Early Childhood Education & Childcare Centres

If you would like to get an update on your enrolment at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or call our family support team. Our Family Support team can also help you find an alternate centre near you, with the same offerings, that might have immediate availability. Our operating hours are Monday to Friday from 6.30am - 6.30pm which caters for children aged between 6 weeks to 5 years old. We rigorously follow the child-safe standards set out by the Victorian Government. These standards guide us to drive a child safe culture, provide appropriate strategies and actions to put the interests of children first, keeping them safe from harm.
The program is based on the ‘forest preschool’ approach, originally established over 50 years ago in Scandinavia and now an international movement. In Victoria, 3 and kindergarten near pakenham 4-year-old children are able to access a funded Kindergarten program led by a Bachelor Qualified 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.

We pride  ourselves in offering a high quality and unique Montessori program for our parents and community. The Montessori teaching method and philosophy provide a quality early childhood education that is embedded into the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian National Quality Standards. The Montessori philosophy and method will allow our children to have joy in their learning process, structured hands-on activities, and enjoy exploring their stimulating and purposeful environment.
At the heart of everything I do is a genuine belief that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and inspired. I am passionate about ensuring our teams are fostering a connected community where families feel welcomed, heard, and supported. It is my privilege to work alongside an incredible team to build a place where every child  can thrive and where families are true partners in their child's early learning journey.

Complimentary hat & wetbag are provided to help your child feel part of the Eden Academy community. We focus on variety, balance and whole foods with each meal containing vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy. Our chefs also make mealtimes special, whether it's baking a birthday cake or preparing a festive spread to celebrate an occasion. Kool Kidz Childcare Pakenham is available and accepting expressions of interest. If you’re looking to own a childcare in Pakenham or want to own a Kool Kidz, this is the perfect opportunity.
They can then bring this knowledge back to the centre to share with their colleagues for the benefit of the children. From child-led learning to sessions guided by educators, the children participate in small and large group sessions as well as individual play. Most importantly, the children learn through play, developing social skills, confidence and independence in addition to more formal academic skills. All our kindergarten or preschool programs follow the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), a national learning framework for Australia. These programs are delivered by qualified and passionate Early Childhood Educators and Teachers. Our Curriculum accommodates each individual child’s learning, development, and well-being.
Story House Early Learning’s daily fee includes meals, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, learning programs, extracurricular activities, digital updates, and supportive care essentials. Everything is designed to create a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment for your child’s growth. Our experienced and caring educators ensure every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

Your child will need a backpack or bag, a refillable water bottle, a change of clothes, a wide-brim sun hat and their favourite toy, which can help them settle in. For kindergarten your child will need morning tea and lunch (dependent on  the length of the program day). Due to high demand for places in both pre-Kinder (K3) and Kinder (K4) at Chairo, some of our programs are full, or almost full, a year or more in advance. To reduce the risk of disappointment, interested families are encouraged to consider applying as soon as possible. All children who turn three or four by the April 30, 2025, and meet the Victorian Government criteria are entitled to 15 hours per week of free kindergarten.
Use our easy map search tool below to find Creative Garden or other G8 Education centres near you, making your search as simple as possible. I’m Simone Glenn-Ward, Nominated Supervisor at Lakeside Children’s Centre with experience ranging from Early Childhood Teacher to Education Leader. In my role, I enjoy assessing our service holistically, ensuring it caters to the diverse needs of children and families in our community. I value walking alongside children as they learn about themselves, about others and about the world around  them. Our service benefits from rich cultural connections that shape meaningful interactions among families and children, making it a unique and vibrant educational setting.

In our kindergarten room, our curriculum is tailored to accommodate your child’s individual learning and development needs, which helps boost their enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to learn. Through structured learning experiences, our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers and educators are committed to helping your child gain the necessary skills for a successful transition into school and beyond. Our daycare and early learning centre is a convenient choice for local families in Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield, Officer South, and Clyde North in Melbourne. Creative Garden 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 teachers tailor their programs to ensure all children develop the confidence and social and emotional skills needed for a smooth transition to school. Through play, our Early Childhood Teachers facilitate children’s learning of important language, literacy, numeracy and creative skills. With our state of the art purpose built child care centre, Pico Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten has created an environment to stimulate and challenge children. The National Early Years Learning Framework is a program designed to stimulate brain development through play based learning.
These moments strengthen community bonds and inspire learning in meaningful ways. Ultimately, the decision to enroll in Pakenham Community Early Learning Centre depends on your priorities. An English-centric curriculum may appeal to those prioritizing language reinforcement, while families seeking a globally enriched experience might favor a multilingual setting. Carefully consider your child’s needs, home language exposure, and long-term goals before deciding.

The Learning Sanctuary Pakenham provides centre-based care for up to 125 approved spaces. ⚠️ Families must nominate only one kindergarten provider to receive the Free Kinder subsidy. "A new uniform isn’t just fabric and thread; it's a symbol of growth, unity, and the exciting journey ahead!"Our gorgeous Kinder Children showing off their FiRST early learning Kinder tops. Our amazing in-house chef, Amandi, creates fresh, homemade meals every day - from a hearty breakfast to delicious afternoon tea and late snacks.
By creating a framework that supports children's curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, we prepare them for a lifelong love of learning. At Cardinia Lakes ELC we appreciate and value families as the primary and most influential educators for their children. As a result, we prioritise working closely with families to ensure that our learning environments seamlessly align with and build upon the learning that takes place at home.