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Welcome to Lemon Tree

Guardian Childcare & Education Lemon Tree

Google Reviews

(53)
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  • Keeping children safe always comes first. All of our team are committed to uphold the highest standards of child safety. Read more about our approach to child safety.
  • Proud GOLD 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.
  • We know you want the best for your child. At Guardian Lemon Tree we are proud of our quality learning, incredible resources, and the care and attention we provide each child. You have to come and see us.
  • Don't miss out! Come and see for yourself not just our beautiful spaces, and amazing team, but the amazing sense of community we share. The leading childcare in the area.
Lemon Tree NQS Rated Exceeding by ACECQA

Our centre has been recognised as ‘Exceeding’ the National Quality Standard. This is the highest rating you can receive from a regulatory authority assessment and we are proud to deliver an exceptional service to the children and families who attend our centre.

2 Grattan St Carlton, VIC, 3053

Mon to Fri 7:30am to 6:00pm

Limited Spaces Available

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Modern indoor and outdoor learning spaces

Lemon Tree Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Lily and team

"As a team, we understand the profound value of community. Just as a strong community fosters trust, respect, and responsibility from an early age, we believe in creating an environment where children feel loved, nurtured, and supported. Together, we help them grow into the best version of themselves and reach for the stars."

Daily Fees

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

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At Guardian Lemon Tree, your family will discover a special community built on warmth and connection. Our long daycare provides the highest standard of care and education (we’re rated Exceeding!), from our nursery rooms through to our government-funded Flying Start to School kindergarten program.

What makes our Carlton childcare special?

• Our recently renovated indoor spaces are filled with modern, quality, age-appropriate resources that engage and inspire.
• An expansive outdoor area for adventure, featuring a sandpit, bike track and a productive veggie garden.
• Our To BE Me learning programs meet each child where they are, supporting their individual development. Our team understands and encourages your child at every stage.

We provide a premium early learning centre where each child’s safety and wellbeing is our priority. Come and feel the difference our community makes.

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We Care More. The Guardian Difference.

A new era in early learning.

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Premium Learning Spaces

Inspiring environments for curious minds.

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Where care meets peace of mind.

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Building lifelong healthy habits with every bite.

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2 year Preschool / Kinder program for school readiness.

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Partnership with families & community

Stay connected, every step of the way.

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To Be Me

A new era in early learning. To BE Me is our exclusive learning program designed for each age & stage of a child’s first years, tailored to their age, interests & strengths. Their pathway is personalised, with every milestone captured to makes the link between play & learning clear & memorable.

Babies Toddlers Kindergarten

Google Reviews

(53)
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Janet C.
Our experience with Guardian Lemontree has been fantastic. From the nursery team all the way to the kinder team, the whole team has just been amazing.

We have had the pleasure of watching both our children go through the centre and be given the same high quality level of care, support and guidance from the team. They have both built and continue to build such great relationships with all their educators.

Our youngest is in the junior kinder room now and absolutely thriving, thank you Jnr K team (Jiin, Tamanna, Kryzzy, Christine and Nick) for helping her feel safe and helping her become more confident every day! Drop offs are a little less teary now :)

Thank you Tamanna for the progress reports from the To Be Me program. We love reading feedback on how our little one is progressing and demonstrating her skills. I find the reports really help us to understand how we (at home) can help her continue developing these skills. Being able to look back through the individual reports is really a great way to see the growth and changes in interests over the years.

Keep up the great work team, we are lucky to have you!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Janet, for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review. It is wonderful to hear how positive your experience has been across each age group and how consistently supported both of your children have felt over the years. Your kind words about the relationships they have built with their educators and the confidence your youngest is developing mean so much. It is lovely to hear how valuable you find the To Be Me progress reports, especially in helping you understand her learning and how you can continue supporting her at home. Knowing that drop offs are becoming a little easier is also very heartwarming. Thank you for recognising the dedication of the team and the care they bring to each day. Your feedback is truly appreciated.
Cheryl L.
Amazing staff and childcare centre. Both my children enjoyed their time there! The level of care and teaching allows me to feel safe for me to leave them under their care.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Cheryl! We’re so glad both your children enjoyed their time with us and that you felt confident in the care provided. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Brett N.
We’ve been really happy with the lemon tree family. All the staff and educators and chefs have been genuinely considerate and lovely. We couldn’t be happier with our son’s development since he started at lemon tree. Particularly his language and personability have excelled. We could not be happier with Lemon Tree.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Brett! We’re delighted to hear your son’s development has been so positive, especially his language and confidence. It’s wonderful to know you appreciate the caring team and the welcoming environment. Thank you for sharing your experience!
aahuti M.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Aahuti, for your 5-star rating! We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to provide a wonderful experience for your family.
Steph K.
Our bub is in the nursery room at Lemontree and absolutely loves it! We love the detailed curriculum that lemontree provides (he knows sign language!) and all the detailed updates on my bub's learning in the program. Vivie, Sandy, and Ahuti are absolutely amazing dedicated educators and we couldn't be happier with their care!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Steph! We’re thrilled your little one loves the nursery program and that you appreciate the detailed curriculum and updates on his learning. It’s fantastic to hear he’s even learned sign language! Your kind words about Vivie, Sandy, and Ahuti mean so much—they truly are dedicated educators. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Giulia
At Guardian Lemon Tree, you're more than a CCS number, you're part of the family, and what a privilege it is to be able to send our daughter here.

We can't thank our nursery family (Vivie, Sandy and Ahuti) enough for the support as we've commenced at Lemon Tree this year. Our daughter was 7 months old when she stared and it was an emotion transition for all of us, but each day, our nursery family and the greater Lemon Tree team (Chetna, Jin, Luna, Savi and Nick just to name a few) have shown us so much love and care and have nurtured and supported our daughter during this transition. It truly is a team effort.

As first time parents, and not knowing what to expect from putting your most precious gift into someone else's care, no question has been too silly. The team have taken time to listen to what we're doing at home and replicating these routines in our daughter's day-to-day, helping her to reach milestones.

It's never just dropping your child off and leaving, the team always ask how you're week/day/you are, taking a genuine interest in how we spend time as a family and what's important to us. They share their personal celebrations or activities with us and it's been a joy bonding with each of our Nursery Team . They are one of a kind.
Response from the owner:Giulia, thank you for such a heartfelt review! We’re so pleased your family feels part of our community and that your daughter’s transition has been supported every step of the way. It’s wonderful to hear how our team has worked closely with you to replicate routines, help her reach milestones, and make you feel comfortable as first-time parents. Building those strong connections means everything to us—thank you for trusting us.
Jess H.
Highly rate Lemontree and all the educators who work there! Thanks team for all your hard work and dedication to the kids and community.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Jess, for sharing your feedback. It is wonderful to hear how highly you rate the educators and the support they provide each day. Your acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication to the children and the wider community is truly appreciated. Thank you again for taking the time to leave this review.
Ann C.
We’ve had a wonderful experience with Lemontree and the nursery team. Vivie, Sandy, Ahuti and the team have always been so accomodating to our child’s needs, even playing mandarin songs and learning to speak to our child in key mandarin words to make him feel more at home. Being a small team means there is more care and a lot of thought put into our child’s curriculum and development. We especially appreciate the detailed daily updates and written reports. It’s been wonderful having our child there and seeing him develop amazing relationships with the team. Would highly recommend. Thank you Lemontree and the nursery team!
Response from the owner:Ann, thank you for sharing your experience. We’re so pleased the team’s efforts to make your child feel at home—like playing Mandarin songs and learning key words—have made a difference. It’s great to hear you value the detailed updates and the thoughtful approach to curriculum and development. Your kind words and recommendation are truly appreciated by Vivie, Sandy, Ahuti, and the whole team. We're so glad that you're part of our community!
Luca N.
I’d like to take a moment to express our appreciation for the incredible work that Nick, Winnie, Luna, and the whole toddler team have done over the past year. Their love, care, and dedication have been evident every day, and our child has truly grown attached to them.

At home, our child would often mention their names out of the blue, always with a big smile, a clear sign of the bond they built together. We know the memories and the foundation they created will stay with our little one.

Thank you again for everything. We’re looking forward to continuing the journey.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Luca, for your beautiful message. We’re incredibly grateful for your kind words and thrilled to hear how much your child has connected with Nick, Winnie, Luna, and the entire toddler team. It’s lovely to know that their care and dedication have made such a lasting impression, those spontaneous mentions at home and big smiles say it all. Building strong, trusting relationships is at the heart of what we do, and it’s wonderful to hear that your child feels so supported and happy. We’re excited to continue this journey with your family and look forward to many more special moments ahead.
Lily C.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your positive review! Lily We're thrilled that you're having a great experience at our centre, and we truly appreciate your support.
Anna L.
To impart your young cubs into the trust and care of others takes trust and courage. Yet, the beautiful team at Lemon Tree made that process and the days, weeks, months and years beyond, such a joyful experience.
The bond and connection the carers had with our children truly aided their growth and development. The community of fun and adventure they foster for the children has built true friendships. And the stability and united culture among the team is noticeable. Lemon Tree is a special place and we are very grateful our children had the blessing of spending time there.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your review! We're happy to hear that your experience with us has been so positive. It's wonderful to know that our team has made such a meaningful impact on your children's growth and development. We strive to create a nurturing and adventurous environment, and it's gratifying to see that reflected in your feedback. Your kind words about our team's bond and the friendships fostered here mean a lot to us. We're grateful for the trust you've placed in us and are delighted that your children enjoyed their time at our centre. Thank you for being a part of our community!
Chetna S.
Lemon Tree has been my first home for the past 19 years, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey I’ve had here. The warm and welcoming environment, the incredible team that feels like family, and the strong sense of community make this place truly special. I’ve loved every moment—watching families grow, building relationships, and working alongside such dedicated and passionate people. Looking forward to many more amazing years ahead! Highly recommend Lemon Tree to anyone looking for a nurturing and supportive space. 💛🌿
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your heartfelt review Chetna! We're incredibly grateful for your 19 years of dedication and the wonderful journey we've shared together at Lemon Tree. It's heartwarming to hear that our warm and welcoming environment, incredible team, and strong sense of community have made this place feel like home for you. Watching families grow, building relationships, and working alongside such passionate people truly makes Lemon Tree special. We're excited for many more amazing years ahead and deeply appreciate your high recommendation. Thank you again for your kind words and for being such an integral part of our community!
Daniela Bustamante O.
Emma W.
We loved our year at Lemon Tree and are so sad to say goodbye to the wonderful educators who have made a home away from home for our son. He got so much love and care in the nursery room and thrived in the toddler room. This is a truly special place, with special people.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback about our centre in Lemon tree! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time with us. At Guardian, we’re all about partnering with our families to deliver the best quality outcomes for our children and really appreciate your review.
Adam R.
Absolutely loved our time at Lemon Tree. Our daughter went from strength to strength as she moved through the baby and toddler room. Lily and the whole team are really fantastic educators providing exceptional care and support. We're moving overseas for a period, but will be picking up where we left off when we return.
Response from the owner:Thank you Adam for your 5-star rating for our centre in Lemon Tree. We really appreciate your positive review and look forward to creating a great experience at Guardian over many more days to come!
Jessica H.
Lucy M.
Wonderful staff and facilities, we love it
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Lucy for your wonderful review of our Lemon Tree centre. We very much appreciate this.
Giselle T.
Ashley R.
Our daughter spent four years here and we cannot speak highly enough of the incredible team at Lemon Tree. If you're looking for a place where your child will thrive (and you can be confident that they'll always be cared for and loved), look no further!
Response from the owner:Thanks for the awesome review, Ashley! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and always strive to find ways to improve our centres. Glad to you hear you have had such a great experience!
Lauren K.
Our son has just finished nearly 5 years at Lemon Tree and is off to school. If I could give Lily and the whole team more than 5 stars I would. We could not have asked for a more welcoming, safe and fun place for our kids to learn and grow. I cannot thank them or recommend them enough.
Response from the owner:Thank you Lauren for your 5-star rating for our centre in Lemon Tree. We really appreciate your positive review and look forward to creating a great experience at Guardian over many more days to come!
Dimity S
Our little one has been attending Lemon Tree for the past ~12 months and absolutely loves it. We love everything about this centre, everyone is so caring and we know our child is being so well looked after and supported. We looked at 10-12 centres before deciding on Lemon Tree and know it was the right decision for our family. The centre will work with you to ensure your child is thriving- be it through the orientation process, food allergies/sensitivities, sleep, returning after sickness, transitioning rooms etc. There is a very strong focus on education and setting your child up for their schooling years which is also incredibly important! Thank you to all the staff for being so amazing!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback about our centre in Lemon Tree! We are happy to hear such good things about you and your little one’s experience with us. At Guardian, we’re all about partnering with our families to deliver the best quality outcomes for our children and really appreciate your review.
Ali C.
My daughter loves the Centre and the staff, is welcomed and engaged throughout the day, eats and plays well and comes home happy. I'm regularly kept in the loop and I understand her learning objectives each week.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the awesome review, Ali! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and always strive to find ways to improve our centres. Glad to you hear you have had such a great experience!
Mohammad I.
Annabelle W.
Yvette van de M.
Jamie H.
The perfect childcare centre! Lemon Tree has been an invaluable part of our lives for over 2 years. The careers are beautiful, nurturing, positive role models who have genuine meaningful connections with all the children. The centre is organised, clean and safe. The chef is a magician when it comes to nutritional fancy meals for kids. At first I worried there wasn’t enough grass & dirt, but quickly realised the stuff that mattered was the culture created by the centre staff, kids and their families, not grass! Plus there is dirt, plants, sand, water play and all kinds of activities. Our child would regularly come home in a second pair of clothes after joyfully playing in all manner of messy tactile world things!! The staff and kids love being there, our child loved the place like family. They really cared about our child’s happiness and development. Sadly we recently moved from Melbourne but we will forever love the wonderful Lemon Tree community. There’s no other like it.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the awesome review, Jamie on our Guardian Lemon Tree ! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear that we met your expectations. We strive to find ways to improve our centres as we play a vital role in lives of our families and children.
Catherine L.
Our two children have been at Lemontree for 18 months and are now heading off to school. The kinder program has been a wonderful experience for them and has definitely prepared them for what lies ahead. They have thrived and enjoyed it so much. And to be honest, we have too. We love the community that is Lemontree. The teachers, the stories, the chats, the food, the environment are all brilliant. We'll miss it. But we're grateful to have had it.
Elizabeth R.
Our son has blossomed into a confident, happy and curious little man since commencing childcare at the Lemon Tree. He loves being there and my partner and I are so pleased to have found such a caring and nurturing environment for him to enjoy whilst we are at work.
Bronte C.
We have been sending our nearly 2-year-old to Lemon Tree for over a year and we could not be happier with this decision. The staff are so warm and friendly, and incredibly responsive to our wishes as a family. There is a real emphasis on good communication and community, which we have really loved, and this has been particularly remarkable in 2020 with the additional stresses around Covid. Our child has really blossomed and developed strong bonds with the carers. Highly, highly recommended!
Susie B.
Our three year old daughter has been attending Lemon Tree for around 18 months now after transferring from another centre. In short - there is no comparison. She is so well loved and cared for by the amazing staff at the centre and each day comes home brimming with stories, creative play ideas, and happy memories. We get a glimpse in the daily photos and posts so feel well-connected with what is happening in the room. And such a friendly and welcoming community vibe as soon as you enter the centre.
Rodolphe R.
Great center that makes my boys really happy. Always amazed on how much learning the team teaches them. Highly recommended
adrian S.
I've been been sending my daughter here for almost a year and she loves it. She gets up in the morning excited to be at lemontree.

The food is amazing, thanks ishi! the staff are all lovely, happy to see the kids and there is a really consistent group.

I couldn't recommend them enough, I went to inspect quite a few before settling on lemontree and the fitout and environment are way ahead of the other daycare in the inner city.
Maria C.
Andrew
Madeleine R.
Lemontree is an incredible daycare - gorgeous staff, beautiful space and my daughter comes home so happy every day. They also have a great app so you can keep up to date with what’s happening every day and the food looks chef quality - I’ve never seen better looking fruit plates! It’s a really happy vibe and you will definitely feel at ease sending your most precious family members there. Highly recommend!
Jesse-Lee S.
Having visited the Journey School in Boulder, Colorado USA - my partner and I were recommended to visit Lily and Kyleigh at the Guardian Lemon-Tree for a walk in and review. To be honest, we were completely astonished at the open air area that eloped the buildings environment.

An open space with a one square meter opening directly to the open sky and the weather that Melbourne routinely brings, makes any child realise the wonder of the open world without leaving their space.

The adventure that begins continues once the stairs are climbed by patter of little limbs, a grass space complete with sand pits, wooden blocks and a polytechnic display of primary and secondary colours provided any child a sense of amazement and wonder. Positioned with a east facing open sky the hidden dark spaces are great for the old school projector to highlight anything your child can find and find they will! The "wood room" leaves nothing to be desired, as a 32yo man, you could have left me to my own devices with the amount of wooden toys at my disposal (beer required however). I could count no less than a hundred pieces of wooden wedges, blocks, train pieces, and engineering degrees at the age of two.

Hopefully the extensive waiting list will diminish for when my partner and I expect our next child.
Response from the owner:Hi Jesse-Lee, thanks so much for the glowing review of Guardian Lemon Tree. We are very proud of our environments, programming and staff and we will be sure to pass your kind words onto our team. We look forward to having your family join our Centre in the future.
Lea Lee (.
I am a mother of two and after my second baby started to look around for a child care centres around the Carlton and Melbourne CBD area. I toured probably about 7 childcare centres and found Lemon Tree. I felt a bit apprehensive leaving my children to strangers but had to go back to work. The staff at a lemon tree made me feel at ease and I felt my children were loved. Six years later I have one child that still attend the centre and it has become a second home to my children. The staff are friendly. The children are well looked after and fed well and even though my oldest doesn’t attend the centre anymore the staff will still ask her for a cuddle. There are reviews that say it’s high turn over of staff but in the 6 years we have attended the centre there are lots of staff that have still remained. Also Lily the centre manager is lovely and very approachable if you have any concerns she is usually there if not Chetna is around to talk to. So HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! GREAT EDUCATORS! Also there are very few childcare centres in the CBD that have outdoor space. But this centre has a beautiful outdoor space upstairs. So facilities are great!
Response from the owner:Hi Lea, thanks so much for the review. We are so pleased that you are loving our newly refurbished garden – it's a great outdoor space for the children to play and explore. The team pride themselves on the relationships they build with our families and the children, so they will be delighted when we pass on your kind words.
Ayesha E.
Our son has been at Lemontree since he was 7minthe old, and I cannot speak highly enough of the care, love & support we have all received. It’s a lovely community & we would recommend it to any new parents.
Response from the owner:Hi Ayesha, thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We are so pleased you and your little one are enjoying your experience at our Centre. The team do a great job and will be thrilled when we pass this feedback onto them.
Carly N.
We could not recommend Lemontree and the fabulous staff more highly. We have two children attending - one has been with the centre for 2.5 years, our youngest recently started and loves his days there.
This is their second home and they adore the team at Lemontree.
The staff are attentive and caring, and while education is a high priority, the children's happiness and wellbeing is always No.1.
All the staff including management know every child by name and greet them with a smile every morning. : )
Response from the owner:Hi Carly, thanks so much for leaving a review and for the positive feedback. We are very happy to hear that your children are enjoying the Centre, the team and the programming we have in place at Lemon Tree. We work very hard in creating nurturing and friendly spaces within our centres, so we are glad that your little ones feel at home.
Katelyn N
The team at Lemon Tree are like an extension of our family. We found Lemon Tree during a desperate time, after our second born suffered a horrific accident at 14mths while in care at another child care centre. So we scrutinised and questioned every minute detail when we had our walkthrough and orientation. We found every member of the Lemon Tree team supported our child’s transition post-op to Lemon Tree. Now in pre-kinder, we work collaboratively with our child’s carers and speech therapist to support our child’s speech/communication, which had been affected by the accident. We proactively receive feedback by a member of the team after every session, community posts and photos - they welcomed my calls during the day (sometimes more than one!). Even when we were told that Lemon Tree was closing for renovations, they helped transition us to one of Guardians other centres and the staff kept themselves available to us to answer questions and address concerns in the interim. It was without a doubt for us that we would be rejoining Lemon Tree when they re-opened. We now have two children attending Lemon Tree, where morning drop-off can sometimes be difficult because every child is different but if you trust the team and work with them, your child will settle and find the confidence to explore independently - but safely with guided learning experiences.
Response from the owner:Hi Katelyn, thanks so much for the review. We are thrilled that we've been a part of your children's early education and were able to offer support to your family after the accident. The team pride themselves on the relationships they build with our families and the children, so they will be delighted when they hear your feedback.
Jacqui F.
Our daughter has been attending Lemontree for the last few months and the team have been nothing short of amazing. We are a particularly challenging family as we are still working through our daughter's allergies and other health issues. Management have been so accommodating with her safe foods, check in with us regularly and are so patient with our requests. The nursery room leaders genuinely care about the babies and we have been so impressed with all her learnings in such a short time. The facilities are lovely and I can see how happy our bubba is there.
Response from the owner:Hi Jacqui, thanks so much for the review. We are delighted that we can accommodate for your daughter's allergies and support your family at our Centre. The team pride themselves on the relationships they build with our families and the children, so they will be delighted when we pass on your kind words.
John H.
Response from the owner:Hi John, it's great to hear that you have given 5 stars for your experience at Guardian Lemon Tree. We appreciate you taking the time to leave your review.
Liah C.
My son August has been attending Lemon Tree since he was 10 months old. We have been so thrilled with the centre. All the educators are professional loving careers of August and all the children in their care. Sarah the manager sends out clear communication and is very easy to get a hold of whenever you need to speak to her. We love the story park online service where the room educators update parents throughout the day on what their little ones have been up to. You get to see pictures and hear stories which while your at work makes your day go by that little bit quicker. I would highly recommend this centre to any parent looking for a professional, warm, caring, fabulous environment for your child.
Tahnee W.
Our children have attended Lemon Tree for the last four years. We have had a fantastic experience with wonderful, caring and enthusiastic educators across all the rooms. The staff turnover seems to have been very low, meaning that our children have developed strong bonds with the staff and have become confident little people. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lemon Tree.
djhare
Sarah and her team are fantastic. Our little one had a great time each day at Lemon Tree, the carers are brilliant and attentive, and we always knew our kid was in the best hands. Would recommend to anyone.
Eleni P.
So happy we found this place. My children are loved and cared for and they run the centre so well.
Celine W.
I went to many schools and while lemon tree does not have the shine that I saw in many other places, it has the love - and that was what I wanted for my baby. He went in to at six months and I didnt know what to expect but I saw how much my little man loved the girls working there and was totally happy!! he has a wonderful group of friends and he is so adored. That meant more to me than the premise and the promise. He is loved, cared for and we treat lemon tree as family
Nazret A.
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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!

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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) $210.21 $122.65 $93.46
Toddler (2–3) $210.21 $122.65 $93.46
Kinder (3–5) $207.79 $120.23 $91.04

The Victorian Government offers funding to provide families up to 15 hours of Free Kindergarten a week, in addition to the Childcare Subsidy. The funding offsets the fees for three and four-year-old children that are part of the centre’s long day care Kindergarten program. Families will save up to $2,101 a year for children aged three-years-old and above in eligible long day cares in 2025. Ask for more details when you tour the centre.

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

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
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

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

Lemon Tree Centre Manager Image

Lily and team

Our Centre team, led by our experienced Centre Manager Lily, 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

Guardian Childcare & Education Lemon Tree is a boutique 60 place centre, catering for children aged four months – five years of age. Each child’s individual needs are taken into consideration when settling, planning and programming for them, and our Educators are very experienced at supporting you and your child feel comfortable in your new surroundings. The heritage of the old Lemon Tree hotel is captured in our environments, igniting a feeling of warmth and familiarity.

Our environments and learning experiences presented to the children are reflected in the research and knowledge of emergent curriculum, Reggio Emilia and the National Australian Early Years Learning framework. We foster curiosity, creative thinking and a passion for learning through our learning experiences.

Children’s learning is fostered and enhanced through exploration, play and experimentation, whilst being challenged and supported by their educators. Your child will love their day at Lemon Tree with our friendly and passionate team of Educators. We encourage Educators and families to work together to ensure a happy and productive time whilst children are in our care.

Our Educators take the time to provide families with up to date information on their child’s day and developmental progress. Our Educators are selected for their qualifications and expertise in the early childhood field and we pride ourselves on the quality of our care and the warm and secure learning environment we provide.

Your child’s learning and development will benefit greatly from the interaction with educators and other children at the centre. We make sure that our curriculum and school readiness program fits within the Commonwealth Government’s Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards.

We offer a range of excursions for all age groups including visits to the Carlton Gardens, The Children’s Museum, our local bookstore for story time sessions and walks around Lygon Street. These excursions link us to the local community, and our eight seater pram is ideal for getting our babies out and about into the local area. Our culturally diverse team brings a worldly perspective to our programs and give children an opportunity to explore other cultures and traditions.

Our menu is developed in line with nutrition Australia’s guidelines for children, and we use fresh and seasonal produce to provide a healthy range of meals for your child. Encouraging our children to participate in healthy food choices, and supporting growth and development through nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

We cater our services at the centre to make life easier for our busy families. We provide you with the necessities such as nappies, sunscreen hats, and bedding for nap times.

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.

To BE Me

To BE Me is our exclusive learning program designed for each age and stage of a child's first years. To BE Me sets the standard for early learning with a contemporary approach tailored to your child's age, interests and strengths. It sets easy to follow Development Pathways and encompasses our educational programs, room set-ups, daily rhythms and the way we support your child.

Kindergarten Program
Flying start to school

Our Flying Start to School kindergarten program is lead by degree qualified Teachers in a long day care setting. Our specialist two-year program is committed to supporting your child as they prepare for big school. We focus on nurturing their confidence, making friends and social emotional growth while also supporting their abilities in reading, writing, counting, and thinking skills. Whether it’s building with blocks, practicing their first letters, or learning to share with friends, every experience is carefully designed to support your child’s development.

Our Centre is a recipient of funding as part of the VIC Government’s Free Kinder Program. Eligible children aged three years and above will receive up to $2101 in additional subsidies to reduce your out-of-pocket fees. Ask for more details when you tour the centre.

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.

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What our families say about the centre

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