NEWCASTLE'S latest childcare centre on the block is offering some parents a drop-to-work shuttle bus service and has flagged selling pre-packaged dinners for parents collecting their children.
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East End Early Education and Preschool opened on May 13 on the ground floor of 50 Bolton Street, where businessman Darren Nicholson owns Hunter Car Parking.
Described as a "state of the art" facility, the centre allows parents dropping their children to drive onto the first floor, park their car and then use finger-scanning technology to access a high security lift to the ground floor centre.
Parents who have a car space account at the Bolton Street facility are being offered a chauffeured shuttle bus service to and from their workplace.
Mr Nicholson said the centre had been 18 months in the planning and building and was "super secure" with a happy ambience.
"We tried to tick every box and I have to say it is the best childcare in town, that was the brief we had," he said.
The centre's operations manager, Tonya Franks, who has worked in the sector for close to three decades, said the centre brought together a passionate and experienced team of early childhood teachers and dedicated management.
Ms Franks said the centre had capacity for 74 children and was staggering its intake of new enrolments as clients often had to give two weeks' notice to change childcare arrangements.
"We are extremely pleased with all the enquiries we have received, we are extremely busy with walk-ins being in the CBD," she said.
The centre has give rooms - two are nursery rooms for babies aged up to one, and from one year to two years, and the other three rooms are slated for children aged between two and three, three and four and aged four to six.
However, Ms Franks said the room plan may vary depending on the age of children who need care.
The centre had outdoor space on the Bolton Street side of the premise, indoor space with "an abundance of natural light", and a commercial kitchen and cook.
She said Mr Nicholson's decision to facilitate the centre was proving to be the right choice "because it is extremely convenient and we are finding a lot of local people plus those out of town who work in town, are finding it really convenient."
Ms Franks said the centre had a focus on the importance of art, music, STEM and inner health.
"Both creative arts and STEM programs foster holistic development, stimulating both sides of the brain, increasing memory recall, improved attention and concentration plus exposure to new literacy, maths and science concepts," she said.
