Open 7:30am to 6:00pm
Monday to Friday
Guardian Childcare & Education Lemon Tree
- Leading programs where children aged six-weeks to six years learn and discover through play.
- Highly experienced Educators and degree-qualified Teachers support children to grow and thrive.
- Safe, secure environments that support children’s social and emotional development.
- A specialist two-year kindergarten program that prepares children for school, with the benefits of long day care.
Come and see the Centre for yourself, meet the team and have all your questions answered. Book a tour today.
Hours
Mon to Fri 7:30 to 18:00
Address
2 Grattan St
Carlton,
VIC,
3053
Take a Look Around
Welcome to our Centre
Guardian Childcare & Education Lemon Tree is bursting with resource-rich environments for early learning. Following a recent Centre-wide renovation, this modern Centre is an oasis of learning for children aged from six weeks to six years. The children are able to explore and learn through modern resources, natural play structures and a range of age-specific play areas.
Read MoreMeet our Centre Manager
Rhythm of The Day
With endless possibilities, there’s never a dull moment at Guardian and no two days are the same. Here’s what a day at Guardian might look like. Please note, this will vary depending on centre opening hours.
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Morning
Handover time with children, families and our friendly Educators. There’s a chance to share what’s important for the day and any news from home.
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Morning
Breakfast time where families are welcome to stay and enjoy breakfast with the children.
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Morning
An opportunity to play and discover with open-plan play in family groups and multi-age groupings.
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Morning
Planned experiences. This is where the Guardian difference comes to life. Alongside our Educators your child’s exploration leads to learnings in numeracy, literacy, language, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, social skills, technology, creative arts and much more.
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Morning tea
An opportunity for children to come together for a healthy snack, often they help prepare their food alongside our carers and chef.
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Mid-morning
Individually tailored to your child’s needs and curiosity the planned experiences continue, this includes both indoor and outdoor programs.
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Lunch
Another nutritious meal expertly prepared by our chef. Families are invited to join the children for meals and excursions if they wish.
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Afternoon
If your child wants to, or needs to sleep, it’s time to rest and recharge. For children who don’t need to rest the planned experiences continue, in most cases outdoors.
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Afternoon tea
Another chance for the children to come together and re-fuel in small groups or with siblings. There is also an opportunity to rest or play together and reflect on the day.
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Pick-up
As you arrive to pick up your child, there’s a chance to speak with our Educators and share news about the day. Our Storypark App also allows you to stay in touch 24/7 wherever you are.
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End of day
Your child is encouraged to grab a light snack as they leave the centre. We’re mindful of how routines vary, throughout the day if we notice your child looking tired food will be provided.
Helpful Information
Opening Hoursexpand_more
Good to Know - What to Bring expand_more
What we Provide
- Sunscreen
- Four nutritionally balanced meals including: Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea & a late snack.
- Nappies
- Bibs
- Bedding
- Hats
What to Bring
- Formula and bottles
- Soft toy or comfort blanket for nap time
- Spare change of clothing
- Water bottle
Our Educators expand_more
Our team of Educators are committed and passionate about ensuring your child will be safe, nurtured and cared for every day. At Guardian, children are encouraged to engage in interest-led play that creates learning and meaningful experiences.
Our Educators seek to optimise diverse learning opportunities and implement the Curriculum as framed by the Early Years Learning Framework.
You and Your Child expand_more
All Guardian Centres provide a Centre-to-Family communication platform so families can maintain contact with their children’s experiences through photos, stories and learning outcomes.
Our Centres use Storypark and each family is provided with a secure login to access on their computers, mobiles or apps.
Learn More About Our Centre expand_more
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.
Introducing Guardian’s Summer Rain Program expand_more
From November to January, five Guardian Centres – 101 Collins, Kids Time Mckinnon, Rivergarden, Richmond and St Kilda Road – are running a Summer Rain Program with bespoke experiences for children from 0 to 5 years. Run in and around the art ateliers at each of the five centers, the program is designed by Multidisciplinary Artist, Heidi Weatherald. From visual arts, science and technology to dramatic play and literacy, no two days will look the same.
A taste of the experiences in the program
- Science, sensory, technology and music
- Science and literacy
- Puppetry, engineering sculpture, and song
- Sculpture and Song
- Science, poetry, and music
- Visual arts and storytelling
Are you interested in participating in our Summer Rain Program? Book a tour today.
Begin the Adventure at Guardian
To explore the centre, chat with our team of Educators and learn more about our high-quality curriculum, book a tour now.