Pakenham Kindergarten & Day Care Near You

This is a great opportunity to meet our educators and explore our learning environments. Next, we’ll guide you through the enrolment process and help you complete the necessary forms. FiRST educators are nurturing, dedicated and experienced.We create environments for every child that promotes and encourages a love of learning, sense of security, well being and diversity. “ Since their opening in July 2017, our son (7 months then) has been attending EEC. A five-star boutique childcare experience for first time mum and dad, and the best in the Inner West.
We serve breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack, all prepared fresh each day. We cater to all dietary requirements, including Halal and vegetarian, ensuring every child’s needs are met. It’s common for a child to kindergarten near pakenham experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home. Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group.

With a rich array of educational resources, children have ample opportunity to follow their interests. Educators support holistic development with a fun mix of programs including literacy, art and music. It is our continued mission and vision to provide an educational, learning and home away from home nurturing environment for all children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. This means families have the flexibility for their child/ren to receive the highest quality learning experiences on days that best support them. At our Pakenham childcare centres, seasonal, delicious and nutritious meals are freshly made daily. You will also receive daily photos and updates of your child’s learning and development through our family communication app.
We rigorously follow the child-safe standards set out by the Victorian Government. These standards guide us to drive a child safe culture, provide appropriate strategies and actions to put the interests of children first, keeping them safe from harm. We are committed to involving families and communities in our efforts to keep children safe.
Aximising the benefits of childcare services near Pakenham starts with great communication. Consider participating in communal activities, attend parent-teacher meetings, get involved in special events, and actively take interest in the curriculum. For example, Dianne has a strong connection to Indigenous culture and cultivating the land, whereas Elise has a strong literacy focus and enjoys running her beach kinder program. Sue is passionate about teaching Chinese culture and Language and Kaili is always integrating cooking and art activities into the curriculum.

I look forward to welcoming your family to our early  education centre in Pakenham. Chat with our team during enrolment, we’ll check your eligibility and explain your options clearly. If you need assistance or have any queries, please contact our friendly Fees & Enrolment team. ELLA is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and managed by Education Services Australia. Yes, at My Stars Childcare, we incorporate the respected Childcare method in our curriculum.
The child is free to explore, discover and learn in an environment they feel they belong in. The decision will need to be made before a child starts a funded year of kindergarten. Henry Family and Children’s Centre is culturally diverse, and has strong ties to the community, established relationships with families, low staff turnover and friendly staff. Your child will need a backpack or bag, a refillable water bottle, a change of clothes, a wide-brim sun hat and their favourite toy, which can help them settle in. For kindergarten your child will need morning tea and lunch (dependent on the length of the program day).
Our outdoor environments are a true hidden sanctuary, complete with sandpits, a dry creek bed, veggie gardens, and shaded cubby spaces where children can explore nature and learn about sustainability. If you are seeking a nurturing and stimulating environment for your child, then My Stars near Pakenham is the ideal choice for you. Our commitment to quality education and the overall development of your child sets us apart.

Current research suggests that children need to spend much more time playing in our natural world. When considering kindergarten for your child, it’s  important to consider whether they run a bush kindergarten program and whether it is the right fit for you and your child. Victoria now has over 100 bush and beach kinder programs tailored to local environments and children’s needs. Our program builds life skills through daily routines that promote problem-solving, communication, independence, and teamwork. With a strong focus on mental and physical wellbeing, children engage in mindfulness, healthy eating, and active play. These experiences lay the foundation for lifelong health, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.
While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Community Kids is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children. Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, The Learning Sanctuary is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children. On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment.

We also hold graduation ceremonies for our 3-year-old kinder children to celebrate their achievements during the year. Read more about Pakenham’s recent 3-year-old kinder celebration and what their curriculum looks like. Our kindergarten program recognised the importance of social and emotional intelligence. We embed the ‘zones of regulation’ program into our curriculum to ensure all children can recognise and regulate their own emotions, as well as knowing how to support those around them. We also embed social skills into their everyday activities and call on the experts when early intervention is needed.
Throughout my career, I’ve held various roles, including Inclusion Support, Assistant Educator, Lead Educator, Sustainability Leader, Educational Leader, Assistant Centre Manager, and now Centre Manager. My passion for early education stems from the opportunity to be creative, make a meaningful impact, and build strong community relationships. From creativity to critical thinking, our programs encourage children to explore, imagine, and grow confidently. Families can access up to 15 hours of free 3-year-old kinder per week through Victoria’s Best Start, Best Life reforms. To be eligible, your child must be three years of age by 30th April, in the year they will be attending a kindergarten program.

At our Pakenham centre we also run monthly incursions for our Kindergarten rooms. Yimba Yumba is an exciting renewed ancient Aboriginal earth connection practice that shares the importance of connecting to the Earth to sustain the health and wellbeing of the planet and of ourselves. And for the children who are more the creative type, we have our SketchRoo program run by Denver. SketchRoo drawing classes and workshops offer hands-on, child-friendly, and relevant subject matter to spark creativity and increase knowledge retention. The program extends the children's artistic side through paints, crayons, pastels, and items that can be used within the room. This helps support children in their social and emotional regulation through art.
Grace (owner) and ALL the STAFF are so amazing, affectionate, caring and very accommodating of our needs. The facilities are fantastic and modern which is only complemented by the healthy food they provide for my little boy. This place is like a 2nd home for my son and the best decision we made for his early childhood learning. “ We love Altona Early Education Centre, and so does our three-year-old son who has been attending for 18 months. The staff are amazing, and we feel so comfortable leaving our child in their care. It's a warm and nurturing environment for children to feel safe and thrive.