Kids Academy Hornsby

What Kids Academy Hornsby does

Papilio Early Learning Hornsby (formerly Kids Academy Hornsby) is a single premium childcare and preschool centre located at 36-38 Northcote Road, Hornsby NSW 2077, serving families with children aged 6 weeks to 5 years across Sydney's Upper North Shore (Hornsby, Waitara, Asquith). The centre is wholly owned by Affinity Education Group Limited, a Brisbane-based private company that operates more than 190 early learning centres and 3,000+ educators nationally under multiple brands, including Papilio. The centre operates from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm and is currently accepting enrolments with vacancies available.

The centre delivers Affinity's research-based Lifelong Learning Curriculum through structured sub-programs including Big Thinkers STEM, MathSeeds and Reading Eggs, First Nations Education (delivered in partnership with Wandana Aboriginal Education), and Aussie Wildlife Champions. Enrichment is provided through weekly music, sport and language programs, hands-on cooking activities, and chef-prepared seasonal menus designed with Feed Australia dietitians. Communication with families is facilitated through the Storypark platform, while tour bookings and enquiries are managed via xap.rocks and a centralised Family Support Team on 1800 244 532. The centre maintains relationships with Hornsby South Public School and Asquith Public School to support school-readiness transitions, and was named a finalist in the 2025 Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Local Business Awards. Centre Manager Kristina He has over 7 years of early childhood education experience.

Revenue is generated through recurring weekly childcare fees structured as subscription billing, with family out-of-pocket costs determined by age, attendance days, and Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlements — the Australian government subsidy that can cover up to 90% of fees for eligible families and from January 2026 guarantees a baseline of 3 days (72 hours) subsidised care per fortnight. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with promotional acquisition offers (e.g. 30% off the first 4 weeks for new families), Defence Force and employee discounts, and a multi-channel presence including a 60+ article blog, Facebook page, centre tours, and Stay & Play sessions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided on a personalised basis.

Name

Kids Academy Hornsby

Legal name

Affinity Education Group Limited

Website

https://hornsby.kidsacademyelc.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Papilio Early Learning Hornsby (formerly Kids Academy Hornsby) is a premium childcare and preschool centre in Sydney's Upper North Shore serving children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. It is wholly owned by Affinity Education Group and delivers the group-wide Lifelong Learning Curriculum with STEM, cultural, and enrichment programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education and Care Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Childcare services
• Preschool programs
• Daycare centres
• School readiness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Childcare Fees: Families pay daily/weekly childcare fees for early education and care services. Fee amounts depend on child's age, attendance days, and Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlements. The centre offers a government-approved preschool program as part of its service.
2. Child Care Subsidy (CCS): Australian government subsidy that can cover up to 90% of childcare fees for eligible families. From January 2026, families receive a guaranteed baseline of 3 days (72 hours) of subsidised care per fortnight.
3. Promotional Discounts: Time-limited promotional offers such as 30% off childcare fees for the first 4 weeks for new families, used as acquisition incentives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Papilio Early Learning Hornsby provides premium childcare and preschool services for children aged 0–5 years, delivering the Lifelong Learning Curriculum through age-staged programs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The centre operates from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm at 36-38 Northcote Road, Hornsby NSW, and combines core early education with enrichment programs (STEM, music, sport, language), onsite chef-prepared meals, and a government-approved preschool program focused on school readiness.

Product overview

Papilio Early Learning operates as a premium childcare and preschool service under the Papilio brand, owned by Affinity Education Group. The core offering is the Lifelong Learning Curriculum, an integrated early education program spanning children from birth to 5 years. The curriculum is delivered through multiple specialized sub-programs including Big Thinkers STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), MathSeeds and Reading Eggs (digital literacy/numeracy), First Nations Education (cultural learning via Wandana Aboriginal Education partnership), and Aussie Wildlife Champions (environmental education). Additional enrichment includes weekly music, sport, and language programs, plus onsite chef-prepared healthy meals planned with Feed Australia. The service maintains strong community ties with local schools and uses Storypark for family communication. The Hornsby centre was named a finalist in the 2025 Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Local Business Awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Childcare for Babies and Nursery Care and early education program for infants aged 6 weeks to approximately 2 years, delivered as part of the Lifelong Learning Curriculum in a safe, nurturing environment.
• Toddler Care Program Age-staged care and education for toddlers focused on confidence-building, language development, and foundational skills within the Lifelong Learning Curriculum.
• Government-Approved Preschool / Kindergarten Program Nationally recognised preschool/kindergarten program preparing children for a smooth transition to primary school, offered as part of the Lifelong Learning Curriculum.
• Lifelong Learning Curriculum Research-based integrated early education curriculum developed by Affinity Education Group covering children from birth through to school readiness, encompassing Big Thinkers STEM, MathSeeds and Reading Eggs, First Nations Education, and Aussie Wildlife Champions.
• Weekly Enrichment Programs (Music, Sport, and Language) Weekly extracurricular programs including music, sport, and language activities offered as part of the centre's comprehensive child development offering.
• Onsite Chef-Prepared Healthy Meals Chef-prepared meals and snacks designed in partnership with Feed Australia dietitians to deliver nutritionally balanced seasonal menus for children.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recognition as Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Local Business Awards 2025 finalist

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of WollongongminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to enhance the capabilities of Teachers and Educators working with children in School Readiness programs. Part of Affinity Education's commitment to professional development and evidence-based curriculum.
• The Smith FamilyminorOthers · 1 November 2023Affinity Education Group supports The Smith Family Learning for Life program with 236 individual child sponsorships as of Q3 2023. The program provides additional support for children facing disadvantages to maintain their engagement in education.
• Wandana Aboriginal EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wandana Aboriginal Education to deliver purpose-built Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural education as part of the Lifelong Learning Curriculum. This partnership provides cultural responsiveness training for staff and creates authentic, thoughtfully designed learning experiences celebrating First Nations peoples.
• Feed AustraliacoreTechnology or IntegrationMenu planning partnership where Feed Australia, a leading dietitian-designed menu planning platform, works with Papilio chefs to design seasonal menus that are nutritionally balanced and inspiring for children's taste buds.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• G8 Education: ASX-listed early childhood operator with 400+ centres across multiple brands (Community Kids, Pelican's, Guardian). Competes with Affinity/Papilio on premium childcare positioning, government-approved preschool programs, and ACSQA-rated curriculum delivery.
• Busy Bees Australia: Subsidiary of UK-based Busy Bees Nurseries, one of the world's largest nursery operators. Comparable to Papilio on premium international-quality positioning and integrated 0-5 programs in the Australian market.
• KU Children's Services: Long-established non-profit Australian early childhood provider with 130+ centres. Comparable on NQS-rated programs, preschool delivery, and educator-led curriculum — though positioned slightly more community/non-profit than Papilio's premium commercial model.
• Goodstart Early Learning: Australia's largest non-profit early childhood education operator with 670+ centres. Most direct sector peer to Affinity/Papilio given comparable full-service 0-5 offering, NQS-accredited curriculum, and broad geographic footprint competing for the same Australian families.

Direct peers

• Only About Children: Premium Australian childcare and preschool operator with campuses across Sydney and Melbourne. Closest head-to-head peer to Papilio Hornsby on premium positioning, integrated 0-5 programs, and affluent Sydney catchment targeting.
• Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten: Premium Australian childcare and kindergarten operator. Comparable to Papilio on curriculum differentiation, STEM and school-readiness programs, and government-approved kindergarten delivery.
• Affinity Education Group (sister brands): The Papilio Hornsby centre's parent group operates multiple premium childcare brands across Australia including Milestones Early Learning. Direct intra-network peer sharing the same Lifelong Learning Curriculum, governance, and operating model.
• Guardian Childcare & Education: Premium Sydney-based childcare operator with 120+ centres. Direct competitor to Papilio Hornsby given overlapping premium positioning, integrated preschool programs, and similar affluent-Sydney catchment targeting.

Others

• Storypark: Parent communication and learning-story platform used by Papilio Hornsby. Included as adjacent ecosystem peer (technology supplier) rather than direct competitor — relevant for understanding Papilio's parent-engagement stack.

Regional players

• Only About Children Campsie/Sydney Northern Suburbs centres: Specifically the Sydney-North-shore cluster of premium childcare competitors. Most direct geographic peer for Papilio Hornsby given proximity, similar family demographics, and overlapping premium positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PapilioSchofields
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kids-academy-hornsby

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kids Academy Hornsby