Childcare and kindergarten in Pakenham, VIC
Welcome to Great Beginnings Pakenham. Our daycare and early learning centre is ideally located for families in Pakenham and nearby suburbs Beaconsfield and Officer. Great Beginnings Pakenham offers long day care and a kindergarten program for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.
Our purpose-built childcare and kindergarten centre in Pakenham offers innovative early learning programs in a safe, nurturing and enriching environment. Our outdoor play areas feature spacious, natural environments with bike tracks, forts, climbing equipment and veggie gardens. Our large rooms include interactive whiteboards, Apple programs on iPads, and plenty of natural resources. Our longstanding team of educators and teachers is dedicated to creating a safe and happy environment, maintaining a calm and positive attitude. Every Thursday and Friday, our 3 and 4-year-olds go on bush walks and community excursions. As part of the daily fee, children enjoy weekly sign language, Hey Dee Ho, and yoga classes. We offer a Government-approved Kindergarten program led by Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers, ensuring children’s smooth transition to school.
Our Pakenham child care centre has received an “Exceeding” rating in all seven quality areas from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority in our most recent assessment, making it one of Australia’s top 8% of early learning services.
Why you’ll love Great Beginnings Pakenham
Spacious outdoor environments
Dedicated educators and teachers
Chef-prepared meals
Nappies and wipes provided
Government-approved Kindergarten program
Family communication app
Extended/flexible hours
Close to public transport
Music and movement
Vegetable garden
Yoga sessions
Language classes
Victorian Government-approved Kindergarten program
Our kindergarten programs are tailored to meet your child’s individual learning needs across numeracy, literacy, emotional and social development, resilience, and self-regulation.
Our early learning centre offers the VIC Government-approved Kindergarten program, supporting your child’s development and well-being from now, at school and beyond. In Victoria, 3 and 4-year-old children are able to access a funded kindergarten program led by a Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher. If eligible, your child will be able to participate in the Government-approved Kindergarten program, at no cost, up to a minimum of 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year. Talk to us about how this reduces your out-of-pocket costs.
The added benefits of our kindergarten program include:
- Extended long day care opening hours
- Open all year round (excl. public holidays)
- Programs developed and delivered by our Early Childhood Teachers
- Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation
We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating
At our Pakenham early learning centre, all meals are cooked fresh daily with no processed foods. We are highly allergen-aware and cater to all dietary requirements, including Halal, allergy management, and preferences for picky eaters. Our seasonal four-week rotating menu, planned according to Nutrition Australia guidelines, offers a variety of nutritious options for breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack.
We ensure families start their day right with fresh treats and a coffee station in our foyer. Each room receives fresh fruit daily, and seasonal fruit is always available in the front foyer for children to take on their way out, keeping hungry bellies satisfied before dinner.
Communicating with families
We prioritise clear and consistent communication with families to foster a strong partnership in supporting each child’s development. We ensure families feel informed, involved, and confident in their child’s early learning journey.
Our families love hearing about their child’s progress and the experiences they’re having day to day. We share these moments through centre newsletters, our Xplor App, one-on-one meetings, and at various centre events.
Fees
The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.
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Nursery0 – 2 years
$171.20 -
Toddler2 – 3 years
$171.20 -
Kindergarten3 – 5 years
$171.20
Child Care Subsidy Estimator
Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*
CCS Estimator results
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Total fees
$0.00 -
Estimated subsidy
$0.00 -
Kindergarten subsidy
$0.00 -
Out-of-pocket cost (what you pay)
$0.00
*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:
- Accuracy and currency of family income information entered.
- Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
- Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres).
- Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight).
- Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.
Kindergarten/Preschool subsidy is subject to State Government specific requirements including child age eligibility criteria and the delivery of the funded program by an Early Childhood Teacher on the day the subsidy is claimed by the family. Calculations herein are based on the assumption all eligibility criteria is met. Please contact your Centre Manager for detailed information.
For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.
Calculate my subsidyExplore nearby G8 Education centres
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Frequently asked questions
A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.
On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.
Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.
We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.
Our Family Support team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Great Beginnings centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.
It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.
Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.
Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.
For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits and spare socks.
For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits and spare socks.
Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.
It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.
Great Beginnings uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.
After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.
If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Great Beginnings is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.
Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.
Contact us
We look forward to welcoming your family.