Kidscape Early Learning Centre Lara
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Location
69-71 Buckingham StreetLara, VIC, 3212
Centre Reviews
All of the educators treat the children with care and love, and our kids often come home talking about them, always with positive... All of the educators treat the children with care and love, and our kids often come home talking about them, always with positive stories. The management team puts efforts into organising special events (such as morning coffee truck) and making lots of upgrades. Well, our family have never had any issues with communication, and they are supportive. Even the centre chef always welcomes families with a smile. Read more
I am absolutely thrilled with my experience at Kidscape Lara! The center is filled with an impressive range of educational and age-appropriate learning... I am absolutely thrilled with my experience at Kidscape Lara! The center is filled with an impressive range of educational and age-appropriate learning materials that truly help children engage, explore, and learn while they play. It’s evident that a lot of thought and care has been put into creating an environment where children can thrive and develop new skills in a fun and interactive way. In addition to the fantastic learning resources, Kidscape Lara offers a wide variety of programs that are perfect for every children. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to enrich your child’s learning or simply find a fun activity for them to enjoy. After visiting, I’m confident that Kidscape Lara is exactly the kind of center you’re looking for. It’s a place where children can grow, learn, and most importantly, have fun! Read more
We’ve been with Kidscape for a while, and it’s been amazing to see how much it has improved recently. Compared to the older... We’ve been with Kidscape for a while, and it’s been amazing to see how much it has improved recently. Compared to the older setup, everything feels more organized, caring, and child-focused. Our little one is happier and more excited to go every day. The teachers are more engaged, the activities are more meaningful, and the environment feels much warmer and safer than before. It really feels like they’ve stepped up in all the right ways. Kidscape is definitely moving in the right direction, and we’re so glad to see the positive changes. It gives us a lot of peace of mind knowing our child is in such good hands now. Read more
We enrolled our son in this child care, and we are truly happy with the love and care he receives every day.... We enrolled our son in this child care, and we are truly happy with the love and care he receives every day. The educators are kind, patient, and genuinely dedicated to each child’s well-being. He has shown great progress in communication and social skills since joining. He enjoys the structured learning activities, outdoor play, and story times. The centre maintains excellent hygiene and provides regular updates and photos through the app, which helps us stay connected to his day. What we love most is how the educators treat him like family — always smiling, greeting him warmly, and supporting his individual needs. Thank you for creating such a nurturing environment. Highly recommend this child care to any parent looking for a safe and positive place for their little one. Read more
Strongly do not recommend Kidscape. What was once a beautiful daycare (Heis) with a positive environment, it has now become hostile and toxic... Strongly do not recommend Kidscape. What was once a beautiful daycare (Heis) with a positive environment, it has now become hostile and toxic since the new centre took over. Unfortunately this stems from management (or lack of). No communication to parents, made to feel like a burden when needing to speak to management and they deliver broken promises. When they took over Hei schools at the beginning of the year, we were told that kinder subsidy was coming and for the kinder subsidy we were entitled to but not receiving, we would be back dated.. a blatant lie. Still to this date no subsidy has been granted or back paid to parents. Had to remove my child from this centre as he became so unhappy, so many unnecessary changes made to the centre and unhappy staff which then affected children. They do not respond to emails and do not answer the phones, so if youre wanting a centre with honest and open communication then I would look else where. Such a shame. REPLY TO BELOW RESPONSE: Wow great to see you can reply to negative reviews and not to parents emails. Have been emailing since before we finished in April and have still not received replies. You continued to deduct money from our account after we left the centre and continue to send us statements. I've emailed multiple times to sort this out and no reply. I also attended the centre a couple of weeks ago to be told you still didn't have kinder funding?? So is this another one of your lies or did it only come into play last week after 6 months of being told it was coming? After my visit I was told management would be in contact... in which you haven't. My husband tried contacting you this week also to which we haven't had a reply. I guess the only way to get through is via google reviews. Read more
Hi Courtney, We’re genuinely sorry to hear that you had a negative experience at our centre, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. We acknowledge that the transition earlier this year brought a number of changes. While we understand this may have been unsettling, our intention has always been to build a nurturing and high-quality learning environment for children and families. Regarding kindergarten funding, our application for funding was formally approved by the Department of Education after your child had left the service in early April. Unfortunately, we are not authorised to provide back payments for children no longer enrolled at the time of approval. We understand this may have caused confusion, and we’re sorry for any frustration this created. We are continuing to invest in the environment, learning programs, and communication channels as part of our commitment to continuous improvement. We wish your family all the best. Kidscape Lara Management
I appreciate the effort the centre has made in improving the outdoor space and adding new resources — it’s a positive step. However, I’ve... I appreciate the effort the centre has made in improving the outdoor space and adding new resources — it’s a positive step. However, I’ve noticed quite a few news reports about this centre recently, and based on my own experience, I feel that communication between management and families needs significant improvement. Concerns raised by parents and staff don’t always seem to be acknowledged or addressed. Because of this, I would not recommend this centre under its current management. I truly hope to see better communication and responsiveness in the future. Read more
Hi Walton, Thank you so much for acknowledging the recent improvements to our outdoor spaces and resources, we’re really proud of the positive changes taking place across the centre. We understand that communication is a vital part of building trust with families, and we’ve been working hard since the transition to strengthen those channels. From clearer updates to more regular check-ins with families, we’re committed to making every parent feel heard and supported. If you’d ever like to chat further or share more about your experience, we’d genuinely welcome the opportunity. Our door is always open. Warm regards, Kidscape Lara Management
My family is happy to see there is a big change in the centre as new furnitures, playground and resources. We are happy... My family is happy to see there is a big change in the centre as new furnitures, playground and resources. We are happy to enrol our baby here. Read more
Hi Hayden, Thank you so much for the lovely feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you’ve noticed the improvements - the new furniture, upgraded playground, and fresh resources have all been part of our effort to create a more engaging, welcoming space for every child. We’re so happy to have your family join us, and we look forward to supporting your little one’s learning journey! Warm regards, Kidscape Lara Team
We made the difficult decision to withdraw our child from Kidscape after a series of ongoing concerns following a change in management. While... We made the difficult decision to withdraw our child from Kidscape after a series of ongoing concerns following a change in management. While we truly appreciated the dedication of the educators, the leadership issues made us lose confidence in the direction of the centre. One major concern was our child being scratched on the face three times in just two weeks. When we raised it, the response from management felt dismissive and inconsistent, despite incident reports having been submitted. It was troubling to hear this described as “the first time” management had heard of it, and more troubling still when responsibility was deflected onto staff instead of addressed constructively. We also experienced significant issues with the centre’s billing—receiving unexpected requests for payment without clear explanation. We later discovered that pre-paid fees had apparently been lost, which was never clearly communicated. Communication overall deteriorated—especially during the app transition period and after parents were notified of a Department of Education investigation. Updates from management became vague and infrequent, and public statements seemed to deflect rather than take responsibility. Turning off comments on the app and failing to respond to concerns only furthered our mistrust. It’s also worth noting that nearly all reviews since the change in management have been 1 star. If not for older positive reviews from when the centre was HEI School, its Google rating would likely reflect the current reality far more accurately. This isn’t a reflection on the educators themselves, who clearly cared for the children, but rather on the decisions and direction of current leadership. Unfortunately, we can no longer recommend Kidscape under its current management. Read more
Dear Kyle, We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. While we respect your decision to leave the service, we want to clarify that we remain committed to supporting our families, maintaining safe environments for children, and upholding clear communication during times of change. Any incidents involving a child’s wellbeing are taken seriously. Our team follows reporting and communication procedures aligned with regulatory guidelines, and we’re always working to improve the way we respond to concerns. We understand that transitions—especially in leadership and systems—can be challenging. We acknowledge there were some disruptions, and we’ve made improvements since, including strengthening billing and communication processes. Our educators continue to provide a nurturing and structured environment for all children in our care. We’re proud of their ongoing efforts and the support of the many families who remain with us and see the positive impact. We wish you and your family the very best moving forward. Warm regards, Kidscape Lara
Due to this investigation, I feel it is my duty to inform you that my daughter also experienced neglect while she was still... Due to this investigation, I feel it is my duty to inform you that my daughter also experienced neglect while she was still at HEI. She broke her leg, and no one was able to contact us. The incident report was only sent a week later, and we faced significant negligence, including from the new administration, which refused to reimburse us for the weeks we had paid in advance. Additionally, no support was provided to us during this difficult time. PS: "It's so easy for you to say 'Sorry, we can't do anything,' even though the issue happened during the transition after the purchase was already made. This shows how little you care. I wish you all the best and hope you improve and become more professional." Read more
Dear Magda, We’re sorry to hear about your experience, and we acknowledge how distressing that time must have been for your family. As this occurred under previous management, we’re limited in what we can say about the details. Since taking over, our focus has been on building stronger systems of care, safety, and communication. We appreciate your feedback and wish your family all the best moving forward. Kind regards, Kidscape Lara
I've seen this childcare center under different management teams, from Jenny to Anusa, but this latest one is a real letdown. Communication is... I've seen this childcare center under different management teams, from Jenny to Anusa, but this latest one is a real letdown. Communication is pretty much non-existent here; the management team seems to have no interest in talking to us parents. The place lacks any real structure, kids are often left to their own devices, leading to lots of conflicts. And don’t get me started on the director, who's downright rude! Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this centre to anyone looking for quality childcare. Read more
Dear Robert, We appreciate all feedback and take concerns about our centre seriously. Our team is committed to providing a structured, supportive, and nurturing environment for children, and we continually work to improve communication with families. We regularly share updates through the OWNA parent app and have invited families to one-on-one Q&A sessions to ensure their voices are heard. Additionally, based on feedback, we are developing a roadmap to further enhance transparency and engagement. Our goal remains to create a positive experience for all families. If you would like to discuss any concerns further, please feel free to reach out to us directly. Best regards, Kidscape Lara Management