The Top 2 Childcare Centres in Sunshine, VIC (3020)

Killeen Street Child Care Centre has served the Sunshine community for over 45 years, operating across two dedicated buildings: the 0–3 year old rooms at 23 Killeen Street and the 3–5 year old rooms at 26-30 Fairbairn Road, Sunshine. It is a not-for-profit community-based service governed by a voluntary Committee of Management made up of parents, community members and staff. With 50 licensed places and CCS approval, the centre cares for children aged 3 months to 6 years and holds an approved government-funded kindergarten program for eligible 3 and 4-year-old children.

The educational philosophy centres on play-based and interest-based learning that fosters each child's individual development. Killeen Street maintains strong connections with the local community, partnering with local schools, Maternal Child Health services and Brimbank Council, and actively incorporates cultural diversity and Indigenous perspectives into its daily program. The centre is child-safe by policy and practice, with child safety embedded in its philosophy and decision-making. Staff ratios are maintained above the minimum required by the National Regulations.

Killeen Street has held an Exceeding NQS rating across two consecutive assessment cycles (June 2019 and April 2024). All seven quality areas were rated Exceeding at both assessments. The daily fee of $156 includes all meals (afternoon tea, breakfast, lunch and morning tea), confirmed by Starting Blocks. The January 2025 regulatory visit recorded zero enforcement actions and the service holds no conditions on approval.

The clear first choice in Sunshine. Back-to-back Exceeding ratings across all seven quality areas, all meals included in the fee, and consistently strong parent feedback. For a community-governed not-for-profit centre with 50 places, this is an exceptional standard maintained across 45+ years.

Nido Early School Sunshine opened in late 2025 at 2-6 Monash Street. It is operated by Nido Education, a national early childhood provider with over 100 centres across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT. The Sunshine campus follows the same model as the rest of the network: a Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy, purpose-designed indoor and outdoor environments, and all-inclusive fees that cover everything from meals and nappies to excursions and resources.

The educational program is delivered by a team of qualified educators, all holding a Certificate III minimum, with at least half diploma-qualified and degree-trained teachers leading programs. Every Nido Early School has a dedicated Curriculum Leader to coach and mentor educators and maintain program consistency across the network. The curriculum is co-designed with families, experts and educators, builds on the Early Years Learning Framework with a balance of child-led and adult-intentional teaching across literacy, numeracy, creativity, health and confidence. Free Kinder is available for eligible 3 and 4-year-old children under the Victorian Government's Best Start, Best Life program.

The Sunshine campus features the Nido signature atelier art workshop, a yoga studio, a sensory space, and meals freshly prepared daily by an in-house chef following menus designed by wholefood chef Vicky Tiéche. All nappies, wipes and sunscreen are included. Parents stay connected via the Playground app, with an open-door policy and a popular breakfast bar. Daily fees are $175 for children under 3 years and $175.00 for children over 3, all-inclusive with no additional charges. As a newly opened centre, Nido Sunshine carries a Provisional NQS rating pending its first NQS assessment.

Nido Sunshine ranks second on the strength of its national provider credentials, Reggio Emilia curriculum and the quality of environment it has built in Sunshine. The Provisional NQS reflects new-service status only. It is the dearer of the two ranked centres, reflecting the all-inclusive premium model. New centres in this network tend to fill quickly.