Early childhood education includes all forms of education, both formal and informal, provided to young children up to approximately 8 years of age.
Quality child care is important in forming a child's identity, skills and relationships during childhood. Children are shaped by many different events and circumstances.
Through play and other opportunities children learn to make sense of and construct ideas about the social and natural world – the people, places, objects and experiences they encounter every day.
Greater Dandenong provides a range of early childhood education and care services. For further information about childcare services, visit childcarefinder.gov.au
Types of early childhood education available
Family Day Care
A family day care service is a network of carers who provide care or education in their own homes for small groups of children. Family day care is aimed at children from 0-13 years of age. This type of care may be available overnight or on weekends for families who are on-call or work shifts.
Council runs a Family Day Care Scheme. For more information visit theFamily Day Care page.
Centre-based early childhood services
Early childhood services provide care or education for children on a full day or occasional part-time basis.
Care is provided mainly for children aged between 0-6 years old, although some services provide care for limited numbers of primary school-age children before and after school and during school holidays.
Early childhood services employ qualified staff and some services also offer a kindergarten program. There are community based services and also privately owned services.
Below is a list of the community based services in City of Greater Dandenong:
• Market Street Child Care Centre
• Springvale Service for Children
• Fifth Avenue Child Care
• Dandenong Day Nursery
• Noble Park Community Child Care
• Keysborough Community Child Care Centre
For local information about early childhood services, visit the Department of Education and Training website.
For further information about childcare services, visit childcarefinder.gov.au
Before and after school care/vacation care
These services provide care and supervised activities for primary aged children during school terms at the beginning of school hours and after school hours. Children are encouraged to be creative and make their own choices. Children are challenged and stimulated while interacting with their friends.
For information on independent childcare and family day providers, visit and search on mychild.gov.au
This service is a network of carers who provide care or education in their own homes for other people’s children.
Kindergarten is offered in a range of settings across Greater Dandenong. Find out how to gain access for your family.