Guardian Childcare & Education Caulfield North

  • Keeping children safe always comes first. All of our team are committed to uphold the highest standards of child safety. Read our approach here
  • We’re excited to announce that we have been named a finalist for the 2025 Local Business Awards in the South East Melbourne.
  • Discover our centre that feels like home and where each day is exciting, from our nurturing nursery to our leading 2-year Kindergarten program. Your child deserves the best
  • We build a strong sense of belonging from day one as we get to know you and your unique child – come and be part of our Caulfield North family!

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

Caulfield North Map Image

HOURS

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

ADDRESS

470 Dandenong Rd Caulfield North, VIC, 3161

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS

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

Welcome to our Centre

At Guardian Caulfield North, families are at the heart of all we do, with each child’s growth celebrated. At our childcare centre, you’ll find quality care and engaging educational programs – from our Nursery all the way through to our government-funded Flying Start to School kindergarten program.

What makes our Caulfield North early learning centre the best choice?

• Welcoming indoor spaces with quality, age-appropriate resources
• Four outdoor play areas with herb gardens and sandpits.
• 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

Families quickly discover a welcoming community with a shared commitment to every child’s wellbeing and safety. We’re proud of our daycare centre – your child will never want to leave! Join the leading childcare provider in the area!

Caulfield North Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Mariah and team

"Our goal is to ensure all children are respected for who they are and what magical knowledge they bring to the centre."

Daily Fees

Value for quality care. See our daily fees 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
(44)
Samantha W.
Samantha W.
08:26 19 Mar 25
My daughter has been attending since she was 4-5 months old and absolutely loves going! She has learnt so much and absolutely adores her educators! Being a working mum, this has made drop offs such an ease and just knowing she is cared for and loved makes me so happy! Highly recommend!
Marc C.
Marc C.
01:05 19 Mar 25
Our son has been attending this childcare for over 2 years and loves it very much. The staff and educators are very kind and considerate and the facilities are excellent with easy parking underground and elevator access to all floors.
Arabella P.
Arabella P.
22:04 18 Mar 25
We couldn’t be happier with Guardian Caulfield North! From the moment we first visited, we were impressed by the warm and welcoming environment, the caring and dedicated team, and the thoughtfully planned activities. Our son has been attending for nearly two years, and we’ve seen him thrive during this time.The centre offers fantastic incursions and events that engage both children and families, creating a strong sense of community. The meals made by chef Joe are nutritious and well-balanced. We toured several centres before choosing this one, and it was an easy decision—highly recommend!
Shannon K.
Shannon K.
21:18 18 Mar 25
I cannot speak highly enough of Mariah and the team at Guardian Caulfield North. Both of my children have been or are attending this childcare. The care, compassion and fun that this centre provides for children is fantastic. I feel extremely comfortable leaving my children in their care.
Sarah and Adam H.
Sarah and Adam H.
11:45 19 Feb 25
Our baby has been at Guardian Caulfield North for the last eight months. He started in the Nursery and is now in the Toddler room. I absolutely love it here. The staff and educators are all so beautifully natured and our baby loves them all. The education and seeing it through the updates daily is fantastic. The facility itself is spacious and fresh. I cannot fault this childcare centre and highly recommend!
Madeleine M.
Madeleine M.
23:21 27 Jan 25
Fantastic childcare centre with beautiful, modern, clean facilities and a truly lovely team of Educators and centre management. We could not be more happy and comfortable to send our son to this centre each day and judging by the smile on his face at drop off, we think he highly recommends it too!! Thank you to all at Guardian Caulfield North!
Nick K.
Nick K.
11:17 12 Sep 24
Have only recently started here with my son and I'm delighted with how he has settled in. New management have come on board recently and really have the place running smoothly. Genuinely caring staff. Highly recommend.
Shazeea Mohamed A.
Shazeea Mohamed A.
02:43 14 May 24
Responsive staff. My son has settled well there.
Diandra
Diandra
02:15 04 Mar 24
Claire P.
Claire P.
02:48 02 Mar 24
We couldn’t be happier with the amazing staff that care for our daughter at Caulfield North!
April W.
April W.
01:09 06 Feb 24
Darryl L.
Darryl L.
01:02 11 Dec 23
The love, attention and care for our daughter was amazing. The staff are always there to help and the culture they harvest at the centre is wonderful.
Dhaneshi Mudugamuwa A.
Dhaneshi Mudugamuwa A.
09:39 06 Feb 23
jennifer T.
jennifer T.
00:06 28 Dec 22
Tiffany G.
Tiffany G.
09:05 31 Oct 22
We absolutely love Guardian Caulfield North. Our daughter has been going to this daycare centre since she was 7 months old and we immediately felt at ease with the educators and the centre manager Cristina. We had the opportunity to come in for 3 orientation sessions before our daughter's first full day which helped getting to know the space and the team. Everyone we have dealt with so far has been caring, well-organised and knowledgeable. The communication is great and we have a lot of trust in the team. It's really nice when you are able to drop off your child and feel certain that she will be well looked after and that she'll be enjoying her time at daycare.
Aisha L
Aisha L
02:50 18 Oct 22
After struggling to find a childcare that suits my son's needs, we fell in love with guardian childcare. My son has improved on his vocabulary, activities and skills etc.. thank you educators most especially Cristina the school manager. Thank you so much.
Merve O.
Merve O.
01:20 28 Sep 22
Such a beautiful centre. The staff are incredible and responsive at all times😊 they are very welcoming and make you feel at ease.
Edward H.
Edward H.
04:58 12 Jul 22
Srishtika R
Srishtika R
03:57 11 Mar 22
My child has been at this centre for more than a year and it has been an amazing experience. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are fantastic and well maintained. Educators take really good care of the children and involve them in exciting and variety of activities everyday. It's wonderful to see my child develop and grow in such a safe and healthy environment.My experience with the Centre Manager Cristina has been fantastic right from the first conversation I had with her to enrol my child. Quick response, great support and regular updates from her has been immensely helpful.Healthy and delicious food is prepared by Chef Bel. I am so happy that my child is able to try so many different varieties of food everyday.Thank you to the entire Guardian team.
Shalline C.
Shalline C.
03:47 08 Mar 22
My son has attended this centre since he was 2+ years old from pre-kinda and now 3+ years progressing to full day Kinda care. Few things my husband and I particularly like about this centre is that they have full time professional educators, make our child easier to build trust and relationship with the educators. He has rapidly grows his confident, communication skills and motor ability due to variety educational activities provided by the centre. My son all the sudden fully toilet trained himself by monitoring his classmates in the class before he turn 2 and a half year old. This positive and pleasing outcome definitely were not what we were expecting but we were welcome it with whole hearted. The in-house chef also a big highlight to us especially for our fussy eating boy. The meals always delicious, healthy and full of variety. They also keep us up informed what our child eat or do by sending us photos and videos each class/day. I strongly recommend checking out this centre and experience yourself xx
Blake C.
Blake C.
02:12 03 Mar 22
Guardian Caulfield North exceeded my expectations and put my mind at ease within minutes of first walking through the door. My daughter has been attending since she was 10 months old and she loves going there. The educators across the nursery and toddler rooms have been amazing. Her motor and language skills have increased significantly and we're very appreciative of the care and support they give the children. The food is better than what we offer at home and the manager and staff are all incredibly lovely and approachable. Would recommend to everyone.
bridget G.
bridget G.
09:16 01 Mar 22
Beautiful centre, well maintained. Our children love spending time here and I’ll need to get some tips from the chef as they keep saying how much better the food is here. Thank you for taking such amazing care and putting in the time and effort to make their time spent here enjoyable especially after the ordeal of covid.
Georgia J.
Georgia J.
23:51 28 Feb 22
We have just recently moved into the area, and were looking for a new child care centre for our 1 and 3 year old. We went on a number of tours in the local area, and just feel in love with the Guardian Childcare Centre. The centre is light filled and full of engaging activities, plus a lovely outdoor area. We had a personal conversation with the chef, who is able to cater to our children's special dietary requirements, and ensure are kids are able to have the same meals as the other children, with some minor changes. And the room teachers are just so lovely. We are so happy with the decision to move. Would recommend.
Tarli L.
Tarli L.
10:28 25 Feb 22
I am an educator at another childcare centre but Caulfield North I highly recommend, I have friends with their children there and I only hear good things about the centre. The staff are incredible and the learning experiences the educators set up for the children are incredible.The nutritious food the chef provides for the children is outstanding as you can tell it is made with love and passion as I have had a few taste testers and looking at the menu, it is never boring.If I didn’t live so far away I would love to join the Caulfield north team! The centre manager was amazing with answering some questions I had to ask, she made me feel so comfortable and at ease.Highly recommend!!
James A.
James A.
03:27 25 Feb 22
A great facility, incredibly friendly and attentive staff, and the kids love every day they spend there. I can absolutely recommend them for daycare and kindy.
Tim S.
Tim S.
03:19 19 Feb 22
My children have been attending this centre for approximately one month, and they have settled so well. All the educators have been very accommodating, and the centre manager and assistant centre manager are so quick at responding to questions, and very helpful. Also the food is amazing! Love the pictures on storypark
Sarah R.
Sarah R.
12:20 18 Feb 22
My two girls have been going to Guardian Caulfield North since they were 12 weeks old, and they have absolutely loved every moment!The staff are amazing! They are always warm & welcoming and I'm always impressed by the educational experiences that they provide each and every day.The quality and variety of the meals are second to none, and I am so grateful that my girls are able to try all kinds of foods that they would never experience at home.The Center Manager is easy to talk to, very open and always responsive.I couldn't imagine sending my girls anywhere else, thank you to everyone at Guardian Caulfield North!
Billy S.
Billy S.
00:28 18 Feb 22
My 3 children go here and they absolutely love it.The Educators are all incredible and I don't know what the Chef is doing but the kids no longer want to eat my food and only want the food at child care. I was lucky enough to try some and I instantly realised why. The food quality here is amazing.Cristina, the Centre Manager here is incredible, my daughter was having a really rough day and the way that the CM was able to communicate with and work with her played a massive role is her settling down and enjoying the rest of her day.FIVE STARS! Couldn't recommend more highly.
Sunali G.
Sunali G.
02:50 13 Nov 21
My son started this childcare when he was 11 months old. He attended nursery 2 & Toddler 1 room. He loves his educators and friends. He was very well settled. We are moving home from this area that's why we are taking him out otherwise we were very happy with this childcare. Thank you so much for taking care of him.
SUKJUNG K.
SUKJUNG K.
04:11 23 Jun 21
My son started his journey when he was 20months old . He has been attending Guardian North Caulfield centre for the last 8months. Sadly he needs to move his childcare closer to our home because we are going to move to other suburb. I highly recommend Guardian North Caulfield, the premises is lovely ,clean and has enough space for the children to play. My son was in great hands especially when he was in Toddler1 room being looked after by ladies especially Alex who cared for his development..We feels so comfortable leaving him there every day.
Philippa D.
Philippa D.
10:27 11 Sep 20
Guardian Caulfield North creates a warm and welcoming family environment. The Centre facilities are of the highest standard, the chef makes the most scrumptious food and the educators care for the children like they are their own! Highly recommend! 👍🏽
Guardian Caulfield N.
Guardian Caulfield N.
04:45 03 Aug 20
TheViaro2004
TheViaro2004
03:50 24 Jul 20
Both my kids go to this childcare, and I have always found them to be highly professional and responsive. The educators have advanced my children's development so much, including toilet training. They do so many activities with the kids every day, we are very happy with this centre.
Brian R.
Brian R.
04:43 02 Oct 19
We had an amazing experience, the Centre Manager is very organised and communicates regularly. The educators really know the children individually and support their learning develop. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for day care to become part of their family.
Niamh C.
Niamh C.
02:50 16 May 19
This isn’t just a daycare centre. It’s like a second family. My little girl loves going in to see her friends and educators. Her language and social skills have come on in leaps and bounds. She has so much fun every day and she eats sooo well! We’re kept informed about what she’s up to everyday so we can extend that learning at home and chat to her about all the cool things she’s doing at school.I could not ask for more from a daycare centre.
Georgina C.
Georgina C.
03:45 15 May 19
Wonderful centre. The facilities are gorgeous and the care is exceptional. My daughter has had a few health problems and the carers have been so accommodating and handled situations so well. The food is also incredible - my daughter eats SO WELL there!
Annie W.
Annie W.
01:55 15 May 19
Great centre and facilities, very friendly staff with lots of smiles. My daughter loves her educators and has made some great friends. Her educators are very proactive and involved with the kiddies' projects and interests. Lucky to have them!
RONALD M.
RONALD M.
23:10 23 Feb 22
My four year old son has been in Gardian child care Caufield North since year 2020. He is happy to go to childcare twice in a week. We have been observing and happy that my son is intellectually growing well. About the Gardian, first of all it is tidy and well organized. The manager and the teachers are quick responding to our queries and indeed, they look after my son very well. I am proud of you. we will be announced regarding any activities well in time, that makes us to prepare my son in advance. Finally, my son likes garden food menu than home prepared food . Thank you.
Chloe E.
Chloe E.
03:15 17 Nov 21
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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) $204.13 $108.23 $76.26
Toddler (2–3) $204.13 $108.23 $76.26
Kinder (3–5) $201.70 $105.80 $73.83

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.

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?

Caulfield North Centre Manager Image

Mariah and team

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

Our exciting, resource-rich learning environments at Caulfield North include:

  • Quality learning programs such as Joy of Reading, Cooking and Sustainability
  • Passionate educators, who focus on relationships with children and their families
  • Light-filled learning spaces with a range of activities such as languages, cooking and yoga, designed to inspire healthy habits, curiosity and a sense of belonging
  • Natural play structures across four spacious outdoor yards, herb gardens and sandpits allowing for exploration and discovery
  • Our Caulfield North child care and day care Centre has several multi-lingual Educators who speak languages including Vietnamese, Mandarin, Greek, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Arabic and Cantonese
  • Nappies, SPF 50+ sunscreen, high-quality formula and bed linen provided
  • Extended hours of care each weekday from 7am to 6.30pm

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.

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.

What our families say about the centre

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Guardian Centres Nearby

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