The Top 3 Childcare Centres in Hawthorn, VIC (3122)

Little Lane Early Learning Centre

Little Lane Early Learning Centre is a family-owned centre located on Glenferrie Road, with service approval granted in February 2018 and operating as the flagship Hawthorn location of the Little Lane group. With 146 licensed places, it offers extended hours from 6:30am to 6:30pm, among the longest in the suburb.

The centre is built on a philosophy of community and family involvement, treating early childhood education as a shared journey. Its curriculum is thoughtfully designed to nurture critical thinking, creativity and social-emotional development, with a clear focus on school readiness.

The enrichment program is a genuine differentiator: children benefit from a Kodaly-trained music teacher weekly, a specialist in-house art teacher four times a week for children aged three and over, and a Mandarin language immersion program delivered by a qualified in-house teacher four days a week. Extra-curricular activities including ballet, soccer, dance and taekwondo are also available.

Meals are prepared fresh daily by a qualified chef in a five-star rated kitchen, catering for children with varying dietary needs. The centre's own website describes the fee as all-inclusive, covering meals, nappies and all educational programs.

Little Lane takes the top spot in Hawthorn on the strength of its enrichment program, extended hours and family-owned ethos. The combination of specialist music, art and Mandarin teachers is rare at this price point. Parent satisfaction on CareForKids is strong at 5.0/5 across 15 reviews. For families wanting extended hours, a rich curriculum and a genuinely family-owned centre, Little Lane is the standout choice.

Only About Children Hawthorn

All 7 quality areas: Meeting

Only About Children Hawthorn is a purpose-built three-level facility located on Barkers Road, conveniently positioned across from Xavier College with onsite parking available. The centre was granted service approval in May 2018 and holds a Meeting NQS rating as of March 2024. With 109 licensed places, it operates at a mid-sized scale.

Note: At the time of fact-checking (March 2026), Starting Blocks listed this service as temporarily closed. OAC's own website continues to show the Hawthorn campus as operating. Families should contact the centre directly to confirm current operational status before enquiring or enrolling.

The centre operates a structured curriculum built on the "Grow" framework: a balanced blend of structured and unstructured play-based learning delivered alongside exclusive daily programs in music, Spanish language, physical activity and a Book of the Month program. The centre's health program is a genuine differentiator: every enrolled child receives integrated support in nutrition, speech pathology, occupational therapy and vision screening.

Meals are designed by a qualified dietitian and prepared fresh daily by in-house cooks. OAC's website describes the fee as all-inclusive, covering all meals, snacks, nappies, formula, bedding and sunscreen.

Only About Children Hawthorn offers a well-resourced, purpose-built environment with a genuinely distinctive health and wellbeing program. The integrated speech pathology, occupational therapy and vision screening is a meaningful differentiator for families who value holistic development support. At $190.00 per day it is the highest fee on this list, and some parent reviews raise concerns about staffing consistency and value for money. Families should also confirm the centre's current operational status directly, as Starting Blocks showed this service as temporarily closed at the time of publication.

Hawthorn Early Years

All 7 quality areas: Exceeding

Hawthorn Early Years is the only centre in Hawthorn holding an Exceeding NQS rating, confirmed again in October 2025. This is its second consecutive Exceeding result, having also achieved the rating at its September 2022 assessment. With 155 licensed places it is the largest centre in the suburb, and has been operating since April 2013.

The centre's educational approach is grounded in the Early Years Learning Framework, with a focus on child-led, play-based inquiry and developmental appropriateness. The outdoor environment features well-maintained grounds that parents consistently describe as beautiful, with spaces that encourage physical exploration and curiosity.

The all-inclusive fee of $177.00 (the lowest of the three centres on this list) covers afternoon tea, breakfast, education programs, excursions and incursions, lunch, morning tea, nappies and other meals, as confirmed on Starting Blocks.

It is worth noting that recent parent reviews reflect a mixed picture. While many families have had outstanding experiences, some recent reviews on CareForKids cite concerns around management consistency and programme organisation following leadership changes in recent years. The Exceeding NQS rating, independently assessed and confirmed in October 2025, remains the strongest quality credential in the suburb.

Hawthorn Early Years holds the strongest quality credential in the suburb: an Exceeding NQS rating confirmed twice in a row. It offers the lowest all-inclusive fee of the three centres. The grounds and physical environment are genuinely impressive. However, recent parent feedback suggests some inconsistency in the day-to-day experience, particularly in the kinder program. Families should tour the centre and speak directly with current staff before committing. For those who prioritise NQS rating and value, it remains a strong option.