Childcare and Daycare FAQs

This is an individual decision based on the family, their needs and circumstances. At Guardian we welcome children from as young as six weeks, up to six years of age – and we do this with great love and care through a number of initiatives.

Our Being with Babies program is a family-focused approach to caring for your baby. We recognise the unique needs of each baby and their family as they join our Centre Community. We partner with and support you by giving your baby a safe, nurturing and predictable environment to grow and develop at their own pace – ensuring you are communicated with at all times.

We focus on creating warm and supportive care relationships, and invest in quality time between your baby and their dedicated carers to build bonds and attachments that reduce stress for both your baby and you.

Our skilled Nursery Team will connect with your baby and family with expertise, empathy and experience. Each Nursery Team includes a ‘Baby Ambassador’, who is skilled and specialised in the developmentally appropriate care and learning of babies.

One-on-one time and cuddles are prioritised for your baby, with the security of always having a familiar Educator close by who knows your baby well. This focus on consistent relationships ensures that your baby’s caregiving rhythms – such as feeding, changing and sleeping – are opportunities of uninterrupted time between baby and Educator.

These rhythms and are designed to replicate your parenting style and your own home routines to ensure that your baby’s experience with us is familiar and comforting.

There are many different types of childcare and early education services available for families – depending on their needs, location, and the ages and stages of their children. The choice is a great thing to have, but it can also lead to indecision and uncertainty – especially if you’re a first-time parent.

Our blog has some great advice on the different types of childcare, but we’ve also summarized it here for you.

• Childcare Centre (long daycare) – Long daycare centers provide care and education programs for children (usually aged from six weeks to six years). This is before a child starts formal schooling. These centers provide full day care from early morning to early evening and provide up to 5-days week care.
• Long daycare preschool/kindergarten programs. These are facilitated within a long day care setting, and they also offer the added benefit of long care hours for families.
• School-run preschool/kindergarten programs. These are planned educational programs for children in the year before they start at primary school – children aged 3-5.
• Community-based preschool/kindergarten programs. These generally run between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm – similar to school hours – although this may vary by state and by service so check with the provider.
• Occasional, Flexible, or Casual Care Services. These options provide short periods of care for children before they reach school age. This can be used on a permanent or casual basis. It often suits families who are casual or shift workers.
• Family Daycare. Caters to children under school age and is a great option for families requiring flexible care as it can be tailored to suit specific family needs that might extend outside the standard work hours, potentially even including overnight care if needed.
• In-home care. Can take the form of a babysitter, grandparents, nanny, or live-in au-pair. This type of care is government-subsidized for families who can’t access other “mainstream childcare” options, for example, those listed above. This may be due to a number of factors, including:
  • Working odd hours – e.g shift work or weekends
  • Geographic isolation
  • Challenging or complex family needs

Our fees are specific to each Centre and can be found on our individual Centre pages. We do not have a set daily fee as there are many variables that need to be considered, such as the age of your child, the room they are enrolled in and the location of the Centre.

Once enrolled, Guardian charge fees one week in advance on a weekly basis, and you will receive a statement via email. We are a registered childcare provider, which means eligible families can claim the CCS.

Use our Child Care Subsidy Calculator to estimate your out-of-pocket expenses.

A common myth is that children begin their more significant learning journeys as they prepare to and start primary school – but in fact, learning starts even before birth! At Guardian we are helping prepare children for the exciting transition to school from the very moment they join us. This is not work we do in the last year or two before they start school, but a journey of learning, developing confidence and social and emotional wellbeing from as young as six-weeks of age.

However, as children approach the age of three to five, they are becoming readers, writers, counters and collaborators. The early skills they showed as babies and toddlers are now becoming more defined. That’s why finding a high quality childcare provider, with a leading preschool or kindergarten program is so important for your child and developing their love of learning for life.

The Guardian Kindergarten and Preschool Program offers your child all the advantages of structured learning in the lead up to school, while supporting you with the longer care hours found in a childcare setting. That means your child gets the best start to their schooling, while you’re able to better juggle the day-to-day thanks to longer care hours than those provided by community-based preschool and kindergarten programs.

At Guardian, we provide almost everything your child might need during their day. However, for hygiene reasons we ask families to bring a name-labelled water bottle as well as a change of clothes, as some experiences can get messy! If your child uses any comforters such as a dummy or sleeping bag/blanket to help them feel more settled at rest times, please send that along. We want them and you to feel as comfortable as possible.

Read our FAQs on starting childcare for more insights on what to expect.

A qualified babysitter is able to care for your child and meet their basic needs in your absence. However a formal childcare setting is about far more than just care. The best childcare centres offer learning environments for your child, where they will be stimulated, invited to make friends, and able to grow developmentally.

No matter their age when entering childcare, it’s an opportunity for your baby, toddler or preschooler to learn about the world around them. They will also build the skills and resilience they will need to be successful in school and into the future. They will learn to share, make friends, develop skills that will serve them for life. And have a lot of fun at the same time! There are also many benefits for parents.

Some of the key benefits of childcare versus a babysitter, include:

• Emotional development. High-quality childcare will nurture your child as an individual, helping them to build trusting relationships with caregivers and peers alike.
• Developing important social skills . For children who do not attend out-of-home childcare, it can be difficult to establish those all–important social skills that will serve them at school and in life.
• Learning independence. Children love to feel useful, and naturally have a desire to please others. Part of the childcare experience is exposing your little one to new tasks and self-care opportunities.
• Preparing them for ‘big school’. High-quality childcare will have an emphasis on learning through play, which will ultimately prepare children for formal schooling.
• Structure is your friend! Structure gives children a framework and schedule that can help them know what to expect and when – which also provides a sense of safety and security.
• Breeding curiosity and a love of learning. A high–quality early learning environment is the ideal place to build on a child’s naturally curious nature.
• Expanding language skills. A child’s vocabulary almost triples between the ages of three and five! One of the reasons childcare is good for your child is it gives them exposure to a more language-rich environment than they would have access to at home with a parent, carer or babysitter.

But it’s important to remember not all childcare is created equal. Do your research and choose a centre that suits your child and your family’s needs. Even after you’ve done your research and selected a centre, it’s still hard letting go of their little hand. But as parents, we quite simply cannot do it all, and we’re here to help.

Read more in our blog, why childcare is good for your child.

Our Why Guardian?’ page will explain this in more detail, but put simply:

1. A World-Class Curriculum. Crafted with the influence of world-leading insights and approaches, such as Reggio Emilia, the Early Years Learning Framework, and the National Quality Standard for early childhood. Our approach is focused on the latest research and insights into how children learn best, and the specific skills they will need to thrive in the 21st Century.
2. Qualified Teachers and Educators. Degree-qualified Teachers, Educators, and Curriculum specialists in every Centre, you can be assured we’re supporting, encouraging, and enabling a new generation of lifelong learners.
3. Partnership with families. Our close partnership with families allows us to offer a range of additional benefits to the learning and childcare experience for the children in our Centres. Including Designated drop off and pick up zones, casual care days, assisting you with government subsidies and entitlements, and our family communication app StoryPark to keep you informed throughout the day with photos, videos, and updates about your child
4. Leading long-day Preschool & Kindergarten programs. Designed and led by teachers, all with all the benefits of long daycare flexibility for families.
5. Custom-designed centers and resources. Our Centres inspire curiosity, foster creativity, and support discovery with a variety of sensory-rich, real-world, sustainable spaces designed for early learning.
6. Dedicated to Health and well-being. The health, safety, and wellbeing of our people are always our highest priority. We know parents are busy, so our policies – whilst grounded in safety – also consider life’s practicalities.
7. Focus on Community, Connection, and Belonging. We’re incredibly passionate about connections, communication, and being an active part of our local community at every Guardian Centre. With excursions into our local community to explore and learn, plus a variety of incursions and in-Centre events – our practices and programs focus on collaboration, diversity, uniqueness, and experiences that open up young minds to a world of possibilities.

Choosing the right early learning centre is one of the most important early education decisions you will make for your child. You need to consider where your child might be happiest, which style of care will suit your family values, the composition of each centre (group numbers, physical layout), as well as their curriculum.  

1. Take a tour. Don’t be afraid to request a visit before committing to any centre. In fact, at Guardian, we encourage tours as you can get a true feeling of the centre and get to meet some of the educators. This is the best way to ensure you’re choosing the right centre for you and your child. 
2. Talk to the Centre Manager and various educators. It might be helpful to prepare a list of questions leading up to your visit. We have this handy list of questions you can ask a prospective childcare centre to see if it’s the right fit for you and your family.  
3. Consider the location. Drop-offs and pickups will be so much less stressful when the centre is near your hoke or work. 
4. Don’t leave it till it’s too late. It can be heartbreaking to miss out on a place at your top centre so remember to put your child’s name down on the waitlist early and confirm your requirements as regularly as possible.

This blog has some great expert tips about how to choose the best childcare centre for your child. 

This is an individual decision based on the family, their needs and circumstances. At Guardian we welcome children from as young as six weeks, up to six years of age – and we do this with great love and care through a number of initiatives.

There is no “right” or “wrong” time to start – it’s up to you as a family to make that decision

This is an individual decision based on the family, their needs and circumstances. At Guardian we welcome children from as young as six weeks, up to six years of age – and we do this with great love and care through a number of initiatives.

Our Being with Babies program is a family-focused approach to caring for your baby. We recognise the unique needs of each baby and their family as they join our Centre Community. We partner with and support you by giving your baby a safe, nurturing and predictable environment to grow and develop at their own pace – ensuring you are communicated with at all times.

We focus on creating warm and supportive care relationships, and invest in quality time between your baby and their dedicated carers to build bonds and attachments that reduce stress for both your baby and you.

Our skilled Nursery Team will connect with your baby and family with expertise, empathy and experience. Each Nursery Team includes a ‘Baby Ambassador’, who is skilled and specialised in the developmentally appropriate care and learning of babies.

One-on-one time and cuddles are prioritised for your baby, with the security of always having a familiar Educator close by who knows your baby well. This focus on consistent relationships ensures that your baby’s caregiving rhythms – such as feeding, changing and sleeping – are opportunities of uninterrupted time between baby and Educator.

These rhythms and are designed to replicate your parenting style and your own home routines to ensure that your baby’s experience with us is familiar and comforting.