Edge Early Learning opens first of several new sites planned for SA

One of Australia’s fastest-growing childcare operators is doubling down on its SA expansion, unveiling the first of several planned new sites. See inside.

Edge Early Learning has opened a new childcare centre in Angle Vale.

One of Australia’s fastest-growing childcare centre operators is doubling down on its South Australian expansion, unveiling its 17th facility in the state as it explores opportunities to further expand its footprint.

Edge Early Learning’s new centre on Merlot Rd in Angle Vale is its second in the suburb following the opening of a nearby facility on Saverio Boulevard in February 2022.

With another new centre slated for the $450m Novo housing project at West Lakes in late 2025, Edge is consolidating its position as the state’s fourth largest childcare operator behind major national groups Goodstart and G8 Education and Adelaide-based Stepping Stone.

Inside the new Edge Angle Vale - Merlot Rd childcare centre. Picture: Supplied by Edge Early Learning

Edge chief executive Annie Bryce said the company was working on plans to open more centres across the state “in the next few years”.

“Edge now provides early learning places to more than 5600 children, aged six-weeks to school age across the state, across a total of 17 centres in South Australia, with further expansion on the horizon,” she said.

“Our most recent opening in Angle Vale is catering to a growing location; as the community flourishes, so does the need for additional quality options for families, and we have already had a great response from local families wanting to book tours to see the new centre.”

The outdoor space at Edge Angle Vale - Merlot Rd. Picture: Supplied by Edge Early Learning

The new purpose-built centre on Merlot Rd provides places for up to 119 children a day, adding to the 120 places Edge offers on Saverio Boulevard.

It includes seven age-specific rooms including nursery, toddler and kindergarten, while outdoor play areas feature water misters, bike tracks, sand pits and vegetable gardens. Daily meals are provided by in-house chefs.

Edge is privately owned and backed by private equity fund HEAL Partners, which holds a number of investments in education and healthcare ventures.

Since establishing itself in South East Queensland in 2017, the childcare operator has grown its network to 58 centres across Queensland, ACT and South Australia.

Artist's impression of the Novo housing development at West Lakes where Edge Early Learning is planning to open a childcare centre.

Large national groups have led the surge in new childcare developments across South Australia in recent years, as they look to capitalise on the increased demand from families.

However Stepping Stone director George Skrembos, who oversees 26 centres across the state, said that had led to an oversupply of centres in metropolitan Adelaide, while leaving a shortage in the state’s regional areas.

“A lot of time the challenge in regional areas is not having enough children and families out there to justify a viable commercial operation for childcare,” he said.

“And also getting the staff to work in the childcare centre, regionally, is extremely hard. So there’s some real challenges in childcare at the moment.”