Revealed: Every Geelong and Surf Coast childcare centre and kindergarten rated out of 10

An outstanding childcare centre’s secret to success has been revealed, along with the ratings of every Geelong and Surf Coast centre. SEE ALL 250+ CENTRES RATED

Play CC & K Belmont centre director Megan Siemek with Hudson and Isabel, celebrating the centre’s outstanding Kindicare rating. Picture: Alison Wynd

The dedicated educators at a Belmont childcare centre are the reason behind its top rating, the centre director says.

Play CC & K’s (Child Care & Kindergarten) Roslyn Rd centre is one of only three across Geelong and the Surf Coast to achieve an outstanding Kindicare rating.

Centre director Megan Siemek said she had worked at the centre since it opened 11 years ago.

Ms Siemek said the entire team worked very hard to provide the best possible experience to the 87 children enrolled at the centre.

She said there was a long waitlist of families wanting to take advantage of the centre.

Megan Siemek, pictured with Alby, left, and Hudson in the mud kitchen, said the outstanding rating validated the team’s hard work. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It would be nice to be bigger, to accommodate for those extra families,” she said.

“It’s really good to be able to have that (rating) to prove that their work that they do is worthwhile.”

The Geelong Advertiser analysed Kindicare data of all childcare centres and kindergartens across the region to determine the ones excelling.

The data includes more than 50 centres that opened in 2023.

According to childcare app Kindicare, there are three sites across the region with the highest possible rating of outstanding, including Play CC & K’s Belmont centre, Goodstart Early Learning Newtown, and Norlane Child and Family Care.

In previous years, the highest potential rating was excellent.

Thirty-one centres across Geelong and the Surf Coast received an excellent rating.

The rating scale – ranging from 5.0 and below, to 10 – is based on official Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) assessments along with government audits, online reviews and parent ratings, and ranges from poor to outstanding.

Some venues are labelled as NR or “not rated” when this information is unavailable.

Play CC & K Belmont centre owner Nikki Corbet said the team had created a “homely environment” with the most genuine relationships with children and families.

“Our educators and families work together to ensure each child can reach their potential,” she said.

“Quality Early childhood education is so important because we are literally shaping our future community.”

The City of Greater Geelong operates the Norlane Child and Family Centre.

Community service delivery executive director Robyn Stevens said the city was committed to ensuring thigh-quality childcare and kindergarten services were made available to all families throughout the municipality.

Kindicare ratings are updated in real time based on data collected by the organisation.

Originally published as Revealed: Every Geelong and Surf Coast childcare centre and kindergarten rated out of 10