Full list of Sunshine Coast, Noosa childcare centres rankings revealed

Sunshine Coast and Noosa childcare centres have been ranked based on government audits and parents feedback. SEE HOW YOUR CHILDCARE CENTRE FARED.

A not-for-profit Mooloolaba kindergarten that has been caring for Coast children for close to 50 years has topped the list as one of the best childcare centres in Queensland.

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.

Using Federal Government quality ratings combined with user rankings, KindiCare assessed Australia’s child care services up until January 18, 2022.

KindiCare’s rating system took into account the quality of care and value for money offered by the early learning services.

Founder Benjamin Balk said the Sunshine Coast overall ranked fairly well compared to other regions across the state because of it’s high growth rate.

“What we find is that the poorer performing suburbs for quality tend to be those in regional areas, not capitals cities or where competition is higher,” he said.

“For example, based on the latest KindiCare Insights, suburbs in regional areas such as Charleville, Thursday Island and Pittsworth were among the worst performing in the state.

“The Sunshine Coast is undergoing a property boom with significant interstate migration from Sydney and Melbourne due to housing adorability and Covid.

“Sydney and Melbourne in particular have a high participation rate in early learning and long day care services by families, so as more young families move to the Sunshine Coast you can expect to see more demand, and more competition, which tends to lead to improvements in quality.”

The top performing service on the Sunshine Coast was Alexandra-Mooloolaba Community Kindergarten and Preschool with a rating of 9.79.

Mr Balk said the centre ranked so highly because it had 20 five-star reviews from families using the service as well as being rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standards by ACECQA.

Alexandra-Mooloolaba Community Kindergarten and Preschool teacher director Muddy van der Zypp said she was honoured the not-for-profit centre, which celebrates 48 years in 2022, had been ranked so highly.

“We run a traditional kindy program and we have long standing committed, caring and passionate staff,” she said.

“We have a strong sense of community and welcome families into environment, nurture positive relationships between children, families and educators.

“We implement the early learning years framework as well as the Queensland Kindergarten learning guidelines.”

Ms van der Zypp – who has been with the centre for more than 35 years – said fostering children’s independence and confidence at an early age is vital.

“I think the most important aspect of early education is to boost self esteem, their confidence and their social skills as well as language skills,” she said.

“It’s about providing an inclusive overall development.

“We focus on learning about sustainability and improving the environment, we have many social gatherings such as barbecues, discos and hotpot nights.

“We have a beautiful, modern and well-resourced learning environment plus a well designed and cared for outdoor learning space.”

Mr Balk said Mooloolaba ranked so highly because the four services in the suburb were all highly rated based on feedback from families using the services as well as all services either meeting or exceeding the national quality standards.

The top 10 centres in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions were:

1. Alexandra-Mooloolaba Community Kindergarten and Preschool, Mooloolaba – Excellent (9.79)
2. Montessori International College, Forest Glen – Excellent (9.71)
3. Memorial Park Community Kindergarten, Maroochydore – Excellent (9.57)
4. Goodstart Early Learning Baringa, Caloundra West – Excellent (9.51)
5. Kuluin Outside School Hours Care Program, Maroochydore – Excellent (9.46)
6. Buderim Kindergarten and Preschool, Buderim – Excellent (9.36) / Chancellor OSHC, Sippy Downs – Excellent (9.36) / Milford Lodge Child Care Centre, Buderim – Excellent (9.36) / Pelican Waters – Golden Beach Preschool Kindergarten and Child Care, Golden Beach – Excellent (9.36)
7. Little Village Early Learning Buderim, Buderim – Excellent (9.27)
8. Goodstart Early Learning Little Mountain – Mark Road West, Little Mountain – Excellent (9.26)
9. NCC early learners, Woombye – Excellent (9.21)
10. Peregian Beach Community Kindergarten, Peregian Beach – Excellent (9.15) / Woombye Child Care Centre, Woombye – Excellent (9.15)

The KindiCare ranking follows two Sunshine Coast kindergartens being named among the best in the country, beating out thousands of other kindergartens in the industry rating in 2020.

Milford Lodge Child Care Centre in Buderim and Pelican Waters Golden Beach Preschool Kindergarten and Childcare in Golden Beach were awarded an “excellent” rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority last year.

Mr Balk said he encouraged centres to continue to improve their overall ratings under the national quality framework from ACECQA.

“It is very important for early learning services to work on improving their ratings, especially in areas of high competition, as ratings and reviews are a key factor in a family’s decision on which early learning service they choose for their little ones,” he said.