Council settles in at Somerset Cottage

Wednesday, 23 August 2023

Penrith City Council has broadened its award-winning childcare services after taking operation of Somerset Cottage Children’s Centre at Nepean Hospital last month.

Council was awarded the tender by NSW Health to provide education and care for the children of critical health care workers in the community.

Somerset Cottage is a 68-place Long Day Care service that caters for babies and children aged 0-5.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said with more than 4,000 children and young people enrolled in Council’s childcare centres, the organisation is thrilled to be welcoming more to the Children’s Services family.

“It is an honour to have the opportunity to care for and educate the children of front-line health care workers from the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District,” Cr Hitchen said.

“Our talented and passionate educators have enjoyed meeting many new, little faces at this bright and inviting centre since Council moved in,” she said.

“We are proud to announce that taking operation of Somerset Cottage has seen our footprint expand to 53 services across the Penrith Local Government Area.”

Somerset Cottage joins Council’s growing list of Long Day Care, Vacation Care, Out of School Hours Care and Pre-School services, as well as the much-loved Mobile Play Van that celebrated its 40th anniversary with the Penrith community last year.

The purpose-built centre formed part of Nepean Hospital’s Stage 1 Redevelopment. It features high ceilings, colourful and airy rooms, flexible open spaces and a well-appointed outdoor playground.

To find out more about Council’s Children’s Services, visit penrith.city/childcare

Photo captions:
Somerset-1: (L-R) Penrith City Council General Manager Andrew Moore, Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen, Director Community and People Sandy Davies, Child Care Cluster Director Naomi Agius and Children Services Operations Manager, Jade Bradbury at Somerset Cottage.
Somerset-2: Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen and Penrith City Council General Manager Andrew Moore during a recent tour of the childcare centre.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 23 August 2023.