The Top 3 Childcare Centres in Mount Waverley, VIC (3149)

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Waverley

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Waverley is a not-for-profit long day care centre operated by Goodstart Early Learning Ltd, Australia's largest not-for-profit early learning provider with over 680 services nationwide. The centre is located at Unit 152/45 Gilby Road, Mount Waverley, within postcode 3149. The centre holds an Exceeding National Quality Standard rating issued in June 2025, a significant upgrade from its previous Meeting NQS rating issued in March 2021. Of the 7 quality areas assessed, 6 were rated Exceeding, with the remaining area (Health and Safety) rated Meeting. This makes Goodstart the only Exceeding NQS long day care centre currently operating in Mount Waverley.

The centre's most recent regulatory visit was recorded on Starting Blocks in May 2025 with zero enforcement actions and zero conditions on approval. The daily fee is $171.74 for children aged 0 to 35 months, with a lower rate of $165.48 for children aged 36 months and older. The fee includes a comprehensive package of inclusions: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, nappies, and excursions for older age groups. All meals are prepared on-site and the centre caters to a range of dietary requirements. The centre is CCS approved, meaning eligible families can access the Child Care Subsidy of up to 90% to reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Goodstart Mount Waverley benefits from a team of long-serving educators who provide continuity and stability for children and families. The centre operates a Key Educator model, where each child is assigned a primary educator responsible for building a strong, trusting relationship and tracking developmental milestones. The curriculum is guided by both the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), with programs tailored to each child's interests, strengths and emerging capabilities.

The centre offers integrated Free Kinder for both 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs, delivered within long day care hours so families do not need separate kindergarten enrolments. Communication with families is facilitated through the Storypark platform, which provides daily updates, learning stories and portfolio records. The centre operates Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:30pm, offering some of the longest hours among Mount Waverley centres and providing strong flexibility for working families with early morning or late afternoon commitments.

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Waverley ranks first on the strength of its Exceeding NQS rating (June 2025), upgraded from Meeting NQS (March 2021), with 6 of 7 quality areas rated Exceeding. As a not-for-profit provider, Goodstart reinvests surplus funds into educator development and centre improvements rather than shareholder returns. The fee of $171.74 per day (0-35 months) is the highest among Mount Waverley's three ranked centres, but the comprehensive inclusions package (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, nappies, excursions) and the Exceeding NQS rating provide strong value. Families should contact the centre directly to confirm current availability by age group.

AMIGA Montessori Mt Waverley

AMIGA Montessori Mt Waverley is a long day care centre operated by AMIGA Montessori Holdings Pty Ltd, located at 2-6 Hardner Road, Mount Waverley VIC 3149. The centre has been operating since January 2019 and holds a Meeting National Quality Standard rating issued in December 2024, with all 7 quality areas rated Meeting. The centre's most recent regulatory visit was recorded on Starting Blocks in June 2025 with zero enforcement actions and zero conditions on approval. AMIGA Montessori offers a genuine Montessori education experience, distinguishing itself from centres that use the Montessori name without formal accreditation.

The centre is an accredited member of Montessori Australia, the peak body for Montessori education in Australia, which means its programs, environments and teaching practices have been independently verified as meeting Montessori standards. Each classroom is purpose-built with dedicated Montessori materials carefully selected to support self-directed learning across practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics and cultural areas. Educators at the centre hold Montessori-specific qualifications in addition to their early childhood teaching credentials, ensuring that the philosophy is delivered with authenticity and depth.

The daily fee is $169.70. Starting Blocks does not list specific inclusions for this centre, so families should contact the centre directly to confirm what is included in the daily fee. The centre is CCS approved and operates Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:30pm. AMIGA Montessori also runs regular community events for families, fostering a sense of belonging and connection beyond daily drop-off and pick-up. The centre accepts children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age.

AMIGA Montessori Mt Waverley ranks second on the strength of its Meeting NQS rating (December 2024) and its genuine Montessori philosophy, which is the key differentiator in this market. As a Montessori Australia-accredited member with purpose-built environments and Montessori-trained educators, the centre offers something fundamentally different from the conventional long day care model. The fee of $169.70 per day is the lowest among the three ranked centres, though families should note that Starting Blocks does not list inclusions, so the effective cost may vary depending on what is included. Contact the centre directly to confirm inclusions and current availability.

Inspire Early Learning Journey Mount Waverley

Inspire Early Learning Journey Mount Waverley is a long day care centre operated by the Inspire O2 Education group, located at 280-282 Highbury Road, Mount Waverley VIC 3149. The centre holds a Meeting National Quality Standard rating issued in April 2024, with all 7 quality areas rated Meeting. The centre's most recent regulatory visit was recorded on Starting Blocks in July 2025 with zero enforcement actions. There are conditions on the centre's approval relating to outdoor play equipment maintenance and natural elements requirements. Families should be aware of these conditions, which relate to the physical outdoor environment rather than the quality of care or education programs.

The centre is positioned on Highbury Road, one of the major east-west corridors through the suburb, making it a convenient option for families commuting through Mount Waverley. The centre opens at 7:00am, half an hour earlier than the standard 7:30am start offered by some centres, which can be a meaningful practical advantage for families with early work commitments. The centre operates until 6:00pm Monday to Friday and accepts children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age.

The daily fee is $170.50 for children aged 0 to 24 months, with a slightly lower rate of $169.50 for children aged 25 months and older. Starting Blocks does not list specific inclusions for this centre, so families should contact the centre directly to confirm what is included in the daily fee. The centre is CCS approved, meaning eligible families can access the Child Care Subsidy of up to 90% to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Families considering Inspire should contact the centre directly to confirm current inclusions, vacancies and any updates regarding the conditions on approval.

Inspire Early Learning Journey Mount Waverley ranks third on the strength of its Meeting NQS rating (April 2024) and its practical Highbury Road location with a 7:00am opening time. Families should note the conditions on approval relating to outdoor play equipment maintenance and natural elements requirements. The fee of $170.50 per day (0-24 months) sits in the middle of the Mount Waverley range. As with AMIGA Montessori, Starting Blocks does not list inclusions, so the effective daily cost may vary. Contact the centre directly to confirm inclusions, current vacancies and any updates on the conditions on approval.