Childcare in Melbourne - which centre/s do you recommend?

[flyingk8]

I thought it might be nice if you have a childcare centre you love because it stands out above the rest, if everyone listed them here, so others seeking childcare in Melbourne can get some ideas of which centres to look into for their DDs & DSs!

After all, word of mouth is the best form of advertising!

[visitor1]

I dont send my DD's to a centre, but highly reccomend FDC to any parent...they love it

[snugglybean]

This will be an epic post - I worked around inner city Melbourne for years, as relief and permanent staff, and studied in Melbourne so got to visit a lot of places. There are SO many good options in Melbourne, but I have to say - get in early
Central:
The Alfred
City of Melbourne Centres (Swanston St, A'Beckett)
QV
RMIT City Campus
CoAsIt (Carlton)
Lady Gowrie

East:
Richmond Creche & Kindergarten
Yarraberg Children's Centre
Glenferrie ECC
West Hawthorn ECC
Swinburne Co-op
Malin Friends
MLC Kindle
Belford Oaks
Through Rd
Wattletree ECC
Wattletree House
Minifie Park
Greythorn ECC
Deakin Childcare Co-op
Wattle Park CSC
Central Box Hill CSC
Watts St
Lucknow St
Hansen St
Best Chance
Brandon Park CC
Highgate ECC
May Armstrong
Ivanhoe Chn's Co-op
Body SHop Chn's Centre
Columbia PArk
Bentleigh Family Co-op

North:
Little Sophia
Melbourne Uni ELC
Gold Street
Annie Todd
John St
St Vincent's ELC
North Fitzroy Co-op
Lady Huntingfield
Wimble St
Nara Community
Merri Community
North Carlton Chn's Centre

West:
Kensington Community
Curzon St
Hotham Hub
Church St (West Footscray)
Dawson St
Moreland Co-op
Park St

South:
Ada Mary A'Beckett
Clark St
Lancaster House
Swinburne Prahran
Princes Close
Coventry CCC
Emerald Hill
Fawkner Park
Eildon Rd
St Kilda North Chn's Centre
St Kilda Chn's Centre
St Kilda - Balaclava Kindergarten
Tree House St K/ Elsternwick
King David
Hornbrook
Albert Park College
South Melbourne Co-op
Hunt Community
Elsternwick Chn's Centre
Sholem Aleichem
Poets Grove
Elwood Children's ctr

That's what I can come up with for now. I'm sure there's more though!

[flyingk8]

Wow snugglybean, thank you so much!!
I have been recommended Greythorn Childcare Centre by a colleague too. Am going to check them out this week. )

[snugglybean]

Yeah, I did an inservice there in 2007, and the people were really lovely. Definitely check it out. As well as Minifie Park, not far away, is an affiliate centre (owned by council, rented by Centre, managed by parents) and also very nice.

[Nai]

I recommend Kensington Community Children's Co-op. It's a parent run centre which has just expanded and been done up.

[flyingk8]

Hello!
Can anyone recommend any childcare centres in the Heidelberg/Rosanna area or the Surrey Hills area, or anywhere inbetween?

Thankyou so much!

[snugglybean]

I included Ivanhoe Co-op on the list, didn't I? I would move to that area just to go there. It is SO lovely. Massive waiting list though, so you should have been onit 15 months ago.

[Aurian]

flyingk8 - Sadly, most of the CCC's in Rosanna/Heidelberg are group (ie, company) managed...not sure if that's what you're looking to avoid?

[flyingk8]

Hi Snugglybean, yes I was just wondering if there were any others.. but I am going to check out Ivanhoe Co-op tomorrow! I've been rather slack and need to get organised and get my DD on some waiting lists!

Hi Aurian, Yes I am trying to avoid company run CCCs. Would rather somewhere that cares about the kids rather than how much profit they make! But, it might be worth having a look at a view anyway just to get her on some waiting lists.. Can you recommend any particular centres that stand out from the crowd?

Thankyou both!