Guardian Childcare & Education Preston

  • Keeping children safe always comes first. All of our team are committed to uphold the highest standards of child safety. Read our approach here
  • Proud 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. Click here for more detail
  • Newly renovated centre with stunning indoor and outdoor spaces that feel like a home away from home. Your child won’t want to leave!
  • Our experienced and passionate Educators are dedicated to helping children learn and grow in a welcoming and supportive environment. We are so proud of them and the amazing centre they have created.

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

Preston 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.

Preston Map Image

HOURS

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

ADDRESS

418 Murray Road Preston, VIC, 3072

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS

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

Welcome to our Centre

Welcome to Guardian Preston, where your family becomes part of our warm and supportive community. Housed in a stunning, heritage-listed mansion, our daycare provides the highest quality of care and education (we’re rated Exceeding!). Our early learning centre offers a nurturing environment for children from nursery through to our government-funded Flying Start to School kindergarten program.

What makes our Preston childcare special?

• Our recently refurbished indoor spaces are filled with quality, age-appropriate resources that engage and inspire.
• An expansive outdoor area featuring a treehouse fort, water pumps, creek beds and a veggie garden for endless adventure.
• 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 safety and wellbeing. We are so proud of the amazing centre we have created.

Preston Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Elizabeth and team

"We believe early childhood is about challenging children by helping them communicate with the world and to prepare them to overcome any obstacle presented in their future".

Daily Fees

Value for quality care. See our daily fee 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

4.9
(21)
Nancy S.
Nancy S.
14:20 30 Jul 25
Thank you Guardian Preston for the amazing work you do in supporting and nurturing our kids! We’ve been to a few daycares over time and your centre has been a true standout with its sense of community, genuine care and clear communication. Our kids have developed meaningful relationships with their friends and your lovely staff and we are so grateful!Thank you Liz, Rita and team!
jinwen S.
jinwen S.
07:37 27 Jun 25
Best childcare centre ever! Have been sending my kids here for about 4 years now and they love it! The staff are all kind and nurturing and the kids feel safe and protected in there. They are super friendly and all staff knows them well and take active interest to ensure they have the best time there. Thank you Liz and the awesome Guardian Preston team!! Very grateful for all of you
Jacqui P.
Jacqui P.
07:31 24 Jun 25
This centre has the most beautiful, warm, caring, engaged and fun staff who have provided exceptional care to my kids over the years. We are so lucky to have this community of amazing people to help raise our children!
Vanessa F.
Vanessa F.
10:20 20 Jun 25
Guardian Preston is such an incredible daycare/Kindergarten. We have our two boys there and could not be happier and couldn’t speak more highly of this centre and their team. The staff are all kind, supportive, genuinely care for all of the children and have their best interests at heart. Our boys thrive there and the office Team and educators go above and beyond to make the space safe, inviting and make all children feel they belong to an incredible community.
Aisling M.
Aisling M.
03:16 26 May 25
Wonderful childcare and kindergarten, couldn’t be happier with the facilities and staff. Both my boys love it there!
Daniel K.
Daniel K.
01:48 01 Apr 25
Our son has been attending Guardian Preston for 2 years, and we couldn't be happier.The staff are beautiful, they put in so much effort to create a welcoming and friendly environment for the kids, it really feels like a little community.The educators and management are always receptive to our feedback and take a proactive approach to addressing any concerns we raise.We feel so safe sending our son here because we know he will be cared for by a beautiful group of people who clearly have the best interests of the kids in mind in everything they do.
Jojo
Jojo
23:32 31 Mar 25
My child has been attending Guardian Childcare & Education Preston for the last year and I couldn’t be happier with our experience! The staff is incredibly caring, attentive, and dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment.From the moment we enrolled, we felt welcomed and reassured that our little one was in great hands. The daily activities are engaging and educational, helping my child develop important social and learning skills. I also appreciate the open communication from the teachers and regular updates on my child’s progress.The facility is always clean, well-organised, and equipped with everything needed for a fun and enriching day. It’s clear that the team genuinely loves what they do, and that makes all the difference.I highly recommend this Centre to any parent looking for a warm, professional, and caring daycare for their child!
Jessie R.
Jessie R.
08:41 28 May 24
Caring, attentive, family feel
Juan Rodriguez (.
Juan Rodriguez (.
01:46 22 Apr 24
Mary S.
Mary S.
11:40 26 Feb 24
Great welcoming and caring childcare. My son settled very quickly and he loves going to Guardian. Thank you for your great work.
Yao Y.
Yao Y.
03:00 09 May 23
My daughter really enjoys here. I'm very happy with that.
Irene T.
Irene T.
02:47 18 Apr 23
Adam L.
Adam L.
03:13 30 Aug 22
Engaged carers and staff. Always friendly and always open to conversation regarding care.
Amy T.
Amy T.
04:33 01 Aug 22
Home away from home , we love this centre
Dani M.
Dani M.
04:33 28 Jun 22
D
D
04:29 20 Apr 22
My daughter attended this day care for roughly 2.5 years, over this time the love, care and attention to details in her learning and development was expectational.  The team took so much time to understand her challenges and strengths as well as any issues that arose such as nappy rash, general accidents grazing her knees in the play area were always handled with the greatest level of sensitivity, professionalism and respectfully to my parental wishes and instructions. All the team worked so hard and as a result I saw my daughter gained momentous amount of confidence, understanding and beautiful friendships within the centre. I was so emotional to pull her out of the centre I almost cried on her last day as I dropped her off, but as we moved to a different part of Melbourne I was unable to continue her preschool education here. I highly recommend this centre with the greatest confidence.
Lauren K.
Lauren K.
03:13 19 Apr 22
These guys are amazing. The educators and administration staff alike are all extremely welcoming, warm and helpful. We love the community that they've created. You can really tell how much they all care for each of the kids.
Anna
Anna
04:18 19 Oct 21
Meena N.
Meena N.
02:43 19 Oct 21
J N.
J N.
07:48 20 Mar 19
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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) $193.18 $93.11 $59.75
Toddler (2–3) $193.18 $93.11 $59.75
Kinder (3–5) $190.74 $90.67 $57.31

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?

Preston Centre Manager Image

Elizabeth and team

Our Centre team, led by our experienced Centre Manager Elizabeth, 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.

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

No state fee relief information available.

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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