Guardian Childcare & Education

Preston

Reviews from Google

5.0
(15)
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.
Elissa K.
Elissa K.
09:37 23 Jan 24
Jack F.
Jack F.
21:36 28 Nov 23
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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  • 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.
  • We know you want the best for your child. At Guardian Preston 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.

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 Childcare & Education Preston our recently refurbished spacious and inviting centre, with childhood education programs focused on play-based learning. Our Preston 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 beautiful long day care centre in Preston is in a heritage-listed mansion, and features the building’s original façade, thriving gardens, a huge grapevine, music classes, and a range of learning spaces and play areas, filled with high quality resources.

Our Preston childcare centre offers:

  • 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 sandpit, bike track and veggie garden
  • On-site Chef providing fresh snacks and meals daily
  • Highly experienced Educators and degree-qualified Teachers
  • Nappies, SPF 50+ sunscreen, a hat and bed linen provided
  • Extended hours of care each weekday from 6:30am to 6:30pm

Our long day care in Preston is conveniently located for families residing in nearby suburbs, including Reservoir, Thornbury, Coburg North, Heidelberg West, and Bellfield. The centre provides a welcoming space where children can explore engaging indoor and outdoor environments, nurturing creativity and development through play-based learning programs.

Our Preston childcare boasts renovated outdoor spaces, a treehouse fort, water pumps, creek beds and natural play structures, children are encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace. The Centre also offers a two-year funded Kindergarten Program, delivered by degree-qualified Teachers, to help prepare your child for the exciting transition to primary school. Our Kindergarten program, in a long day care setting, is aligned with the Early Years Framework.

We are proud to have a culturally diverse team and we take pride in celebrating a variety of cultures and holidays throughout the year. In addition, the children at our Preston early learning centre get out and about on regular excursions to Preston Market, our local café and the neighbouring park, where we enjoy wonderful connections to the local community.

As part of our unique Visible Learning Program, families have the chance to gain an in-depth understanding of their child’s learning. Easily accessible for families, our Learning Exchange Display provides the opportunity for our Teachers and Educators to share with you any updates on their progress every day. You will also have the chance to share with us your own personal goals and visions for us to implement, having direct input in your child’s educational journey!

Families will also be given access to our family communication app Storypark, where we will share with you any significant updates in your child’s day, as well as any other important updates that happen in the centre – ensuring that you’re always connected, even when you’re not here.

Our on-site Chef prepares five nutritionally balanced meals using seasonal ingredients each day. To further explore food at the Centre, Educators host regular hands-on cooking experiences for the children to extend on their knowledge of nutrition, encouraging them to try new tastes and textures!

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 us for more information when you visit our Centre.

If you’re looking for high-quality child care in Preston that supports each child to grow and thrive, let’s get started!

Begin an exciting learning journey at Guardian Preston today. Book a tour to explore the Centre, or speak to our team.

Read More
Preston Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Elizabeth

" I 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".

Our Flying Start to School Preschool & Kindergarten program provides a specialised 2-year, curriculum focussed on the learning & development of children aged 3 to 5. Read more HERE on our unique 2 tier Becoming Me program for 3 year olds and Being Me for 4 year olds – preparing them for the next stage of life.

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

5.0
(15)
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.
Elissa K.
Elissa K.
09:37 23 Jan 24
Jack F.
Jack F.
21:36 28 Nov 23
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

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

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

Helpful Information

Opening Hours

Open 6:30am to 6:30pm
Monday to Friday

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.

More about Guardian Preston

Guardian Childcare & Education Preston is located in a heritage listed mansion, with original Victorian era frontage and an updated interior. We often receive feedback that our beautiful old building feels home-like, which helps to support children settling into the service. Outside we have generous spaces for each age group. Our babies enjoy an undercover decking space and sandpit oasis in their yard. For the kinder children, a large U-shaped yard houses a tanbark climbing space, sand pit, mud pit, water tanks and edible gardens.

The doors are open in each room throughout the year regardless of weather, and the children are encouraged to move between the indoor and outdoor environments. This allows them to experience different spaces, promoting a sense of community between neighbouring rooms and encouraging socialisation and exploration.

Each day we provide the children with breakfast, morning tea, a cooked lunch, afternoon tea, and an evening snack. The meals contain a variety of flavours, colours and textures, encouraging the children to try new things from a young age. Many different cultures are reflected in our meals, and our seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables provide nutrition and great taste.

Our child care centre is very active in the local community and hold a number of family and community events each year, from family meet and greet evenings and centre open days to family social nights, play days in the park, and visits to the local school and nursing home. We welcome families to contribute their ideas, skills, hobbies and interests to our programs. Not only does this help to bridge the gap between home and child care, but it also supports the children’s confidence, independence and relationships.

Our educators work very closely with families, ensuring that communication is open at all tims. We are always available to talk about your child’s progress, achievements and learning at the centre, and can touch base with you during the day for reassurance that your child is in safe and capable hands.

Guardian Preston has a fully-funded Kindergarten Program run by degree qualified teachers. Our focus in the kinder program is developing the children’s social and emotional readiness; as well as teaching them important life skills. Our kinder programs incorporate a school readiness program that aids in the transition from kinder to school.

At Guardian Preston your child will be in environment designed to inspire curiosity, foster creativity and support discovery. Their early learning will be facilitated by educators and a curriculum that supports them in developing the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.  

A love of learning. Confidence. Curiosity. Guardian Preston is a place for early learning where children can thrive. At Guardian Preston we: 

  • Believe early learning should be fun. Through play, a child’s curiosity and imagination come alive as they explore and understand their world at their own pace. 
  • Put children at the centre of their growth. Play-based experiences and structured learning support the development of language, literacy and numeracy skills as part of the Altona North Kindergarten Program. 
  • Make sure you love coming to Guardian as much as your children. You’ll meet a team of educators passionate about your child’s learning and development at every age and stage. 

We have a large team who together have created a wonderful community with our families and children over the years. This makes our childcare centre feel like home when you arrive, with laughter and constant chit chats with families a point of pride for us. 

Children are provided with a wide range of resources and materials to inspire their learning and development. We focus on real-world, ‘open-ended’ materials that encourage creativity, problem-solving and physical development. This type of play launches children into an environment where the learning opportunities are endless.  

We’re also dedicated to health and wellbeing at Guardian Preston. The health, safety and wellbeing of our people – big and small – is always our highest priority. We know parents are busy, so our policies – whilst grounded in safety – also consider life’s practicalities. 

In addition, educating children about the importance of healthy eating and wellbeing is an important part of early childhood development. We believe in providing a positive eating environment that reflects dietary requirements, cultural and family values, and promotes lifelong learning for children. 

Areas that this Centre services

Guardian Preston services a number of local areas, including: Coburg, Heidelberg, Bellfield, Thornbury, Northcote, Regent and Reservoir. 

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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