South Australia’s top and bottom childcare, kindy and OSHC providers revealed

How does your childcare centre rate? Industry website KindiCare has ranked SA’s top and bottom childcare centres. See how yours compares to others across the country.

Nazareth Early Childhood Centre, Stepping Stone Evanston and Sturt Street Community Child Care have topped the list as South Australia’s best childcare centres, new industry data shows.

Independent analyst app KindiCare has rated childcare centres across the country based on government audits and family feedback, giving each facility a rating out of 10.

The centres are also ranked as excellent, very good, good or fair.

The state’s three best were tied first on a rating of 9.47.

Sturt St Early Learning was second (9.45) followed by Magill Campus & Community Children’s Centre (9.42) and The Learning Sanctuary Norwood (9.41).

At the bottom of the pile was Mallee COGS – Lameroo childcare (6.28).

Sturt Street Community Child Care director Alison Wells said paying workers above award rates, good staff to child ratios and making clients feel safe were among key factors to a strong centre.

“If families need to leave their children, they need to make sure they feel secure and safe – that is one of the main priorities when looking for a centre,” Ms Wells said.

Stepping Stone Evanston director Hayley Truscott said her child care was in demand because of its invested staff, child-focused curriculum, activities and connection to the community.

“We had a mum ring the other day and she is just pregnant and looking to start care mid next year … we get people (coming) in pregnant all the time,” Mrs Truscott said.

Nazareth Early Childhood Centre declined to comment.

The KindiCare Rating provides an overall indicator of a centre’s quality, performance and customer satisfaction compared to all the other childcare centres and services on the market.

The rating is also influenced by government service quality audits, ratings, reviews, trends and community feedback aggregated by KindiCare.

Sturt Street Community Child Care Centre has been rated among SA’s best, according to industry data. Caliana, Riley, Educator Ike Herwidi and Johan. Picture: Keryn Stevens

KindiCare founder and chief executive Benjamin Bulk developed the KindiCare app to simplify the task of choosing a childcare centre.

He said the best centres had directors that fostered the right learning environment for educators and children.

“They also have consistent and constant positive feedback from the community and strong performance over time, under the national quality framework,” Mr Bulk said.

KindiCare data also showed Alberton Preschool was the state’s top preschool (9.6), while Beachport Preschool (7.13) was bottom.

St Joseph’s Memorial School Norwood had the best OSHC (9.32), while Saddleworth OSHC was the lowest (6.49).

Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Blakeview topped the best kindergarten (9.35) while Strathalbyn Kindergarten: Outreach was at the bottom (7.02).

Strathalbyn Kindergarten: Outreach was contacted for comment.