We had the pleasure of being invited back to Colour My World Children’s Centre Ermington and Colour My World Children’s Centre West Ryde, two much-loved, family-owned and operated childcare centres that have been part of the community for more than a decade. Both centres continue to feel like a true home away from home for families, and still mirror each other in philosophy, size and culture — warm, homelike, boutique and wonderfully calm.
Owners Diane and Robert Saba, whose three children also work across the services in various capacities, remain deeply committed to maintaining a boutique environment where children are genuinely known, nurtured and supported. They are incredibly proud that families at both centres feel completely confident and at ease leaving their children in the capable and loving hands of the educators.
Both Colour My World Ermington and West Ryde are registered Preschools, offering structured early learning programs alongside long day care. Each centre also welcomes babies, with dedicated nursery rooms supporting children from infancy through to the preschool years.
Family values sit at the heart of both centres, and this is reflected in the team. Many educators have been with Colour My World for years — some for well over a decade — and that rare continuity creates deep trust, strong relationships and a real sense of belonging for children and families.
Boutique Centres With a Homelike Feel
Both Ermington and West Ryde are 40-place centres, intentionally kept at around 38 children. This creates a calm pace, a quieter atmosphere and an environment where every educator knows every child.
The Rooms
The same room structure operates across both centres, allowing families to enrol children from the baby years right through to school readiness within the one familiar environment.
- Baby Blue (0–2 years) – 8 babies, 2 educators: Peaceful, gentle and not overwhelming — ideal for little ones starting care.
- Growing Green Toddlers (2–3 years) – 10 children, 2 educators: Balanced routines, lots of exploration and close connection with educators.
- Soaring Scarlet Preschool (3–5 years) – 20 children, 2 educators: A warm, confidence-building preschool setting focused on friendships, learning and school readiness.
Families love that children typically start in Baby Blue and stay right through to graduation — creating years of familiarity and emotional security.
Fresh, Healthy Meals Cooked On-Site
All meals are prepared fresh on-site by their in-house chef, who provides breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and late afternoon tea. Meals use seasonal produce and follow current nutritional guidelines, with fresh fruit available throughout the day.
Educators support children to build healthy, confident eating habits from an early age.
Long-Standing Educators That Children Trust
One of the biggest strengths across both centres is the longevity of the team. It’s something the Saba family is extremely proud of, and for good reason — continuity of care is everything.
Many educators have been here 6–8+ years, and some even longer:
- Ms Raj – 14 years
- Ms Yaso – 16 years
This stability is rare in early childhood education and creates a strong sense of belonging. Children see the same trusted faces every day, and families build deep, lasting relationships with the educators who care for them.
Family-Led Management
Unlike many services, Colour My World is truly family-run. The entire Saba family is involved daily, monitoring quality, supporting staff and ensuring the culture remains strong and consistent.
They also have two dedicated quality teams who uphold the centre’s values and ensure that every decision is made with children at the heart.
A core belief shared by everyone is simple: children are never enrolments — they are treated like family.
Colour My World Ermington
Ermington has a calm, homelike feel from the moment you arrive, and the layout reflects exactly what families value in a boutique centre:
- A centre that fits beautifully into its neighbourhood, giving it a genuine “family home” look and feel.
- Warm, familiar rooms that help children settle quickly and move confidently through their day.
- Gorgeous verandah connecting the rooms and offering a shaded, comfortable transition space.
- Spacious outdoor area with natural shade, sand play, climbing equipment and plenty of room to explore.
- Dedicated dining room for settled, unhurried mealtimes and small-group experiences.
- Separate cot room for babies, providing a quiet and restful sleep environment.
Colour My World West Ryde
West Ryde has its own personality because Diane designed it herself. She built the centre around what she wished she had when her children were young — warmth, a good flow, calm spaces and functionality.
- Family lounge at reception – a dedicated space that allows educators and parents to have proper, unhurried conversations at drop-off and pick-up.
- Purpose-built layout – warm, homelike and easy to navigate, with rooms designed to support calm and connection.
- Outdoor environment – outdoor dining, reading nooks, group learning areas, hands-on activity spaces and lots of natural shade.
- Community pantry – families can grab pantry essentials (like pasta or rice) and replace them when they can — a thoughtful, community-minded initiative.
Choosing Childcare
With so much negative media around early learning right now, it’s natural for families to feel nervous. Diane’s advice is simple:
Take the tour.
Meet the educators.
Trust your instincts.
Because when you walk into these centres, you can immediately feel whether it’s the right place — and for many local families, that place is Colour My World.
The heart of both centres is the same: family values, strong relationships and genuine care. It shows in the way educators speak to the children, how confidently the children move through their day, and the calm, trusting energy from families. The trust factor is enormous, and families who attend will happily attest to that.
Details
Ermington Centre
Address: 78 Marsden Road, Ermington NSW 2115
Website: https://cmwchildrenscentre.com.au/ermington/
Phone: (02) 9858 3606
Email: info@cmwchildrenscentre.com.au
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7am–6pm
West Ryde Centre
Address: 47 Winbourne St, West Ryde NSW 2114
Website: https://cmwchildrenscentre.com.au/west-ryde/
Phone: (02) 9804 0406
Email: info@cmwchildrenscentre.com.au
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7am–6pm