Full list: Every childcare centre, kinder in Greater Geelong, Surf Coast rated

Geelong childcare centres are rated above the national average, with one Lara kindergarten in Australia’s top 2 per cent. SEE EVERY GEELONG CENTRE RATED.

Goodstart Early Learning Newtown centre manager Katie Sinclair with Hendrix and Wren, both 4. Picture: Alison Wynd

Geelong childcare centres are rated above the national average, with one Lara kindergarten in Australia’s top 2 per cent, new data reveals.

Local childcare centres achieved an average rating of 8.63 out of 10, higher than the national average of 8.41, according to the 2024 KindiCare Quality Index.

Goodstart Early Learning Lara was rated Geelong’s best kindergarten with an “outstanding” rating of 9.8, making it one of the top centres in the country.

SEE BELOW FOR ALL GEELONG KINDERGARTEN RATINGS

The kinder’s rooms are set up to engage children in sensory and play-based learning and the yard includes sandpits, a worm farm, vegetable patches, bike tracks, and spacious shaded areas.

Goodstart Early Learning Victoria West and Tasmania manager Tiffany Smith, who works at the Lara centre and has more than 30 years of experience in childcare, said it was the committed educators that make the kinder “exceptional”.

“They work hard to build trusting relationships that ensure children and families feel safe, supported and respected at all times,” she said.

“To not only care and educate children but to also ensure that they go home happier, healthier, wiser and braver than when they arrive each morning.”

The Kindicare data is based on assessments by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority as well as parent and community feedback.

KindiCare founder and chief executive Benjamin Balk said the ratings consistently showed having a great centre director was key to the level of quality, happiness and overall culture of educators and children.

“One thing that makes Goodstart Early Learning Lara stand out is that the centre director has worked there for over 20 years,” he said.

Norlane Child and Family Centre received an “outstanding” score of 9.6, followed by Play CC&K (Child Care & Kindergarten) and Goodstart Early Learning Newtown, which both received “excellent” scores of 9.5.

Goodstart Early Learning Newtown director Katie Sinclair has worked at the centre for 13 years and said there were numerous reasons why the centre ranked so high, but one in particular stood out.

Goodstart Early Learning Newtown centre manager Katie Sinclair with Hendrix and Wren, both 4. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It’s because of the staff here,” she said.

“They’re here for the children, and they go above and beyond in every way possible.”

Ms Sinclair said amid a staffing crisis in the wider industry, their commitment was astounding.

“They don’t get paid well, but they come here every day for the children,” she said.

Mr Balk said the quality of Geelong’s centres across the region meant local families could expect to receive great early learning for their little ones.

“We also provide a ‘search with subsidy’ feature that lets parents find and compare services based on their estimated out-of-pocket expenses after the child care subsidy for every service they’re considering,” he said.

RATING

9.5 - 10: Outstanding

9.0 - 9.5: Excellent

8.5- 9.0: Very good

7.5 - 8.5: good

5.0 - 7.5: Fair

5.0 and below: Poor

NR: Not rated

Originally published as Full list: Every childcare centre, kinder in Greater Geelong, Surf Coast rated