Little Locals to join Ripley Valley childcare boom

A popular childcare company has branched out into the Ripley Valley area, and has revealed it will be opening its doors before the end of year.

Little Locals Ripley is the latest childcare centre to open in the area, from Term 4 this year.

An expanding childcare chain will join several other new centres in the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area in later this year as the region continues its population boom.

Queensland Times can reveal Little Locals will operate a new childcare facility on a corner site at Brooking Rise and Ripley roads.

Little Locals confirmed it would be ready to take children from term 4.

Enrolment fees at the centre are expected to be similar to fees at other nearby Little Locals Centres, at approximately $139/day, though this is not yet confirmed.

Fees at the centre will be all-inclusive, and will cover all food, nappies, wipes and sunscreen as well as a huge array of incursions, excursions and weekly activities like pilates, cooking, sensory play and art.

The centre was first proposed in 2020 and would join two other new facilities due to open in the coming months — Elephas Education and Smartland Boutique Early Learning.

There are several other existing centres in the area as well.

The Ripley centre will be the second for the chain in the region after it opened at Bundamba.

Each has experienced delays due to construction setbacks, however Elephas was now on track to open in mid-August and Smartland at the end of October.

Slated as one of the highest growth areas in the state, Ripley is in desperate need of childcare options.

Many families are forced to travel long distances for care due to years-long wait lists and staff shortages.

Little Locals Bundamba opened in February, the company’s foray into the region.

It has enjoyed huge popularity since opening.

Originally published as Little Locals to join Ripley Valley childcare boom