The Top 3 Childcare Centres in Ringwood, VIC (3134)

Discovery Childcare and Education Ringwood

Discovery Childcare and Education on Bond Street holds an Exceeding National Quality Standard rating issued in October 2023 — the most recently assessed long day care centre in Ringwood postcode 3134 and its second consecutive Exceeding rating, having previously been rated Exceeding in July 2018. This sustained quality across two full assessment cycles spanning over five years is one of the strongest quality signals available in the suburb. The centre is operated by Discovery X Pty Ltd with vacancies confirmed available at time of publication.

What makes Discovery Childcare genuinely distinctive in the Ringwood market is its multi-pedagogical curriculum approach — drawing simultaneously from Danish Forest School, Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Steiner philosophies to create a rich, child-centred learning environment. This breadth of pedagogical influence is unusual for a single centre and reflects a deep commitment to responsive, individualised early learning. The Forest School influence is particularly evident in the centre's Bush Kinder program, which takes children into natural environments for regular outdoor learning experiences that build confidence, resilience and connection to nature.

The centre caters for children from 6 weeks to 6 years and offers government-funded 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs integrated into long day care hours. Hot centre-prepared meals are included in the daily fee — breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea — alongside pram excursions and specialist programs. The extended hours of 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday are among the longest available in postcode 3134, providing maximum flexibility for working families.

At $160.00 per day (CareForKids confirmed), Discovery Childcare is the most affordable of the three Exceeding NQS centres in Ringwood — a significant point of difference in a suburb where Exceeding-rated centres are available across a range of price points.

Discovery Childcare and Education Ringwood ranks first because it holds the most recently issued Exceeding NQS rating of any long day care centre in Ringwood postcode 3134 (October 2023), and has maintained Exceeding NQS across two consecutive assessment cycles since 2018. Its multi-pedagogical curriculum (Danish Forest School, Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Steiner), Bush Kinder program, government-funded kindergarten, hot centre-prepared meals, extended hours to 6:30pm and daily fee of $160.00 — the most affordable of the three Exceeding NQS centres — make it an exceptional choice for families prioritising quality and value. Vacancies are confirmed available at time of publication.

Kids on Mullum Child Care Centre

Kids on Mullum Child Care Centre on Mullum Mullum Road holds an Exceeding National Quality Standard rating issued in September 2023 — an upgrade from its previous Meeting NQS rating issued in August 2018. This trajectory from Meeting to Exceeding reflects significant investment in educator quality, program delivery and operational standards since the centre opened in October 2017. The centre is operated by Trident Personnel Pty Ltd (Trident Early Learning organisation) and was last visited by the regulatory authority in December 2024 with zero enforcement actions in the past two years and no current conditions on its service approval.

Kids on Mullum is a large centre licensed for 118 children, operating across 5 dedicated rooms each with their own outdoor play spaces — a design that ensures every age group has direct access to outdoor learning environments throughout the day. The centre is led by Centre Manager Tracey, who has earned strong recognition from families for her leadership, warmth and responsiveness.

The centre's program is enriched by fortnightly Kelly Sports sessions and weekly Happy Feet Fitness classes, providing structured physical development alongside the play-based curriculum. A Bush Kinder program takes children into natural environments for outdoor learning experiences. The centre also offers bulk-billed Medicare doctor visits on site — a practical benefit that reduces the burden on working families managing children's health appointments.

Starting Blocks confirms a comprehensive inclusions package at $170.00 per day covering all meals (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea), nappies, education programs, excursions and incursions and other meals. The centre website confirms additional inclusions of wipes, sunscreen, bed linen and daily consumables — one of the most complete inclusions sets in the suburb. Permanent vacancies are confirmed available at time of publication.

Kids on Mullum Child Care Centre ranks second on the strength of its Exceeding NQS rating (September 2023), its quality improvement trajectory from Meeting to Exceeding, its large capacity of 118 children across 5 rooms each with outdoor play spaces, its comprehensive inclusions package (Starting Blocks confirmed plus wipes, sunscreen, bed linen and daily consumables) at $170.00 per day, confirmed permanent vacancies, the December 2024 regulatory visit with zero enforcement actions, Centre Manager Tracey's strong leadership, and distinctive extras including Kelly Sports, Happy Feet Fitness, Bush Kinder and bulk-billed doctor visits. The centre's upgrade from Meeting to Exceeding is a strong quality signal reflecting genuine investment in the service since opening in 2017.

Goodstart Early Learning Ringwood

Goodstart Early Learning Ringwood on Warrandyte Road holds an Exceeding National Quality Standard rating issued in May 2023 — its second consecutive Exceeding rating, having previously been rated Exceeding in April 2018. The centre is operated by Goodstart Early Learning Ltd, Australia's largest not-for-profit early learning provider operating 681 services nationally, and was last visited by the regulatory authority in November 2025 with zero enforcement actions in the past two years and no current conditions on its service approval.

The centre has recently been refurbished, featuring modern, light-filled learning spaces that reflect Goodstart's investment in the physical environment as a foundation for quality early learning. The refurbishment demonstrates Goodstart's commitment to continuous improvement — a structural advantage of the not-for-profit model, where all revenue is reinvested into quality improvement, educator professional development and facility enhancements rather than shareholder returns.

The centre caters for children from 6 weeks to 5 years and places a strong emphasis on celebrating diversity and inclusion, welcoming all cultures, languages and backgrounds. The learning environment reflects the multicultural richness of the Ringwood community. Government-funded 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs are available, integrated into long day care hours. Starting Blocks confirms a comprehensive inclusions package at $169.13 per day covering breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and nappies. Both casual and permanent vacancies are confirmed as available at time of publication across all days of the week.

Goodstart Early Learning Ringwood ranks third among Ringwood's three Exceeding NQS long day care centres on the basis of NQS recency — its May 2023 assessment is the oldest of the three Exceeding ratings in the suburb. However, it has maintained Exceeding NQS across two consecutive assessment cycles since 2018, the November 2025 regulatory visit confirms continued compliance, and both casual and permanent vacancies are confirmed available across all days. The recently refurbished centre, diversity and inclusion focus, comprehensive inclusions at $169.13 per day and the Goodstart not-for-profit model provide strong additional assurance of quality and value.