St Nicholas & Catholic Schools

Grow with us from early education to Catholic schooling

At St Nicholas, we know a lifelong love of learning begins in the early years and continues through every stage of school. That is why we have partnered with Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle to support a connected learning journey from early education to primary and beyond, supported by *greater priority enrolment at Catholic Schools.

*Subject to the Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle’s Enrolment Policy and the availability of places at your preferred school.

Start your journey

Lyllah’s Journey

From St Nicholas Early Education to St Columba’s Primary School and Trinity Catholic College.

See how early confidence, strong values and genuine community supported Lyllah every step of the way. Watch her family share the moments that mattered most and why this connected pathway worked for them.

Start your journey

Santiago’s Journey

From St Nicholas Early Education to St Columba’s Primary School and St Francis Xavier’s College.

Hear how Santiago’s learning journey built resilience, friendships, and a love of learning from early years through to high school. Watch his story and discover what made the difference for his family.

Start your journey

Enrolment prioritisation at Catholic Schools

Enrolments for Catholic Schools are prioritised in the following order, with greater priority given to children enrolled with St Nicholas Early Education.

Greater priority is also given to siblings of students currently enrolled in the Catholic school, Catholic families, and those with ties to the parish community.

To learn more, please refer to the full Catholic Schools Enrolment Policy.

Start your journey

Make an enquiry

Early Education
OOSH

Which centre are you interested in?(Required)

Child's name

Child's date of birth / due date(Required)

Preferred days of care(Required)

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Preferred start date(Required)

Your details

Parent name(Required)

Parent phone(Required)

Parent email(Required)

How did you hear about us?

Your message(Required)

I have read and understand the privacy policy(Required)

I have read and understand the privacy policy of the Diocese of Newcastle-Maitland

I have read and understand the privacy policy

I would like to receive updates about news and events from St Nicholas

CAPTCHA

By entering your details you are registering your interest in enrolling your child. One of our friendly staff will be in touch shortly.

Are you interested in Before and After School Care or Vacation Care?

Before and After School Care

Vacation Care

Submit an enrolment enquiry for Before and After School Care or Vacation Care. One of our friendly team members will be in touch as soon as possible.

Please note:

Submitting an enrolment enquiry does not constitute a confirmed booking. No booking is confirmed until you have received confirmation from St Nicholas.
For casual and Vacation Care bookings, we have a 5-day cancellation policy, after which the parent/carer will be liable for their full fees for that session. For permanent bookings, we have a 2-week cancellation policy.
One-off cancellations for permanent bookings still require the parent/carer to pay their full fees for that session, unless the cancellation is permanent, in which case the family will forfeit their permanent place for that session.

Why choose us?
How to access
Learning pathways
School transition

Benefits of starting your child’s learning journey with us

Explore the many benefits of St Nicholas Early Education’s connection with Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle, designed to support your child’s growth from early education through to primary and secondary school.

Priority enrolment advantage – Families enrolled at St Nicholas Early Education receive greater priority enrolment at Catholic Schools, ensuring an easy transition to the next stage of learning.
Seamless educational pathway – From early childhood through to Year 12, children experience continuity in their education within a values-driven, supportive learning environment.
Holistic learning and development – St Nicholas and Catholic Schools share a commitment to nurturing children’s intellectual, emotional, and social growth, helping children develop into well-rounded individuals.
Transition to school support – St Nicholas educators collaborate with Catholic Schools to support children starting kindergarten, making the transition smooth and building confidence for both children and their families.
One educational entity – As part of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, both St Nicholas Early Education and Catholic Schools operate under the same ethos and values, creating a unified and consistent learning experience.

To learn more about the benefits of enrolling your child with St Nicholas, visit our ‘Why choose St Nicks?’ page.

How to access priority enrolment at Catholic Schools through St Nicholas

Enrol with St Nicks: Enrol your child with St Nicholas Early Education. Submit an enrolment request via the form on this page.
Apply for a Catholic School: Once your child is ready for primary school, complete the online enrolment application via the Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle website. To submit an online enrolment request for a Catholic School, click here.
Attend an interview: Applicants are asked to attend an interview with the Principal. Interviews begin in Term 1 or 2, and continue through to Term 3 depending on the volume of applications received.
Receive an offer: Families receive an offer of a place at the school in writing in Term 3.
Orientation: Orientation for students will be held in Term 3 or 4 depending on the school.

As part of the enrolment process, families may be asked to provide proof of their enrolment with St Nicholas Early Education.

To learn more about how to enrol with St Nicholas Early Education, visit our ‘How to enrol’ page.

Learning pathways from St Nicholas to Catholic Schools

Each St Nicholas Early Education centre is connected to Catholic primary schools in its region, which then feed into designated Catholic secondary schools. Enrolling with us provides your child with a structured educational pathway, supported by our priority enrolment advantage.

To learn more, please refer to our Diocesan Learning Pathways.

School transition

Transition to School program at St Nicholas

St Nicholas Early Education’s Transition to School program is designed to support children in our care to develop the skills and confidence they need to flourish in their next educational chapter. Through close collaboration with local primary schools, we help ensure a seamless and positive transition, setting a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

To learn more, visit our Transition to School program page.

Successful Foundations at Catholic Schools

Successful Foundations at Catholic Schools was introduced to strengthen the process of transition to school in the first five weeks of Kindergarten, utilising a strengths-based approach which supports the child’s active engagement in play.

To learn more, visit the Early Learning page on the Catholic Schools website.

About us

St Nicholas Early Education
Catholic Schools
St Nicholas OOSH

St Nicholas Early Education

St Nicholas Early Education is a leading provider of high-quality early childhood education and care for children aged 0-5, supporting communities to flourish across Newcastle, Maitland, and the Hunter.

We are committed to nurturing every child’s potential through child-led, play-based learning, fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence in safe and inclusive environments.

To learn more, visit our Early Education page.

A St Nicholas Early Education educator with a parent and child

Catholic Schools

Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle offer a holistic education that nurtures the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of every student.

Catholic Schools seek to develop students’ mind, body, character, and spirit so they become confident and responsible global citizens. Catholic Schools are places where committed and passionate teachers inspire confidence and facilitate academic excellence, and where contemporary learning opens minds to a future filled with hope.

To learn more about Catholic Schools, visit the Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle website.

St Nicholas OOSH

Building on the strong foundations set by St Nicholas Early Education, St Nicholas OOSH provides high-quality out of school hours care in fun, safe, supportive, and inclusive environments. We support children aged 5-12 as they continue their journey through Catholic Schools, offering opportunities to play, explore, be creative, and use their imagination.

Whether children come to us for Before School Care, After School Care or Vacation Care, our dedicated educators are here to nurture and inspire their interests and passions.

To learn more, visit our OOSH page.