Our Carrum Downs educators are patient, attentive and genuinely invested in every child. Many parents tell us the team is the reason they chose Birches, and the reason their children run in each morning.

We know every child is different. Some settle in a day, others take weeks, and our educators take the time each child needs. They work closely with families to support children’s speech, confidence and development, including children with additional needs.

Every educator holds, or is working towards, an early childhood qualification, and our kindergarten program is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. 

Our team also holds:
A current Working With Children Check
First aid and CPR
Emergency anaphylaxis management, including EpiPen use
Emergency asthma management
Food handling certification

Our team takes part in regular professional development, mentoring and first aid refreshers, so their skills stay current.

Starting childcare is a big step for children and parents. We take it at your pace. Before your child starts, we’ll get to know their routines, likes and needs, and we’ll work with you on a settling-in plan that suits your family.
Once your child is with us, you’ll get daily updates and photos through our parent app, 

covering meals, sleeps, activities and the moments worth sharing. Our educators are always happy to chat at drop-off and pick-up, and you can book a longer conversation any time.

We see you as your child’s first teacher. What you share about home helps us plan their learning, and your feedback helps shape the centre. Each child also has a developmental portfolio of artwork, photos and observations, yours to keep when they move on.

Our program is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and follows the Early Years Learning Framework. Learning is play-based and led by children’s interests.

⚽ Weekly Sport Program – Building coordination, confidence and teamwork through fun, active play.

🎵 Weekly Music Program – Singing, rhythm and movement that build listening skills, language and self-expression.

👩‍🍳 Cooking Classes with Our Chef – Hands-on sessions where children learn where food comes from, try new tastes and practise measuring and mixing.

🎨 Sensory Classes (up to 3 years) – Supporting early development through engaging sensory play.

🚒 Monthly Incursions – Visits from emergency services and community groups covering sustainability, animals, culture, health and dental care, music and live performance.

📒 Developmental Portfolio – A collection of your child’s artwork, photos and our observations. It’s yours to keep when they move on.

Our 4-year-old kindergarten program is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and gets children ready for a confident start to Prep.

Through play-based learning, children build:
Early literacy and numeracy skills
Confidence and independence
Social skills such as sharing, turn-taking and working in a group
Resilience and emotional regulation
Self-care skills such as managing belongings and following routines

Children also visit local primary schools during the year, so school feels familiar before they start. Because kinder runs within long day care, you get a full kindergarten program with the convenience of 9, 10 and 12 hour sessions, open 6:30am to 6:30pm.

Our chef prepares fresh, nutritious meals on site every day, so there’s no need to pack food. Menus are balanced and varied, and we cater for all allergies and dietary needs. We’ll talk through your child’s requirements before they start.

Children spend plenty of time outdoors, and our weekly sport program keeps them active. We follow sun-safe practices and teach healthy habits like handwashing, eating well and resting when they need to.

Child safety isn’t a box we tick. It shapes every decision we make, from who we hire to how our rooms and yard are set up to how we listen to children.

We follow Victoria’s Child Safe Standards. Every educator holds a current Working With Children Check and is trained in first aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and asthma management. Our rooms are set up so educators can supervise children at all times, and we create an environment where children feel safe to speak up and know they’ll be heard.

If you ever have a concern, we want to hear it. Our centre director is available to talk through any question, big or small.