family! Before this centre was open, Merran went above and beyond in helping me find alternative care whilst they were still getting ready to open. I’ve been incredibly blessed to have one of their educators (Tabatha) care for my little one before they opened their doors and now in the centre. I have experienced the dedication, care, adventures, education, laughter and unconditional love all the educators have and couldn’t be happier with sending my boy here every day. This DC makes you feel at ease, you can trust every educator and they make you and your little one feel at home! On top of that, there APP is incredible and reports all the times they eat, drink, nappy changes and everything they’ve been up to during the day with added photos / videos! They have so many adventures and the best educational experiences/play everyday..Highly highly highly recommend!!!
    Nicolette Guirguis

  • E&D has been the first place my 3 year old has been in care. I stumbled upon a single day vacancy by sheer luck and was so very happy I did so.
    I went on a number of daycare tours in the area and by comparison found E&D was large with 3 different levels. My son is on the upper level with the 3+ group.
    We had 2 free orientation sessions and felt very welcomed by his room teachers who gave constructive advice on how to ease him into care.
    Meals are provided, with access to the menu for each day on the OWNA app.
    The facilities are new inside, outdoor area is clean.
    I feel like his teachers (Alev and Maria) have tried to help his difficult transition and now he talks about them at home. The days are structured, so it is easy for me to help prep him for the day. They are constantly running activities/events (e.g. yesterday photos of the children painting were uploaded to the app).
    I also liked the flexibility of being able to have him attend one day with casual bookings when available.
    Ayesha G

  • The reasons why my family love it are endless but come down to two key things, happy staff and happy, engaged kids. It’s refreshing to see a centre invest in their staff PD and it’s reflected in the happiness of my kids. Everyday the teachers greet my kids with smiles (special shout out to Taba, who gives my little girl cuddles every morning). My kids rave about the food, even the veggies Miss Sara provides. My child has allergies and they take such care to ensure all adults (staff and parents) are across this. The extra activities provided, especially sports on Monday have been a massive hit with my preschooler. As my preschooler moves onto big school, I am reassured knowing that his teachers have provided him with key skills he needs to start his next journey, using play based, child led activities. It’s always easy to get my kids into the car to go to daycare, not only because they are excited to see their friends but because they are excited by what wonderful things they will do at daycare that day.
    Daphne Anne Kelly

  • The first time I dropped my son at Explore and Develop he ran towards the covered outside area! it’s his favourite thing to explore nature, run, jump and ride the bikes while being sun safe all day long! The food is diversified and very healthy. I love it that I get to see my son in action in the pictures that are uploaded daily on the owna app. Also this app makes communication from the center very easy. Best of all at Explore and Develop are the educators and the staff members, they all care so much for the kids and know the needs of every single one of them 🙂 Best experience!
    Kinda

Learning Environments

Nursery

0-2 years

Our nursery rooms are warm, calm and nurturing spaces designed to support our youngest children. The environment is carefully split into two rooms to ensure safety and developmental appropriateness for younger and older babies. Beautiful, peaceful cot rooms provide a restful atmosphere for sleep and routine, while play areas invite exploration, sensory discovery, and secure attachments with educators.

Our nursery rooms are warm, calm and nurturing spaces designed to support our youngest children. The environment is carefully split into two rooms to ensure safety and developmental appropriateness for younger and older babies. Beautiful, peaceful cot rooms provide a restful atmosphere for sleep and routine, while play areas invite exploration, sensory discovery, and secure attachments with educators.

Preschool

2-3 years

Our preschool spaces are purposefully positioned separately from the younger rooms, creating a focused and engaging learning hub for our older children. With their own dedicated classrooms and playground, preschool children experience a strong sense of belonging and develop readiness for school. The environment promotes independence, collaboration, problem-solving and early literacy and numeracy through intentional, play-based learning.

Our preschool spaces are purposefully positioned separately from the younger rooms, creating a focused and engaging learning hub for our older children. With their own dedicated classrooms and playground, preschool children experience a strong sense of belonging and develop readiness for school. The environment promotes independence, collaboration, problem-solving and early literacy and numeracy through intentional, play-based learning.

Flexible Indoor Learning Spaces

3-5 years

Our spaces are designed to allow seamless indoor and outdoor flow, ensuring children can access fresh air and movement in all weather conditions rain, hail or shine. These adaptable spaces support different learning styles at different times from group learning, quiet reflection, creative expression and active exploration. The environments evolves with children’s interests, providing opportunities for both structured learning and child-led discovery.

Our spaces are designed to allow seamless indoor and outdoor flow, ensuring children can access fresh air and movement in all weather conditions rain, hail or shine. These adaptable spaces support different learning styles at different times from group learning, quiet reflection, creative expression and active exploration. The environments evolves with children’s interests, providing opportunities for both structured learning and child-led discovery.

Outdoor Learning Environments

All ages

Our outdoor spaces are thoughtfully designed and divided into age groups to ensure safety and meaningful engagement with their surroundings. Surrounded by lush gardens and natural elements, children are immersed in rich nature play experiences every day. With ample space to explore, climb, create and imagine, our outdoor environments encourage physical development, curiosity and a deep connection to the natural world.

Our outdoor spaces are thoughtfully designed and divided into age groups to ensure safety and meaningful engagement with their surroundings. Surrounded by lush gardens and natural elements, children are immersed in rich nature play experiences every day. With ample space to explore, climb, create and imagine, our outdoor environments encourage physical development, curiosity and a deep connection to the natural world.

Rated 4.8 stars on Google

  • Shanna Lloyd

    in the last week

    Google

    We absolutely love Explore & Develop, Baulkham Hills and highly recommend the Centre to anyone needing daycare for their little one. We have been with them since they opened and the staff have become a second family to us. My children adore their educators and we feel completely comfortable leaving our children knowing that they are so well loved and cared for whilst at daycare. The staff consistently go above and beyond to support in anyway they can and the leadership team are second to none!

  • Archi Varma

    in the last week

    Google

    Merran and team lead this centre with extreme care and effort ! We have both our girls going here and are so grateful for the support and growth that they invest in the kids ! We see consistency in educators, innovative play based learning exercises and a healthy dose of fun which the kids love! Thank you team explore and develop. Highly recommended for all parents

  • Frank Xu

    a month ago

    Google

    Our son started at Explore & Develop Baulkham Hills in early 2025, aged 15 months. With places in high demand, we initially secured just one day a week. The management team understood our need for more care and worked very hard to find openings, including notifying us through the parent app whenever temporary places became available. What began as a necessity gradually became a deliberate choice: our son now attends 4 days per week because we value the fine care and education he receives. The purpose-built, beautifully maintained environment is immediately apparent on a tour. What impressed us more, however, only became visible over time: seasoned and responsive leadership team, warm and highly engaged educators, advanced educational methodology, varied and regularly changing programs, multilingual support, and detailed daily updates covering learning, meals and rest, with photos and videos. The small moments are particularly telling. At pick-up, I consistently see children engaged with educators, activities or one another; even late in the day, educators are still playing, talking and reading with them. I have watched an educator turn toilet training into a calm, reassuring moment by reading a story. Children often seem reluctant to leave. As our son's attendance increased, we saw a remarkable improvement in his language, social communication, emotional expression and confidence. He has become happier, more capable and more open to the world around him. For working parents who have to entrust much of their child’s day to others, this is the kind of centre that replaces guilt with reassurance. I would recommend it without hesitation to any families in Baulkham Hills and the surrounding Hills District.

  • RPL

    2 months ago

    Google

    Very good daycare service. Merran is passionate about advancing education with the team, and the care they give each child is 10/10. Keep up the good work team

  • Sammy Pragash

    2 months ago

    Google

    After a terrible experience at another supposedly "5-star" centre, finding Explore & Develop Baulkham Hills has been an absolute blessing. The level of individual attention they give to each and every child is phenomenal—honestly the best I’ve ever seen. ​It makes a world of difference that their educators are permanent, in-house staff rather than agency replacements. You can truly see how much they genuinely care about your child's development in every single interaction. ​I couldn't be happier or recommend them more highly. Well done to Merran and the team! Your love, care, dedication, and effortless warmth show in everything you do.

Fees & Inclusions

The daily fees for 2026

We are an approved Child Care Subsidy (CCS) service, which means eligible families will receive three days per week of subsidised care.

Use our CCS calculator for an estimate of your individual fees, or contact us and we’ll help you with it.

Our 2026 fees are outlined below. Note these fees are before CCS, which will significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Our service is also eligible for Start Strong Fee Relief, providing a further saving for families of 3- and 4-year-old children, in addition to CCS.

AGE GROUPDAILY FEE (BEFORE CCS and Start Strong)
Nursery (0-2 years)$181
Early learning (2-3 years)$181
Preschool (3-5 years)$169

Our daily fee is all-inclusive, covering nutritious meals, snacks and drinks, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, bedding, educational programs and learning materials.

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Contact us

7.00am – 6.00pm
98 Old Northern Road
Baulkham Hills NSW
2153
(02) 8919 1199

We are a child-safe organisation