The Top 3 Childcare Centres in Craigieburn, VIC (3064)

Craigieburn Early Childhood Services Centre

Craigieburn Early Childhood Services Centre at 153 Craigieburn Road is operated by Hume City Council — making it the only council-operated long day care centre in postcode 3064, and the most affordable of any centre on this list at $128.00 per full day. This fee is significantly below the Craigieburn suburb average of $147 and well below the Greater Melbourne average of $153, making it the standout choice for families seeking quality early education at an accessible cost.

The centre has a strong regulatory track record. It previously held an Exceeding NQS rating (June 2018) and was most recently assessed at Meeting NQS in November 2023 — a current, valid rating confirmed by Starting Blocks. The October 2024 regulatory visit found zero enforcement actions, the most recent compliance check of any centre on this list.

As a council-operated service, Craigieburn Early Childhood Services Centre is embedded in the fabric of the Hume community. The centre is staffed by experienced educators with deep local knowledge, and programs are designed to reflect and celebrate the cultural diversity that defines Craigieburn. The educational program is guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and the national Early Years Learning Framework, with play-based experiences tailored to each child's developmental stage.

The daily fee of $128.00 includes all meals across the day — afternoon tea, breakfast, lunch and morning tea — and all educational programs. The centre operates from 6:30am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, closing 30 minutes earlier than most long day care centres in the suburb.

Craigieburn Early Childhood Services Centre is the top recommendation in postcode 3064. The lowest fee of any centre on this list at $128.00 per day — $19 below the suburb average and $25 below the Melbourne average — combined with a council-operated community model, a previous Exceeding NQS history, an October 2024 regulatory clearance with zero enforcement actions, and strong parent reviews make it the standout choice. The 6:00pm closing time is the one practical consideration for families who need later pickup.

Goodstart Early Learning Craigieburn Central

Goodstart Early Learning Craigieburn Central at 130 Dorchester Street holds the most recently issued NQS rating of any long day care centre in postcode 3064 — Meeting NQS, July 2025 — and the most recent regulatory clearance, following a June 2025 visit with zero conditions. It is operated by Goodstart Early Learning Ltd, Australia's largest not-for-profit early learning provider.

The centre caters for children from 6 weeks to 6 years in a purpose-designed environment. The outdoor playground has been carefully designed with a balance of natural and manmade elements — a cubby house and bike path sit alongside sandpits and a veggie patch. Children learn about sustainability through daily practice. The indoor learning spaces have ample natural light, with rooms well-equipped with resources matched to children's developmental needs and interests.

The educational program is play-based and delivered by experienced, qualified educators. University-qualified kindergarten teachers deliver the government-funded kindergarten program for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds, integrated within long day care hours. The centre is led by a Director who has been at Craigieburn since 2022 and describes the centre as offering "the best of both worlds" — long day care and kindergarten under one roof.

The daily fee of $170.70 includes all meals across the day and nappies, confirmed by Starting Blocks. As a not-for-profit, Goodstart reinvests any surplus directly into programs and environments. The centre is conveniently located in a quiet residential area close to local shops, schools and community facilities, and is easily accessible by public transport.

Goodstart Craigieburn Central is the second-choice recommendation for postcode 3064. The most recently issued NQS rating in the suburb (July 2025), the most recent regulatory clearance (June 2025, zero conditions), a 5.0/5 CareForKids rating, University-qualified kindergarten teachers and the backing of Australia's largest not-for-profit early learning provider make it a compelling choice. At $170.70 it is the highest fee of the three centres, but the inclusions are confirmed by Starting Blocks and the not-for-profit model means every dollar is reinvested into the centre.

Kool Kidz Craigieburn

Kool Kidz Craigieburn at 5 Dodswell Way is operated by SAI Childcare Pty Ltd and received its first ever NQS rating in March 2025 — Meeting National Quality Standard — following a regulatory visit in February 2025 that found zero conditions. This makes it the second most recently assessed long day care centre in Craigieburn, and the only centre on this list to have received its first NQS rating within the past 12 months.

The centre operates from 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, catering for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. The inclusions package confirmed by Starting Blocks for the hourly rate is the most comprehensive of any centre on this list: afternoon tea, breakfast, education programs, excursions and incursions, lunch, morning tea, nappies, other meals and transport are all included.

As a newer service under its current operation, Kool Kidz Craigieburn is building its community reputation. The March 2025 Meeting NQS and February 2025 regulatory clearance with zero conditions are the most meaningful quality indicators available for this service at this stage.

Kool Kidz Craigieburn is the third-choice recommendation for postcode 3064. Its March 2025 Meeting NQS — the first in the centre's history — and February 2025 regulatory clearance with zero conditions are strong indicators of a service that has committed to quality from the outset. The most comprehensive inclusions package of any centre on this list, including transport, makes it worth investigating for families who value all-inclusive convenience. The full day fee should be confirmed directly with the centre before making a decision.