Guardian Childcare & Education Barton

  • Keeping children safe always comes first. All of our team are committed to uphold the highest standards of child safety. Read our approach here
  • Proud winner of the Family Choice Award 2025. As determined by our existing families rating their experience of our Centre via Family Satisfaction Survey and independent Google Reviews. Click here for more detail
  • Every day is unique in our newly renovated centre with modern resources from nursery to our leading 2-year Preschool program. You don’t want to miss out!
  • Meet our dedicated team and discover how we lead the way in your child’s development, where keeping you connected with regular communication about their progress as a top priority.

Book a tour today to see what makes our Centre special & have all your questions answered

Barton Map Image

HOURS

Mon to Fri 6:30am to 6:30pm

ADDRESS

10 National Circuit Barton, ACT, 2600

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS

Check out our fantastic indoor and outdoor learning spaces your child will enjoy

Welcome to our Centre

Welcome to Guardian Childcare and Education Barton, a purpose-built early learning centre in the heart of the National Circuit in Canberra.

Children are inspired each day with us through:

• Four newly renovated, age-specific learning spaces, including a separate sleep room for the Nursery
• Engaging incursions and excursions such as Happy Feet music & dance and IFA Sports.
• Our leading government-funded Flying Start to School preschool program, building confidence for the big step to school.

Our personalised To BE Me learning programs celebrate every milestone reached, supporting your child to develop a lifelong love of learning.

The experienced team at our daycare focuses on the safety and wellbeing of every child, building strong relationships with families from the very first day. We believe your family is at the heart of all we do in our warm and nurturing childcare centre.

Barton Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Iris

“It takes a village to raise a child. Let’s embrace one another and work in partnership to nurture and inspire our future citizens to make the world a better place, with love.”

Daily Fees

Value for quality care. See our daily fee and your CCS-reduced cost

View Daily Fees

Our Flying Start to School program provides a specialised 2-year curriculum for children aged 3 to 5. Our unique program has two stages - Becoming Me for 3 year olds and Being Me for 4 year olds. Using developmental milestones and continuous monitoring of your child's progress, this program is designed to make sure your child gets a flying start to school. Read more HERE

Flying start to school

Where children are supported to be brave, curious, and bold in their learning, for the best possible start to life.

Reviews from Google

4.5
(17)
Jessica B.
Jessica B.
08:21 08 May 25
The centre is nice and well-run. The staff are very friendly and caring. We’ve only been attending a short time but so far the baby is very happy and well looked after. The staff make helpful suggestions and show that they care about the children’s development.
Jenna W.
Jenna W.
06:51 07 May 25
Amazing centre,love the care they provided to my child ❤️
Erin L.
Erin L.
19:39 05 Mar 25
Child loves it. Clean centre, friendly staff, great food
Chloe A.
Chloe A.
03:04 16 May 23
Our son loves coming to Petit each day. As parents, this makes our job a little easier knowing our son is both safe and happy at daycare. The staff are lovely to deal with and our son listens to and respects them.
BLN
BLN
20:45 29 Nov 22
Petit is welcoming, professional and caring. We couldn’t be happier!
Roxannee G.
Roxannee G.
22:06 03 Nov 22
The educators are more engaged with the welfare of the kids.Job well done.
Shaneqwa L.
Shaneqwa L.
08:14 16 Jul 22
They made both my partner and I feel welcome from the very start. It made going back to work as a first time mum such a smooth, comforting experience. I am an antsy, 21 questions type of person which they dealt with such ease.Bub was 9-10 months when she started and settled in very quickly. Each day was always different and the education they provided was outstanding. She always had fun and loved it.Every day I walked into the centre the toys were well in rotation, clean and tidy.The reports everyday were very detailed, especially compared to the centre we are at now :(Bonus was the environments they had, small outdoors area with nature surrounding to the indoor-outdoor temperature controlled room. So on rainy days, kids still felt like they were outdoors.The educators, every single one of them including the director were always welcoming and inviting. Not the usual hi how you going, but the personalised conversations made the experience feel family like.One thing I absolutely LOVED is how every single worker greeted our baby from the second we walked in, they made her feel so special and this happened daily. I thought maybe just a honeymoon phase but nope it didn't end.Even when we had to change daycares due to personal circumstances, they gave her a farewell and made a memory book of all her experiences. It made leaving the centre more difficult.I would move back in a heartbeat if our circumstances were different.I couldn't personally thank them enough for all their hard work, care and everything they do to ensure your child is well looked after. Especially during the pandemic.Thank you Shruthi and entire team!
Ana Clarissa N.
Ana Clarissa N.
05:56 07 Jun 22
The moment I visited Petit Early Learning for the first time while looking for a new day care for my son I knew I had found the best childcare centre in Canberra. Staff and educators are extremely caring and accommodating. They also provide excellent and nutritious meals, catering for different dietary requirements. My son loves going there.
John A.
John A.
08:49 04 Apr 22
Menab A.
Menab A.
03:25 25 Mar 22
Lovely staff. My daughter loves to go to daycare.
Shannon H.
Shannon H.
10:09 14 Sep 21
Sending my first child to daycare was quite daunting. I could not be happier with the way the staff at Petit Barton have helped our family transition into this new phase of our lives. The centre is amazing, the staff are all amazing and my son absolutely loves it! The staff at Petit Barton have gone above and beyond during these difficult times during lockdowns etc, my partner and I couldn’t be happier. Would recommend without hesitation to anyone looking for a great daycare!
Anaïs M.
Anaïs M.
01:22 18 Sep 20
Lovely people, lovely place.
Tura-Jane M.
Tura-Jane M.
08:02 24 Jul 20
Wonderful staff and environment for our son. He is progressing really well coming out of a period of isolation.
Claire R.
Claire R.
05:59 21 Feb 20
Nikola K.
Nikola K.
09:46 17 Oct 23
Two of my kids attended this centre from early 2019 to late 2022. There was a period of great flux and change of guard a couple of years back, but after that it actually became a very stable and well run operation. The staff were all very caring and professional and the management (Shruti & Manisha) always all the ball. They really strived to make improvements wherever possible and I found them both very pleasant and approachable. I always liked going to this place as it was the highlight of my day. Cant give 5 stars because of the parking situation, which was a daily battle that I hope has now been resolved. If so, consider it a 5 star review. Thanks for the nice memories Petit Barton.
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Rhythm of the Day

We know children (and families) like routine. Whilst no two days of learning are ever the same - here's what a day at Guardian might look like.

Morning

Our friendly Nursery team of familiar educators will be there to greet you and support your baby to settle in for the day.  Breakfast time is available & families are welcome to stay and enjoy with the children. This is also a great chance for conversation to share what is important and how your baby’s night at home was.

Mid-Morning

Our nursery learning environments are set up indoors and outdoors for your baby to engage with a variety of planned experiences while they interact with our team such as exploring picture books, singing songs together. We also offer morning tea.

Middle of the Day

Dependent on the needs of every baby, we time lunch to suit the children. Team members will support your child to eat and/or have a bottle, and when they are ready, are gently settled for sleep or rest. With an open-door policy, families can enjoy lunch/bottle time with your baby if you wish.

Mid-Afternoon

Our nursery planned experiences (both indoor and outdoor) continue and there are opportunities for movement, playing games, more books and songs, or sensory exploration. Afternoon snack is provided.

End of Day

We’ll have your baby’s belongings ready for you at pick up time. The Nursery team will share information about your baby’s day and their learning, preparing you and your child for a smooth transition to your evening. Please grab a piece of fruit or snack on the way out!

What's included in the Guardian Experience

From nutritious meals and engaging learning programs —it’s all covered in your daily rate. No hidden extras, just peace of mind for you and a great day for your child.

Hat, wetbag and sunscreen

Hat, wetbag and sunscreen

5 meals per day

5 meals per day

All incursions and excursions

All incursions and excursions

Nappies, wipes and formula

Nappies and wipes

Storypark parenting app

Storypark parenting app

Long day care hours year around

Long day care hours year around

Frequently asked questions

What we do to keep children safe

Create Safe Spaces & Practices

  • Nappy change areas are designed to have visibility windows and are set up for maximum supervision
  • Our policies also cater for team members being in sight or sound of another team member at all times.
  • Safety embedded in daily programs – by conducting daily checklists, comprehensive risk assessments, and more
  • personal phones or devices are not allowed in learning spaces.

Safe People Who Follow Safe Policies

  • Working With Children Checks for all team members. Automatic alerts if a WWCC is revoked and team member not eligible for shifts
  • Rigorous reference checks – must provide previous line managers for their past roles
  • Annual compulsory Suitability Declarations to confirm ongoing fitness to work with children
  • Mandatory reporting and speaking up – report concerns immediately and all concerns will be investigated fully
  • Ongoing mandatory training in child safety, including annual refreshers and leadership-specific modules

Controlling Access to our Centres

  • Multiple levels of security in all centres
  • All visitors must sign in and present photo ID before entry
  • All tradespeople must provide a WWCC & complete Guardian-specific induction.

Read more here

Daily Fee Information

Daily Rates

Our daily rates are all inclusive and have no additional charges for incursions / excursions or any of our learning programs. The rates shown are an estimate based on using Childcare Subsidy (CCS) subsidised hours. The CCS helps lower your out-of-pocket costs, with subsidy rates dependant on your individual family eligibility levels.

What You Might Pay After CCS
Age of Room Daily Rate 60% Subsidy 80% Subsidy
Nursery (0–2) $177.53 $77.46 $44.10
Toddler (2–3) $177.53 $77.46 $44.10
Preschool (3–5) $177.53 $77.46 $44.10

The ACT Government offers funding to provide families fee relief of up to $2575 for children who turn 3 on or before 30 April 2025. This provides families up to 300 hours of free preschool in 2025. This support is in addition to the CCS and can help to lower your out-of-pocket fees. Ask for more details when you tour the centre.

What should I bring, and what do you provide?

What we Provide

  • Nappies and wipes
  • Bed linen
  • Guardian hat
  • SPF 50+ sunscreen
  • All nutritious meals and snacks

What to Bring

  • Water bottle
  • Spare change of clothing, labelled
  • Soft toy or comfort blanket for nap time
  • Baby's bottles for formula or breastmilk

Who are the team that will be looking after my child?

Barton Centre Manager Image

Iris

Our Centre team, led by our experienced Centre Manager Iris, prides themselves on creating a great sense of community for all families.

Each role in the Centre is designed to work together to help create a nurturing environment for every child in each of our learning spaces.

In our Nursery Room, the dedicated team has a special role in creating secure attachments, routines, and strong relationships. Unique to Guardian nurseries is our Baby Ambassador, who is your go-to person for you and your baby’s first 12 months with us. They will know every detail about your baby: how breast or bottle milk is managed, how they like to eat, their sleeping routines, the nappies they wear, and more. With babies as young as six weeks in the Centre, it’s the Baby Ambassador’s job to work with families and Educators to help make our Nursery feel just like home.

Our Educators across the age groups work together to create fun, stimulating, and age-appropriate experiences for every child in their care. They are dedicated, experienced professionals who are allocated to a specific room so they can get to know each child individually and support their learning and development.

As part of our 2-year Flying Start to School program, we have degree-qualified Teachers who use the latest teaching practices to help your child build essential practical and social skills, ensuring they’re ready for their next big adventure—school!

Each room has a Lead Educator or Teacher who is responsible for planning and implementing an effective ongoing cycle of planning, documentation, and evaluation of the room’s learning program.

At the core of the Centre is our Cook—make sure you check out their daily menu when you visit. They help make food part of the learning journey and love seeing how children respond to new and exciting flavours.

The team is supported by a strong Leadership Team, including an Assistant Centre Manager and an Educational Leader.

Every role at the Centre is as important as the next.

How will you share updates about my child’s day?

Great communication is vital in our collaborative partnerships with families at the Centre. We have a variety of different ways we communicate with you about your child’s learning and progress:


  1. Storypark app - Stay connected to your child's day with regular updates, including photos and learning insights

  2. Pick-up and drop-off updates – Our Educators will share highlights from their day, including experiences they enjoyed, mealtimes, and naps to support your evening routine.

  3. In-room learning exchange displays make our weekly learning plans easy to see so you know what your child will be learning.

  4. Centre Newsletters – Great for community connection and wider Centre and team updates.

  5. Development documentation and meetings for your individual child’s progress.


But remember our door is always open.

What are the main features of this Centre

  • Inspiring, light-filled learning spaces to inspire curiosity, fun, and a sense of belonging.
  • Baby nappies, wipes, linen, sunscreen, hats and all snacks and meals.
  • Leading learning programs to support children’s curiosity and creativity.
  • Fresh, nutritious meals and snacks with the best seasonal ingredients, prepared on-site by our very own Chef

Our Learning Programs

Learning should be fun! Learning through play encourages children to explore and understand their world at their own pace. It helps build their knowledge, develop confidence, and embrace curiosity.

Learning should be fun! Learning through play allows children to build their knowledge, develop confidence, and embrace curiosity.

Preschool Program

No state fee relief information available.

Out and about

Through excursions, children are supported to expand their world, to get to know their community, and have a sense of belonging. Their learning thrives when they feel safe, welcome, and that they belong.

STEM

Children discover the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through age-appropriate activities that are designed to foster curiosity and develop foundational skills like problem-solving and creativity.

Cooking

Cooking experiences teach numeracy by counting ingredients, and weighing and measuring quantities and volume, while managing these tasks supports independence and confidence.

Ella Language

Learning languages through Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) supports brain development and social skills and creates opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity.

Joy of Reading

Reading aloud to children each day inspires imagination and supports thinking. Books with rhythm, rhyme and word patterns make stories more playful and memorable.

Sustainability

From growing veggies and foraging in the garden for that day’s meal ingredients to learning about recycling, children learn about being part of a community, connecting to their environment and understanding their impact on the world.

What our families say about the centre

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