Choosing Early Learning and Childcare

We understand what’s important when you’re looking for childcare: a nurturing, stimulating, safe environment, with caring, qualified early learning professionals. It’s all about ‘the vibe’ when you walk into the centre – a certain happy, busy-calm balance.

It isn’t always an easy decision to use childcare in the first place. It’s an emotional time for you and your child – we understand and we’re here to help!

A quality early learning centre and nurturing home environment is the perfect combination for your child to develop their full potential. It will also help prepare them for school.

Given their rapid development, children need to be immersed in activities and stimuli that feed their hunger for knowledge.

Children are at the centre of everything we do. Goodstart is committed to working with you to provide the ideal early learning environment for your child, both in the centre and at home.

With families as our primary partner, we can inspire a love of learning so that children go on to embrace literacy and numeracy – so vital to reaching their full potential.

Download your copy of ‘Ten things you should know about childcare’.

Take a centre tour and meet our team

We encourage families to take centre tours. Visiting an early learning centre is the best way to meet our centre directors and key educators and learn more about our approach to early learning, our daily routines and check out our facilities and indoor and outdoor experiences offered.

It’s completely normal to have a range of questions as you investigate care for your child. After all, you need to be comfortable with the choice you’re making.

You’re welcome to visit your local centre any time and the Centre Director will be very pleased to give you a tour. Alternatively, find your local centre and book a tour through this site, or phone 1800 222 543.

A quick checklist. What to look for in a childcare centre.

It’s important to know what to look for and which aspects of the centre matter most to you. We've listened to parents and the following list is a great starting point when you’re visiting a centre. Does the centre offer:

• A positive environment, where the children appear happy, content, and settled.
• A centre team which is qualified and experienced.
• A safe and secure environment.
• Staff that have quality relationships with children.
• A high standard of hygiene and cleanliness.
• Clear, daily communication about your child’s routine and activities.
• Innovative and creative programs that assist development.
• Warm and friendly staff.
• Rooms that present a stimulating environment (for example, quality toys, books, and artwork).
• Feedback on children’s progress.

Download an extensive checklist for more detail