The Top 3 Childcare Centres in Coburg, VIC (3058)

Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre at 1a Cameron Street holds an Exceeding NQS rating issued June 2023 by Starting Blocks (ACECQA). Shirley Robertson has achieved Exceeding NQS at two consecutive assessments, October 2017 and June 2023, demonstrating sustained, systemic excellence across the full breadth of the National Quality Standard rather than a single strong performance.

The June 2023 assessment rated the centre Exceeding NQS across six of the seven quality areas: Educational program and practice, Physical environment, Staffing arrangements, Relationships with children, Collaborative partnerships with families and communities, and Governance and leadership. Only Children’s health and safety returned a Meeting NQS result. This profile reflects a centre with deeply embedded quality practices across leadership, pedagogy and community.

With 78 licensed places, Shirley Robertson is a mid-sized centre, large enough to offer a rich peer environment and well-resourced learning spaces, while remaining intentional and community-focused. The centre is independently operated as a not-for-profit, meaning the focus is on children and families rather than shareholder returns.

The daily fee of $137.80 is the lowest among the top 3, reflecting the not-for-profit model and community mission. The January 2026 regulatory visit found zero conditions and zero enforcement actions. Contact the centre directly on 03 9383 3359 to confirm current vacancy status and opening hours.

Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre ranks first in this guide. Exceeding NQS at consecutive assessments (October 2017 and June 2023), a rare achievement demonstrating sustained quality, with the most recent Exceeding NQS rating of the three ranked centres, the lowest fee among the top 3 ($137.80), a January 2026 regulatory visit with zero conditions, 78 licensed places, an independent not-for-profit operator, and six of seven quality areas rated Exceeding NQS. Contact the centre directly on 03 9383 3359 to confirm current vacancy status.

The Learning Space Coburg at 222a Bell Street holds an Exceeding NQS rating issued April 2026 by Starting Blocks (ACECQA). The August 2022 assessment was the centre’s first-ever NQS rating, and it achieved Exceeding NQS immediately, a strong indicator of a deeply embedded quality culture from the outset.

The April 2026 assessment rated the centre Exceeding NQS across five of the seven quality areas: Educational program and practice, Physical environment, Staffing arrangements, Relationships with children, and Collaborative partnerships with families and communities. The February 2026 regulatory visit, the most recent of any centre in the Coburg top 3, found zero conditions and zero enforcement actions.

The Learning Space is a family-owned boutique centre, operating with a child-led, play-based philosophy focused on creating a warm and nurturing environment where every child is genuinely known and valued.

The daily fee of $188.00 reflects the boutique positioning and Exceeding NQS quality. No inclusions are listed on Starting Blocks: confirm directly with the centre on 03 9350 5000. Contact the centre directly to confirm current vacancy status and capacity.

The Learning Space Coburg ranks #2 in postcode 3058. Exceeding NQS at its very first assessment (August 2022), an exceptional achievement, with a February 2026 regulatory visit (the most recent of any centre in the top 3), zero conditions, consistently strong parent feedback, a family-owned boutique model, and five of seven quality areas rated Exceeding NQS. Ranks second behind Shirley Robertson, which holds consecutive Exceeding assessments. Contact the centre directly on 03 9350 5000 to confirm current vacancy status.

Pelican Childcare Coburg at 1a Woiwurung Crescent holds a Meeting NQS rating issued May 2024 by Starting Blocks (ACECQA). The centre is operated by G8 Education, a national provider with 399 services, and has been operating at this location since November 2012, over 12 years of established service in the Coburg community.

Pelican’s daily fee of $200.30 is the highest among the top 3 but includes 8 confirmed inclusions: afternoon tea, breakfast, education programs, excursions and incursions, lunch, morning tea, nappies, and other meals. For families factoring in the cost of meals and nappies separately, the all-inclusive fee may represent comparable value. The centre operates 6:30am to 6:30pm, the longest hours among the top 3.

The September 2025 regulatory visit found zero conditions and zero enforcement actions. Pelican Childcare Coburg is the only centre in the top 3 with confirmed current vacancies for both casual and permanent placements, an important practical advantage for families seeking immediate enrolment.

Pelican Childcare Coburg ranks #3 in postcode 3058. Meeting NQS (May 2024, the most recently assessed of the three ranked centres), with a September 2025 regulatory visit (zero conditions), the only centre in the top 3 with confirmed current vacancies (casual and permanent), 8 full inclusions (meals, nappies, education programs), 6:30am to 6:30pm hours, and over 12 years of established service. Ranks third behind the two Exceeding NQS centres. Contact the centre directly on 03 9354 9300 to confirm current vacancy status.