Open 7:30am to 6:30pm
Monday to Friday
Guardian Childcare & Education
Elsternwick
- Choosing us will give you the reassurance that your child will be with a leading team who will help them be creative brave and curious in their learning
- We know you want the best for your child. At Guardian Elsternwick 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.
- Your child will be in the best hands with us, and our centre will soon become their second home. They will never want to leave!
Book a tour today to see what makes our Centre special & have all your questions answered
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.
HOURS
Mon to Fri 7:30am to 6:30pm
ADDRESS
241 Kooyong Road Elsternwick, VIC, 3185
SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS
Check out our fantastic indoor and outdoor learning spaces your child will enjoy
Welcome to our Centre
Guardian Childcare & Education Elsternwick is one of more than 40 high-quality Guardian Childcare Centres across Victoria. We are located on Kooyong Road, with easy access for families in Elsternwick and near St Kilda East, Balaclava, Caulfield North and Elwood.
- Highly experienced Educators and degree-qualified Teachers
- Bright, vibrant learning spaces full of resources designed to inspire
- Extensive outdoor space for children to explore
- On-site Chef providing fresh snacks and meals daily
- Nappies, SPF 50+ sunscreen, high-quality formula and bed linen provided
- Extended hours of care each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm
Meet our Centre Manager Kate
"My goal is to ensure all children are respected for who they are and what magical knowledge they bring to the centre."
Where children are supported to be brave, curious, and bold in their learning, for the best possible start to life.
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.
With endless possibilities, there’s never a dull moment and no two days are the same.
Handover time with children, families and our friendly Educators. There's a chance for conversation to share what's important for the day/what's happened the night before at home.
Breakfast time where families are welcome to stay and enjoy breakfast with the children.
As children are arriving and families are coming and going, there's an opportunity for play as well as family grouping, open-plan play and multi-age grouping.
There's an opportunity for children to come together and enjoy morning tea.
Following morning tea, the planned experiences continue. This includes both indoor and outdoor programs.
There's an opportunity for children to come together for lunch. With an open-door policy, families are able to join the centre for meals and excursion if they wish.
For children who want to, or need to, there's an opportunity to sleep, rest or relax. For children who don't need to rest, there are planned experiences, which are more likely to be outdoors.
Children come together for afternoon tea in small groups or with siblings (they can also rest and play together, too). This time also presents an opportunity to reflect on the day.
As families arrive to pick up children, there's an opportunity to speak to Educators and share information about the day.
Some centres offer early tea or light snack at the end of the day, which they can grab as they leave the centre. We’re mindful of how routines vary at home, so if throughout the day, we notice children look tired, food will be provided.
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
5 meals per day
All incursions and excursions
Nappies and wipes
Storypark parenting app
Long day care hours year around
Helpful Information
Opening Hours
What to Bring
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
Our Educators
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
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
Guardian Childcare and Education Elsternwick offers the warmth and comfort of a family home, in Melbourne’s inner southeast. Our purpose-built outdoor space is accessible from every classroom and has plenty of room in which to run, ride and explore.
Our spacious day care and child care centre provides a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged six weeks to six years of age, supporting them to discover the world in a safe and secure way. The centre is filled with bright, stimulating materials that encourage children to explore and engage their curiosity to discover more about the exciting world around them.
Children are supported through those important early years to explore and develop their social and emotional skills through their early learning journey by a dedicated team of university-qualified Teachers and Educators. They create learning experiences in a nurturing environment that fosters creativity and imagination in a safe environment for young age groups.
Guardian Elsternwick is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm every weekday, so each family are provided with plenty of flexibility for the hours they work and the time they choose to drop off and pick up their child. During drop-off or pick-up times, we encourage you to stay for a little while and spend some time exploring the learning environment.
Our Educators and bachelor-qualified Teachers can show you the various play materials and education spaces throughout the child care centre to help you discover our approach to learning as well as support you continue the learning with activities at home. We encourage involving the whole family in their child’s care and education to ensure they are happy as they learn and grow.
Our family communication app, Storypark, provides you with photos and updates on your child throughout the day, offering you the opportunity to stay informed about your child’s early learning and development. We also set up different learning outcomes for the children through Storypark, which supports them in achieving developmental milestones and understanding new ideas.
For children aged three and four, we have kindergarten programs led by university-qualified Teachers that can support your child in their preparation for the step up into primary school. Our kindergarten curriculum is based on leading child development research and demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible start to life for your child through quality child care services.
Our early childhood education program is led by specialist Educational Leaders who guide teaching and learning in a flexible and research-supported way. The leading curriculum supports discovery and gives children the best start to life, as well as being aligned with the National Quality Standard.
Through our high-quality kindergarten program, children have the opportunity to learn some of the skills that are often only introduced in early primary school. We begin learning and exploring shapes, numbers and letters through fun, play-based activities.
We develop each child’s literacy and numeracy skills to help them feel confident and prepared during the challenging leap into primary school. Our high-quality program supports the needs and routines of each of our families, and we ensure each child’s cultural and family background is supported and encouraged.
We’re committed to children’s nutrition and dietary requirements, and our on-site cook prepares each meal fresh and packed with all the nutrients that children need at their age. We encourage children to engage in food preparation and to ask questions about where their food comes from, why it’s good for them, and how they can eat it. We also encourage exploration of the cultural heritage behind different foods, helping promote diversity and inclusion from an early age.
As part of our unique Visible Learning Program, families will be able to gain an understanding of their child’s education. Our Learning Exchange Display will provide the opportunity for our Teachers and Educators to share updates on your child’s progress. It will also be a chance for you to have direct input into your child’s learning!
Why not come and meet the team and have a look around our Centre today? We can answer questions about kindergarten, the Child Care Subsidy, or provide any further information you need.
At Guardian Elsternwick, we pride ourselves on being a top choice for families seeking quality childcare in Caulfield and the surrounding areas. Our Elsternwick childcare centre is designed to foster a rich early learning experience, offering a nurturing environment where children can thrive. Conveniently located near St Kilda, our daycare caters to families looking for exceptional childcare options in the St Kilda region.
We understand that selecting the right childcare Elsternwick daycare is crucial for your child’s development, which is why our dedicated educators focus on providing stimulating experiences tailored to each child’s needs. Whether you’re in search of early learning childcare or a friendly daycare St Kilda, we’re here to support your family on this important journey.
We’d love to show you why Guardian Childcare and Education Elsternwick is the perfect learning environment for your child. At Guardian, we believe that together, we can give young children the best start to life.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Centre Highlights
- We offer numerous outdoor environments that are developmentally appropriate where the children can explore and interact at their own pace, and create their own spaces. The downstairs yard is littered with trees that offer ample shade, and a lovely expansive deck joins all rooms.
- An open spacious yard that offers endless exploration in the form of sandpits, an outdoor kitchen, a river bed and our tree house.
- Two natural yards offer endless fun in the form of sandpits, decking, a construction patch for digging and an outdoor kitchen. The children especially love tending to the vegetable patches they created and having the fruits of their labour included in their daily meals.
- Joy of Reading – We provide children with the opportunity to develop a genuine passion for reading at an early age. Through teaching about different kinds of books and words, and fostering a literary understanding, children can develop the healthy habit of reading, providing various developmental benefits.
- Cooking – We’re all about healthy nutrition, and our on-site chef prepares meals daily for the children to enjoy. We encourage children to engage in the food preparation process and develop confidence in playing an active role in their nutrition. Children regularly help select ingredients, prepare food, ask questions and learn about the various food groups and nutrients.
- Sustainability – Providing our children with an understanding of sustainability and a passion for the environment is important for us, so we engage in various activities and learning experiences that teach children about recycling and looking after the planet.
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
Our specialist two-year kindergarten/preschool program is led by degree qualified Teachers in a long day care setting. Children explore and understand their world in an environment of safety and security. It’s where they develop the foundational literacy and numeracy skills to thrive.
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.
Dave W.
01:49 03 Sep 24
Great staff. Great facilities. Getting in and out of the onsite parking can be a little tricky at busy times but is not a problem.
Falyn D.
03:24 10 Jun 24
Alice H.
06:42 21 May 24
There is such a friendly culture at this centre. The staff are so in tune with the children and the activities and resources provided are extremely well planned out. We are so happy here and only have positive things to say!
Sophie G.
02:13 05 Mar 24
The centre is always clean and tidy. The people who work here are genuinely invested in the families that attend and creating a community of care. The carers who looked after our son were incredibly kind and understood his needs. We are only leaving because we are moving and are sad to do so.This centre is first class.
Belinda H.
11:44 05 Sep 23
Hands down the best childcare centre around. My daughter loves it there and learns so many new skills! We always feel welcome by the amazing staff.
Lisa I.
01:40 16 Aug 23
Lovely place
Z S.
23:01 18 Apr 23
Deb M.
04:10 11 Apr 23
Christie B.
00:19 28 Jan 23
My daughter started here at 6 months old. We have been incredibly happy with all of the staff and the rooms/building/outdoor areas are lovely! I feel very safe and comfortable leaving my now 16 month old here, and she loves it. Communication has been a strong point from all staff, from admin to room leaders and even the occasional casual staff member. They have done so well creating a warm and friendly environment.
Rhi S
03:58 04 Oct 22
My son has been going to this centre for 7 months. In this time the educators have become like a second family. They are so caring and friendly. Their communication is fantastic from the leadership of the centre manager to the educators. I am always comfortable knowing my son is in a safe and caring environment where he can excel.
Theekshna De S.
11:19 03 Aug 22
Excellent childcare centre with wonderful staff. We moved our toddler out to another centre which was closer to home and ended up moving him back to Guardian Elsternwick despite the distance, as it is so well managed, with regular known staff who really care about the kids.Our toddler loves his time at daycare and is happy to be back!
AnaQuesadaEle S.
02:08 26 Apr 22
Our child is very happy, he is learning a lot and building his confidence in a new language with new friends and educators, so we are very proud of him but also very happy with the choice of the centre and everything they are doing to push him through this new experience.
Zena I.
02:18 01 Feb 22
Generosity W.
11:09 31 Aug 20
Such caring staff! they know every child individually and the centre is clean, well organised and extremely welcoming. I feel 100% safe leaving my child with them in every way because I know they will be both protected and cared for.
Felicity G.
00:38 31 Aug 20
Moved my baby here after a disappointing experience at another childcare. Could not be happier with the level of care my daughter now has. Great staff and lovely environment.
Lucas M.
09:30 30 Aug 20
Both our kids attend Guardian Elsternwick, we adore the friendly and personable staff. They have always been accommodating, open and warm, very attentive to our kids needs and flexible. Highly recommend them!
Ellen L.
04:16 28 Aug 20
This is the place to send your kids! Our son has been attending since he was about 11 months old and we have had such positive experiences. All the educators and staff are amazing, showing genuine care and interest in seeing the little people grow and develop. My son is now in his final year there and he just loves it. There is a wonderful culture throughout the whole centre and the children learn so much about being a part of a community. Couldn’t be happier that this is where our son has spent his earliest years.
Amy P
11:03 18 Aug 20
Friendly staff and lovely educators , a great child care centre in the community.
Ben R.
08:35 06 May 17