Childcare at ECMS
Your child’s first five years of brain development are magical, matter, and last a lifetime. Our long day care centres offer places for children from birth to five years.
Our vibrant early childhood education programs feature fun play-based activities helping your child develop vital physical, social, intellectual and emotional skills.
Our skilled teachers and educators invite children of all ages to know who and where they are and encourage them to make meaning of the world around them.
We offer programs reflecting the Government’s National Early Years Learning Framework.
Children are capable and confident learners, and our skilled teachers and educators provide them with the support and opportunities they need to become lifelong learners.
Some of our centres offer an integrated three- and four-year-old kindergarten program, providing convenience, quality, and continuity when your child is ready for kinder.
Why families love our centres
High-quality programs
Our educators create a positive and relaxed learning environment where children feel secure and happy as they grow and build confidence.
Strong relationships
Our teachers and educators partner with you – your child’s most important teacher – to support your child’s development, fostering strong relationships and preparing them for a positive start in school.
Inspiring conscious culture
Your child will enjoy regular incursions at the centre and excursions in the local community, allowing them to enjoy diverse experiences and nurture respect for the environment.
Engaging environments
Our indoor and outdoor learning spaces are designed to capture children’s imagination and encourage their exploration as thinkers, makers and doers with big ideas. Families appreciate this aspect of our centres.
Nutritious meals prepared by talented chefs
We provide a diverse menu of fresh, nutritious meals at the centre to fuel your child’s growth and development. Meals can be tailored to your child’s dietary requirements, ensuring they get the most out of them.
Fee Transparency
Nappies, incursions and excursions are included in your daily childcare fees, which means there are no hidden costs for families.
Enrolment process
Step 1: Find a childcare centre
Identify your childcare of choice by exploring session times and further information about each centre on their page. Book a centre tour to meet the team and learn more about what life at the centre would look like for your child.
Step 2: Enrol your child on the waitlist
Enrol at your preferred centre either via your local council or directly with ECMS. Follow the instructions on the individual centre page to complete your registration form.
Step 3: Accept Offer
We will send you an offer once your child is allocated a place via the local council or the ECMS team. To accept the offer, complete and submit the enrolment form.
Step 4: Get ready for your first day
Our enrolments team will review your form, and once all details are confirmed, your service will contact you regarding orientation, info sessions and what to expect on your child’s first day.
Which program is right for me?
Childcare
Childcare (early learning) centres are fee-paying and may offer full-day education and care services for children from birth to school age.
Early learning centres, called ‘childcare’ or ‘day care’, typically offer children longer and more flexible hours.
Some of our kindergarten and childcare centres are in the same building, so your child can move between the services as they grow and reach their next early learning stage.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a program tailored for children aged three to five and spans two years.
Sessional/Free Kindergarten, commonly known as preschool, runs for up to 15 hours two to three days a week during the school term. In some of our centres, we also offer long-day kindergarten sessions.
All three- and four-year-old children in Victoria can access the Free Kinder initiative at sessional kindergartens and early learning centres. The Victorian State Government offsets long-day kindergarten fees through their free program.
Childcare FAQ
A: You can waitlist your child for a place at any of our centres throughout the year. For some of our centres, you will need to register with the local council to join the waitlist, while for others, you will need to register through our enrolments platform directly.
Visit the centre page for more details on what process applies to you.
A: Our early learning centres offer play-based education and care programs for children aged from birth to five years of age.
A: Opening hours are displayed on the centre profile page. Please view our list of childcare centres here to see specific operating schedules for each of them.
A: Risky and messy play is vital to how children learn. Teachers are trained to help children explore their environment, challenge themselves and feel safe.
They also think carefully about your child’s right to bodily privacy. For example, when going to the toilet.
We rigorously follow the child-safe standards set out by the Department of Education and have zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, discrimination and abuse of any kind.
A: Please let your Centre Director know if you have any legal arrangements in place.
Families have different needs, and our teams will always work with you to ensure your circumstances are supported confidentially and according to law.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our complete list of FAQs, or Contact Us with your query.
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ECMS acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live, learn, work and play. Aboriginal people have a long tradition of teaching and learning through sharing their connections with country, community, language and culture. We recognise their continuing connection to the country, and we pay respects to elders past and present.