Browse suburbsGuidesHow we rankGet started →

Independent childcare rankings for Melbourne

Find the best childcare in your suburb

We rank the top 3 in each suburb we cover on NQS ratings, verified fees and parent reviews. All in one place.

67 suburbs · 197 centres ranked · no paid placements

OUR No.1 PICK

Moorabbin

3189 · 3 ranked

1Guardian Childcare & Education Moorabbin$193.68
2Developmental Learning Centre Rainbow - Moorabbin$183.50
3Inspire Early Learning Journey Moorabbin$179.00
See the full ranking

One form. Up to three tours. Zero ring-arounds.

Tick the centres you like and send a single tour request. It goes straight to each centre, and we never take referral fees.

No call-backs you didn't ask for. Untick any centre before you send.

Sorted before nap time

1

Find your suburb

Every page ranks the top 3 long day care centres near you.

2

Compare the top 3

NQS ratings, verified daily fees and real parent quotes, side by side.

3

Book your tours

Tick 1, 2 or all 3 centres. One form reaches every centre you choose.

Start with your suburb

Each guide names the top 3 and shows exactly why they ranked where they did.

Carrum Downs

VIC 3201 · City of Frankston

1Birches Early Learning Centre Carrum Downs
2Mayfield Early Education Lyrebird Drive
3Sparrow Early Learning Carrum Downs
See the ranking

Wollert

VIC 3750 · City of Whittlesea

1Wollert One Early Education
2AMIGA Montessori Wollert
3Wallaby Childcare Wollert
See the ranking

Cranbourne West

VIC 3977 · City of Casey

1Story House Early Learning Cranbourne
2Aspire Early Education Cranbourne West
3Amiga Montessori Cranbourne West
See the ranking
★No paid placements, ever★Fees verified against Starting Blocks★NQS ratings sourced from ACECQA★No referral fees on enquiries
67
Suburbs
197
Centres ranked
17
Parent guides
$0
Paid placements
How it works

How we choose the top 3 childcare centres in each suburb

Every centre we rank is assessed against the same criteria. No centre can pay to appear or improve their ranking.

1
🏅
NQS rating from ACECQA
Australia's official quality benchmark. We weight this the most; it covers educational program, children's health and safety, physical environment, staffing, and governance.
2
💬
Parent reviews
We aggregate parent reviews from Google and direct centre feedback to build a complete picture of parent satisfaction.
3
💰
Fee transparency
Fees are verified against the Starting Blocks government database. We flag what is and isn't included so you can compare like-for-like.
4
📋
Program & inclusions
We assess curriculum approach, Free Kinder access, CCS approval, educator qualifications, and practical inclusions like meals and nappies.
What families are saying

Real parents. Real decisions.

We hear from families every week who used top3elc.com.au to find their childcare. Here's what they say about the centres we rank.

“

top3elc eased my anxiety in finding care. Went to all 3 recommended and chose one for our daughter. Thanks!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent, Melbourne
top3elc.com.au
“

Strong Reggio Emilia values. Safe environment for children. The management handles each and everything very carefully. Communication with the staff is consistently excellent.

Parent review
Explorers Early Learning

Centre reviews are sourced from Google and attributed to the centre reviewed.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How are childcare centres ranked?
We rank centres using five criteria: NQS rating from ACECQA via Starting Blocks (the primary signal), verified daily fees, parent reviews from Google Reviews, program quality, and practical value including hours and Free Kinder access. We do not accept payment from any centre to influence rankings.
Are the fees and ratings up to date?
NQS ratings and fees are verified against the Starting Blocks government database at time of publication and reviewed regularly. Fees in particular can change. Always confirm directly with the centre before making a decision.
What if my suburb is not listed yet?
We are progressively publishing verified rankings for every suburb across Victoria. If your suburb is not yet listed, use the suburb browser to find the closest listed suburb, or contact us at top3elc@gmail.com to request it.
Is top3elc.com.au independent?
top3elc.com.au is operated by the team behind Birches Early Learning. Where Birches appears in rankings it is assessed on identical criteria to every other centre. All other rankings are completely independent. We do not accept payment from any centre to influence rankings.
Browse by suburb

Browse childcare rankings by Melbourne suburb

67 suburbs ranked · verified from Starting Blocks. Select a suburb to see its top 3 childcare centres.

67 with full guides

Inner Melbourne

Eastern Suburbs

South-East

South-East Growth Corridor

Northern Suburbs

Western Suburbs

Bayside & Inner South

View all suburbs →
About top3elc

Independent. Transparent. For families.

top3elc.com.au is an independent guide to the best childcare centres in the Victorian suburbs we cover. We do not accept payment or sponsorship from any centre to appear in our rankings.

All NQS ratings are sourced from ACECQA via the Starting Blocks government database. Fees are verified at time of publication. Parent reviews are aggregated from Google.

ACECQAStarting Blocks