Open 7:00am to 6:30pm
Monday to Friday
HOURS
Mon to Fri 7:00am to 6:30pm
ADDRESS
252 - 254 Tucker Rd McKinnon, VIC, 3204
SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS
Welcome to our Centre
Welcome to Guardian Childcare and Education McKinnon, the best family day care for your child’s development and growth! Our education and care centre in southeast Melbourne is warm and welcoming, with high-quality early childhood education programs focused on play-based learning. Our team of qualified Teachers and Educators provide a stimulating environment for children aged six weeks to six years of age to discover the world in a safe and secure way and develop a lifelong love of learning.
- Quality learning programs such as Joy of Reading, Cooking and Sustainability
- Engaging indoor learning spaces full of quality educational resources
- Expansive outdoor play spaces with a large sandpit and veggie garden
- 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 7.00am to 6:30pm
Meet our Centre Manager
Maxine
"Children never fail to make me laugh with their beautiful personalities and innocent view of the world."
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
- High quality baby formula
- 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 & Education McKinnon is a beautiful, open-plan centre located on Tucker Road. Our early childhood education programs are focused on play-based learning, and 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.
Our childcare centre, with long day care services, is filled with bright, stimulating materials that encourage children to explore and engage their curiosity to discover more about the exciting world around them.
Each child is 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 McKinnon is open from 7.00 am to 6.30 pm every weekday, giving you 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.
Each Educator and Teacher in each room can provide some understanding of the various play materials and education spaces throughout the Centre to help you discover some ways to continue learning 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 on Storypark, which supports them in achieving developmental milestones and understanding new ideas in early childhood.
For children aged three and four, we have a kindergarten program led by university-qualified Teachers that can support your child in their preparation for the step up into primary school. Our kindergarten curriculum has the Victorian Government Kinder Tick, which demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible start to life for your child through quality childcare services.
Our education and care program is led by specialist Educational Leaders who guide teaching and learning in a flexible and research-based 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 early years nutrition, and our on-site cook prepares each meal fresh and packed with all the nutrients that growing bodies need. 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 early childhood 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 early childhood centre today? We’d love to show you why Guardian Childcare & Education McKinnon is the perfect learning environment for your child. We can answer any questions about our service, the Child Care Subsidy, enrolment process, and provide any other advice you need. At Guardian, we believe that together, we can give young children the best start to life.
At Guardian Childcare and Education McKinnon, we pride ourselves on being the best childcare services option for families searching for a nurturing and enriching environment. If you’re looking for an early learning centre near you that prioritises your child’s growth, we offer exceptional early childhood education in a safe, engaging setting. Our dedicated team ensures that every child receives personalised attention, making us the preferred day care near you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to discover how our child care services can seamlessly fit into your family’s routine, providing the vital support you seek in childcare near me.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
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.
2 yr Kindergarten Program
Our specialist two-year kindergarten 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.
Sara R.
12:53 14 May 24
Lucy W.
00:39 13 Feb 24
Very nice staff
Neda E.
01:08 12 Feb 24
Very friendly staffClean centreHealthy meals and snacks provided
CR
21:08 13 Jul 23
Loveful. Cheerful. Friendly team.Thank you to team always. 🥰
Amani S.
01:00 16 May 23
As a mum of 4 .. I’ve seen a lot that goes on at many childcare centres. We have been so grateful to have found Guardian in Mckinnon a few years ago. I’ve had 3 kids there and will be sad when my little girl has to leave next year. The staff have always catered to the needs and flexibility of our family. The learning and support is wonderful and they have always keep a high standard of safety and care. Highly recommend.
APS
06:01 16 Apr 23
Amber B.
00:25 13 Dec 22
We are always made to feel welcome and feel the educators and teachers are on top of what's happened in the day for our child. Documentation is current in and around the rooms, all communal spaces are well defined and have purpose, management team are awesome!
Anne-Maree Y.
09:53 15 Nov 22
Mallar S
02:41 01 Nov 22
We absolutely love Guardian McKinnon as the CM Maxine there is exceptional and lovely. My son's educators Surbhi and Stephanie are amazing at what they do. The care given to my son is just amazing. He's very happy going to daycare.
xoxo L.
02:15 11 Oct 22
Wayne W.
01:17 11 Oct 22
Very nice and professional!
Trang H.
11:54 02 Aug 22
We have recently transferred to Guardian McKinnon and we are so glad to have found this centre. The Educators are so lovely and welcoming to both our kids, we are always informed of how their days went and we love to see all the updates via Storypark.Definitely very happy with our decision to send out kids here !
shelly S.
07:31 29 Jun 22
My kids have been in the center for more than a year and they are thriving there. The educators ,admin staff are very attentive to the kids needs as well as parents needs. The manager, Maxin is very supportive and caring. The center is very modern with plenty of outdoor and indoor play activity. I would highly recommend the center.
Samuel M.
02:00 24 Jun 22
Great care for our two girls - the staff (in room educators, office staff and specially the chef too!) are all amazing, particularly with the kids. They also work exceptionally hard to make pickups and drop offs a breeze. great place, I recommend it.
Trang L.
01:44 21 Jun 22
My daughter has been at Guardian Mckinnon for more than 1 year. Staffs, Educators are very nice and friendly. Centre is clean, equipped and modern. Children has variety, fresh and yummy food everyday by Chef.I can see developments in skills and confidence of my daughter. She enjoys every moment in her childcare day through the pictures posted by Educators.Would definitely recommend to other families.
Ying L.
02:44 14 Jun 22
George T.
01:23 14 Jun 22
Lauren D.
22:23 13 Jun 22
We transferred to Guardian at the start of the year from a centre our two year old thrived and loved. I was incredibly anxious about her starting at a new place, and how her transition would go. We couldn’t be happier, she walks in and loves saying hi to everyone and could not be happier. Her language has developed quickly, and the staff and management genuinely care. Could not recommend higher!
Arianna Moon K.
23:16 09 Jun 22
It is an excellent child care. My daughter gets looked after really well by carers. All staff members including the centre manager, chef and of course the carers are very friendly and easy to approach. Thank you.
Huw C.
06:57 09 Jun 22
Kind and caring child care centre with excellent carers and support team who have built up strong relationships with our whole family.
Ida
05:45 09 Jun 22
My child has been in the centre since 18 months old and we love this child care. The staff are friendly and caring and facilities are new. They’ve also got sports every week. The catering is great and kids love it. Would definitely recommend to families.
Michelle S.
04:37 09 Jun 22
My son has been in Guardian McKinnon for about one year. He is really enjoying and love it. Can see his daily skills development. Definitely recommend.
Sarah W.
08:05 28 Jan 22
Alicia S.
00:33 17 Jan 22
My son has been attending Guardian McKinnon for over a year, starting in nursery and now in the toddler room, he has learned so much and absolutely adores his educators. The staff are so caring and supportive, I couldn't ask for better people to be educating my son and helping him grow into the best version of himself. The educators keep the families up to date with photos via the Storypark app and always take the time to write detailed stories about what the children have done that day.
Yu S.
06:21 02 May 21
I would like to tell someone who is looking for a good childcare in McKinnon area....I am a grandmother of Claire Liu. Over one year I was taking Claire to childcare in the morning and sometimes picking up from there in the afternoon. From inside the classrooms to outside the building throughout, I just felt every one, everything, everywhere making me real happy, warmth and so clean .... Especially I must mention Claire‘s teachers Kashish, Lenny and Jessie. They are extremely enthusiastic for their job! I told them that I must promote all of you and this childcare does fantastic things. If nobody encourage good people isn’t fair for the business too!Today I am very pleased to write this review and post it on public area to let people know what the best childcare supposed to be👍Many thanks for Kids Time 👍
Jill S.
05:59 09 Apr 21
My two boys have been attending here for over 2 years and love it. The educators in each room are exceptional, and their tenure is long lasting, which is a great reflection on the centre as a whole. The range of learning experiences on offer for all kids is incredible. We could not recommend Guardian McKinnon more highly :)
Dani K.
03:18 09 Apr 21
Guardian McKinnon is an amazing childcare. They strive to create a wonderful environment, as soon as you walk in the doors you know your kids are going to be well looked after.The friendly reception area are always so helpful, they know all the children and parents.The educators are incredible. So caring, and the activities they have set up for the kids are always wonderful. They are extremely thoughtful and put so much effort into making sure the kids feel at home, and relaxed.I’m jealous of the food they get! Amazing quality and again, so well planned.Everything about guardian is incredible and I feel so thankful I found them for my children.
Nicole K.
04:46 08 Apr 21
My 4 year old and 1 year old attend Guardian McKinnnon 4 days a week. Both have flourished both developmentally and in confidence since commencing. All the educators have been amazing - great local childcare centre - Highly recommend!
Jenna L.
03:38 08 Apr 21
We love going to Guardian, my little girl has been there since 3 months old. I felt very comfortable leaving her with the educators, she is now 15 months old and absolutely loves going there. She runs in and is happy to see everyone which makes me have less (mum guilt) about taking her. All the staff even from other rooms know her name and say hello and good bye as we come and go which makes us feel so welcomed and that the whole centre actually cares about each child not just the ones in their rooms.Highly recommend
Joan L.
23:31 07 Apr 21
Our son started at The Guardian in McKinnon in January and he loves it, the educators are so kind and caring, our son goes 3 days a weeks there is always such a warm welcome by Maxine, Leigh and Isobel when we arrive. Our son has huge smiles when he sees the educators in the fairy penguin room. We know he’s having a wonderful time everyday and they get beautiful fresh cooked meals everyday. I’d highly recommend this childcare.
Gunjan S.
06:02 07 Apr 21
The love the carers show for the kids makes this centre different from the other childcares centres in the area. My daughter joined the centre when she was 6 months old. I couldn't have asked for a better support group! The carers treated her like their own. The strong bond the cares build with not only my daughter, but all the children at the centre is the reason why all the kids rather be at the centre than home :) . Its a great sense of comfort for the parents to know their kids will be in a nurturing environment just like home.
Giulia C.
01:12 07 Apr 21
My son has been attending this centre for over a year. We have had a great experience with all staff members, the highlights of the centre are: caring, friendly and approchable educators that go above and beyond their job, good communication with families, great modern facility with plenty of space and learning opportunities, individual attention and a genuine interest in children's wellbeing and development. :-)
Aroon
23:37 06 Apr 21
Our daughter has been attending this centre for the past 2 years. The instructors and management are kind, knowledgable and reliable. Our daughter loves going there and has developed great relationship with the instructors and other kids. We visited few other places before deciding on Guardian and we are happy that we have made the right choice.
Kate J.
19:55 06 Apr 21
Lovely staff and lovely facilities. They have a wonderful range of activities for the children. My children have really enjoyed their time there and learnt so much.
Alan C.
14:46 06 Apr 21
My kids love the centre activities and have a ball there. Staff are always so lovely to the children and you can tell they really care about their development.
M H.
10:33 06 Apr 21
I love our childcare centre. My boys love (and loved) going there every day, they learn so much and every day is varied and packed full of fun and learning. I love that everything is documented and photographed and by lunchtime or afternoon I can see everything that they get up to. The educators are all so caring and look after the kids so well. Management are responsive, helpful and flexible. I have no hesitation recommending our centre to everyone.
Astha B.
10:32 06 Apr 21
We transitioned recently into Guardian McKinnon from another childcare and have had nothing but a wonderful and supportive experience with the educators and the senior management. Our little one has settled in so well all due to the care taken by her new educators who focused on ensuring she felt at ease the moment she started her orientation.
Josi L.
10:02 06 Apr 21
My children have always enjoyed this centre and formed many bonds with the staff over the years. The staff are always friendly, professional, reliable, and helpful. This centre is more than a business, it’s been a community for our family. It’s been a pleasure and help having my children at Guardian McKinnon.
Hock Oon T.
03:48 08 Oct 20
Pretty pleased the centre. My son attended the centre and had a great time when he was there. He was always very fond of the educators he had.