Our child has been attending Goodstart Carlton for just one year, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. The educators are truly exceptional — not only highly skilled and experienced, but deeply caring. They genuinely know each child as an individual and form strong, meaningful connections that make families feel confident and supported. Communication is outstanding. We are always kept up to date and feel welcomed into our child’s learning journey. The educational programs are engaging, thoughtfully planned, and clearly designed to support early learning and development. We especially value the way external educators are regularly brought in to enrich the program and broaden the children’s experiences. There is a strong focus on community building, creating a warm, inclusive environment where children and families feel a real sense of belonging. The team is incredibly understanding and supportive of individual needs, and their flexibility and compassion truly stand out. The centre is proudly multicultural, with long-serving educators whose experience and commitment shine through every day. We also deeply appreciate the authentic way the centre recognises and teaches that First Nations People are the Traditional Owners and caretakers of Country — this is embedded respectfully and meaningfully in the learning environment. We feel very grateful to be part of the Goodstart Carlton community and highly recommend it to families looking for a nurturing, inclusive, and enriching early learning environment.

Since late November last year, when my granddaughter was bitten for the third time by the same child, the childcare has not issued any apology to this day! The bite marks on my daughter’s arm are still visible, and she frequently has nightmares at night. The poor and dismissive attitude of the childcare is the reason I feel compelled to speak out this time. I hope the relevant government authorities take strict action against those responsible. The director, Danielle, has repeatedly excused staff mistakes by offering various reasons and excuses, rather than addressing the root problems. Her dismissive attitude is particularly frustrating, as she often responds to incidents with remarks like, “This is normal,” “We can’t guarantee it won’t happen again,” or “It’s not a big deal—this happens with our own kids too.” Such comments demonstrate a lack of responsibility and care, making it clear that the center prioritizes deflecting accountability over ensuring a safe environment for the children. Every incident reported by the center is based solely on their version of events, with no evidence provided to parents. This leaves families unable to verify the truth of the incidents. The center hides behind “privacy” policies, which have essentially become a shield to protect the childcare from accountability for various incidents. Any parent considering sending their child here should think carefully about the risks they are willing to take. The number of incidents reported will shock you, and when your child experiences one, the response and wording from the center will surely leave you devastated.

I came in for a tour although due to our circumstances, I had to move away from the area. but from the tour, I saw nothing but caring, love and nurturing that the educators have shown towards the children. The learning environments were beautifully set up in relation to the children’s interests and I can tell from the passion and dedication that the director has put in to provide quality and care for the children’s learning as well as her team. Highly recommend bringing your child in to this centre.

My son attended Goodstart Carlton for three years, and now he is in Year 3. Even after all this time, he still talks about how much he learned there. He often says he gained most of his knowledge during his time at Goodstart, which shows just how much the teachers cared about his learning and interests. He still remembers the space and insects projects in the preschool room, which made learning fun and exciting for him. The teachers were kind, patient, and dedicated, always encouraging his curiosity. We are very grateful for the positive impact Goodstart Carlton had on our son’s early years. It was a place where he built a strong foundation for his future learning. I highly recommend this centre to other families!

I am beyond grateful for the incredible experience we’ve had at Goodstart Carlton. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were welcomed by a warm and caring team who made us feel like part of their family. The staff are truly amazing—always attentive, professional, and genuinely invested in the children’s development. The facilities are fantastic, well-equipped, and thoughtfully designed to create a fun and safe learning environment. What stands out the most, though, is the wonderful teachers. They are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and nurturing, making each child feel valued and supported. My child has grown so much in this wonderful setting, and I couldn’t be happier with our decision to be a part of the Goodstart Carlton community. Highly recommend to any family looking for a place where children are loved, cared for, and inspired to learn.

The team at Goodstart Carlton are the most empathetic, experienced educators that always put the children first and are inclusive. The learning follows the child’s lead and also implements intentional teaching . I have had the opportunity over the years to interact with the educators and children and families. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this gorgeous holistic centre, which also upholds Quality and Compliance to its highest level.

Concerned About Hygiene Practices; I recently walked past Carlton Childcare and was shocked to see something that raises serious concerns about their hygiene practices. One of the staff members was handling garbage while supervising a group of children at the same time. This is extremely unhygienic and does not meet basic health and safety standards. As childcare providers, ensuring a clean and safe environment for children should be a top priority. Such practices not only set a poor example but also pose potential health risks to the children. I hope the management takes immediate action to address this issue and implements stricter hygiene protocols moving forward.

The staff and educators are so caring and nurturing and my children love going to Goodstart Carlton. The educators are very attentive to my children's interests and incorporate this into playful activities that help with their learning and development. I would highly recommend Goodstart Carlton.

💫Good Start Carlton. 💫 #shouldbe5stars I have had 3 children attend the centre 2 still currently there and I have had nothing but love and support from all the Educators. They are very professional, responsive and respectful towards us all and they work together with families to fulfill their needs. They are an inclusive centre as well which also makes it such a special place. My children love coming here and myself as well knowing that they are safe and happy. Life can have its ups and downs, I myself have gone through some where our Centre Director Danielle is always going over and above for us where our family loves and appreciate all that you. She puts her heart and soul into our school our kids our community and has the best support from each educator. If you are looking into a preschool around the Carlton area this is the best of the best. We have a community garden out the front, a memorial chair for a beloved educator who was taken from us too soon a few years ago and soon we will be having a community library out the from painted by indigenous artists. Our kids love Good Start Carlton and all they have done for us. From reading the previous negative comments about the centre it is disheartening that these things are being said negatively about our childrens school, it makes all the hard work that us as a community have done all for nothing. If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything it all. Theses personal situations can be done in a private matter which they always do. Your only thinking about yourselves and not the rest of the families that attend the centre. We are one of many families that love this school. I hope and pray that we continue to have more families come into the school and feel as loved and welcomed as we have.

Extremely Concerning Incident at Goodstart Carlton I witnessed a deeply concerning incident at Goodstart Carlton that has left me shocked and disappointed. After a teacher accompanied a child to the restroom, this child immediately came out and struck another child hard on the chin, causing the victim to fall backward and hit his head on the ground with force. What’s most alarming is that the teacher had a clear opportunity to intervene and prevent this from happening but chose to remain completely unresponsive. This lack of action is unacceptable in any childcare setting and raises serious questions about the level of supervision and safety provided at this center. As a parent, I expect childcare staff to be vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety of all children. This incident not only reflects poorly on the staff’s judgment but also on the center’s ability to maintain a secure and nurturing environment. I urge Goodstart Carlton to review their policies, provide additional training to their staff, and ensure that such incidents are handled appropriately in the future. Safety should always be the top priority.