Childcare services in Pakenham

Your child will be encouraged to challenge themselves and safety explore activities that includes risky play. Your child will participate in learning musical skills and awareness, and be encouraged actively explore their own interests through singing and dance. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, The Learning Sanctuary is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.
Strong community connections are at the heart of everything we do. We value the partnership between parents, families, and educators, working together to give children the very best start in life. To support open and ongoing communication, we utilise the Xplor App, providing families with regular updates, photos, and meaningful insights into their child’s day. At our Pakenham early learning centre, we have a dedicated chef who prepares nutritious meals for children. Our day care pakenham menus rotate every 4 weeks, offering a variety of nutritious options and changing with the seasons to incorporate fresh and wholesome ingredients. We serve breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack, all prepared fresh each day.

I began working in early childhood education in 1999 and joined Great Beginnings Pakenham in 2014. I bring many years of experience across a range of leadership roles within early learning. Since joining Great Beginnings Pakenham, I have worked as a Lead Educator,  Educational Leader, Assistant Centre Manager, and now Centre Manager. Each role has given me the opportunity to develop new skills, explore different areas of the sector, and deepen my passion for ensuring children receive the best possible start to their education journey.
Play is crucial to your baby’s cognitive development as they develop the ability to think, understand and communicate. Your child explores through play by experimenting,  creating, and thinking. Playing with your toddler builds the relationship with your child, by supporting them and providing  them with a safe space to explore and learn.
We tailor our program to meet the individual needs of every child, working closely with families, educators, and support professionals. Through ongoing communication, feedback forms, and regular meetings, we ensure each child’s strengths and challenges are understood and supported. Our mission is to promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of all children through a stimulating early learning and education experience. We also focus on the individual needs of each child and instil their desire to be lifelong learners. As part of this process, Verified Centres undergo a financial assessment to ensure their reliability and credibility. We maintain an ongoing relationship with Verified Centres and provide them with support so they can offer you fresh and accurate information.

That is why our highly qualified teaching teams customise Story House’s STRONG Beginnings Curriculum to each individual child’s learning and development needs. Our learning approach is based on educational research where every day your child can develop 21st-century skills being prepared for school and life. Although we offer both childcare and kindergarten in our centres, the two are different.
I believe in building strong, trusting relationships with children, families, and educators to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. We celebrate diversity, inclusion, and community connections, ensuring every child feels welcome and represented. With nutritious, allergy-friendly meals prepared by our in-house chef and opportunities for hands-on food experiences, we promote healthy minds and bodies. By combining enriching programs, real-world learning experiences, and a commitment to wellbeing, we provide a strong foundation for children to grow, thrive, and confidently take their next steps.
We open your child’s mind to the outdoors, raising their awareness of the environment and the importance of their role in protecting it. By engaging them in hands-on activities, we foster a sense of responsibility and appreciation for nature. Below we've answered some common questions to support new parents when choosing an early learning centre. You can also read more about enrolment and centre processes at the Y on our Early Learning FAQs page.

The staff and team are wonderful.They are always very happy to see my son and he loves going there to the team. But it’s the communication that makes me so happy, they are always so easy to deal with and so helpful always updating on what my son has done throughout the day. Their care, attention to detail and love towards the children are a parents dream. I would highly recommend coming for a tour if you live in the area. What a beautiful space for my child to continue their development.
Our highly skilled early learning educators are dedicated to your child’s safety and development. We demonstrate professionalism and care in all that we do, from planning to delivery. Play is vital to children’s learning, development, confidence, and wellbeing. A variety of structured and unstructured play activities builds on all areas of children’s development. We offer long day care and kindergarten – book in your child today.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters. Charlotte is off to ‘big school’ next year and she can't wait to start! Charlotte and her friends will be visiting the local primary school next week. Our outdoor environments are a true hidden sanctuary, complete with sandpits, a dry creek bed, veggie gardens, and shaded cubby spaces where children can explore nature and learn about sustainability. Take a tour of our service to experience our connected community where every child belongs.
The team lead by you director Erin have made the transition seamless and helped both my son and I settle in and feel welcome. The games and activities are great value for little minds too. I recommend story house to all parents that want peace of mind and good care for their kids. Community Kids Pakenham Early Education Centre is operated by G8 Education Limited, which contributes 4% to the total available child care capacity in Victoria.
Thoughtfully designed with children in mind, our unique environments offer childcare that inspires and nurtures. Our Transition to School program helps children build confidence, independence, and readiness for the next step with gentle support. Fresh, nourishing meals prepared daily by an in-house chef help children grow strong, and build healthy relationships with food every day.

While participating in carpentry, Charlotte is learning to problem solve, experiment and predict. Little Stars also offers a School Readiness Program to help children gain the necessary skills to comfortably transition to primary school, and to become eager and active learners. The centre has a range of age-specific programs where children can play, develop, and participate in a way that reflects their unique strengths and interests. Watching the children grow and learn is a privilege – and something I am fortunate to share with an excellent team of carers and educators, all of whom are experienced and qualified.