Heathmont childcare with a Curiosity Approach
Calm, home-like early learning at Meraki ELC Bayswater, one stop east of Heathmont on the Belgrave line.
Before you visit
What to expect on your tour
Watch this short preview to see the welcoming learning spaces, meet our educators, and discover the calm, home-like environment your child will experience when you visit Meraki Bayswater. Tours are a great chance to ask questions, explore our rooms, and feel confident before enrolment.
Childcare near Heathmont — Now Enrolling for 2026
Heathmont families often tell us they want early learning that feels calm and unhurried rather than loud and busy. That is exactly what our Bayswater rooms are built around. Meraki ELC Bayswater is inspired by the Curiosity Approach: natural materials, familiar home-style resources and child-led play, in a light-filled two-storey building on Burton Court.
Meraki Early Learning Centre Bayswater is a brand-new long daycare and kindergarten on Burton Court, welcoming Heathmont families, caring for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. Open 6:30am–6:30pm, our service is thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity, nurture confidence and foster meaningful connections.
What your child's day looks like
Educators follow children's interests and extend them through meaningful experiences, with plenty of time outdoors. It is the same slow, relationship-first approach whether your child starts as a baby or joins us for kinder. Read more about it on our Curiosity Approach page.
Heathmont to Bayswater
Canterbury Road is the main road link between Heathmont and Bayswater, and Heathmont station is the stop immediately before Bayswater on the Belgrave line. Our centre sits right beside the line, so train-commuting parents can fold drop-off into their trip.
Heathmont families who work towards Croydon or Lilydale sometimes choose Meraki Mooroolbark instead — both centres share the same hours, inclusions and funded kinder.
Programs to consider
Long day care suits families who need full days, 6:30am to 6:30pm. From three, children can join funded Three Year Old Kindergarten, then Four Year Old Kindergarten to prepare for school — all inside long day care, with no separate kinder drop-off.
The Heathmont lifestyle
Heathmont is a leafy suburb with a village-style shopping strip and easy access to the Dandenong Creek trail. That love of green space fits naturally with our nature-inspired outdoor play areas.
Useful pages for Heathmont families:
Heathmont parent questions
Which Meraki centre is closest to Heathmont?+
Meraki ELC Bayswater at 17 Burton Court, Bayswater. Heathmont and Bayswater are neighbouring suburbs and neighbouring stations on the Belgrave line.
What is the Curiosity Approach, and do Heathmont children experience it?+
The Curiosity Approach uses natural, authentic materials and calm spaces to encourage child-led inquiry. It is the lead philosophy at Meraki Bayswater, so every child enrolled there experiences it.
Is 3 year old kinder available near Heathmont?+
Yes. Meraki Bayswater runs funded Three Year Old Kindergarten inside long day care, led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher.
Take a look inside
Meraki Bayswater Centre Tour
Step inside our light-filled learning spaces and meet the team caring for your child every day.
Why Heathmont families choose Meraki Bayswater
- •Heathmont and Bayswater are neighbouring stations on the Belgrave line
- •Curiosity Approach rooms with natural, home-like resources
- •Long day care from 6 weeks to 6 years
- •Funded 3 and 4 year old kinder led by Early Childhood Teachers
- •Five chef-prepared meals a day, included
Everything parents ask first
Meraki Bayswater at a glance
Hours, ages, rooms, fees, subsidy and funded kinder — the details Heathmont families compare before booking a tour.
| Address | 17 Burton Court, Bayswater VIC 3153 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (03) 8658 7880 |
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday, 6:30am – 6:30pm (closed weekends and public holidays) |
| Ages cared for | 6 weeks to 6 years |
| Care types | Long day care, funded 3 Year Old Kinder, funded 4 Year Old Kinder, school-readiness program |
| Rooms | Nursery, toddler and kindergarten/preschool rooms grouped by age |
| Meals | All meals and snacks included in the daily fee, prepared on-site by our chef |
| Fees | Daily fee includes meals, nappies-free of extra charges and all program costs — call for the current daily rate |
| Child Care Subsidy | Approved service — eligible families can receive up to 90% CCS off the daily fee |
| Free Kinder funding | Victorian Free Kinder funding applied to 3 & 4 Year Old Kindergarten places |
| Enrolment | Enrolling now — book a tour to check current-day availability or join the waitlist |
Fees, Child Care Subsidy & Free Kinder
Meraki Bayswater is a government-approved child care service, so eligible families can claim Child Care Subsidy of up to 90% off the daily fee through Services Australia. Our 3 & 4 Year Old Kindergarten places also carry Victorian Free Kinder funding, which reduces kinder costs further.
Because funding rates change each year, we quote current fees directly — call (03) 8658 7880 and we'll work out your likely out-of-pocket cost per day.
What's included in the daily fee
- Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack, cooked fresh on-site
- Funded 3 & 4 Year Old Kindergarten programs led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers
- All learning resources, art materials and incursions
- Sunscreen, hats and bed linen
- Daily updates, photos and learning documentation through our family app
No hidden extras for meals, nappies or program costs.
Getting here from Heathmont
Parking & drop-off
Free off-street parking on site at 17 Burton Court, in a quiet court location away from main-road traffic.
By train
About 5 minutes from Bayswater Station on the Belgrave line — children can watch the trains go by from the kindergarten rooms.
By bus
Close to Mountain Highway and Canterbury Road bus routes serving Boronia, Wantirna and Heathmont.
Childcare in Heathmont — parent questions
How much does childcare cost at Meraki Bayswater?+
Our daily fee covers everything your child needs for the day — all meals and snacks cooked on-site, nappies and wipes, sunscreen, hats, bed linen and every program cost including our funded kindergarten programs. Fees change with Victorian and Commonwealth funding, so call (03) 8658 7880 for today's daily rate and we'll estimate your out-of-pocket cost after Child Care Subsidy.
Can I use the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) here?+
Yes. Meraki Bayswater is an approved child care service, so eligible families can claim Child Care Subsidy of up to 90% of the daily fee through Services Australia. Your rate depends on family income and activity level — we'll help you set up your enrolment confirmation in myGov.
Is funded kindergarten available at Meraki Bayswater?+
Yes. We deliver funded Three Year Old and Four Year Old Kindergarten led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers, with Victorian Free Kinder funding applied. Kinder runs inside our long day care hours, so there are no separate drop-offs or mid-day pick-ups.
Do you have vacancies for Heathmont families?+
Availability changes weekly and varies by age group and day of the week. Call (03) 8658 7880 or book a tour and we'll confirm which days are open in your child's room, or add you to the waitlist for your preferred days.
What are the opening hours and when are you closed?+
We're open Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:30pm — long hours that suit shift work and city commutes. We're closed on weekends and Victorian public holidays.
How do I get to Meraki Bayswater and is there parking?+
Free off-street parking on site at 17 Burton Court, in a quiet court location away from main-road traffic. About 5 minutes from Bayswater Station on the Belgrave line — children can watch the trains go by from the kindergarten rooms. Close to Mountain Highway and Canterbury Road bus routes serving Boronia, Wantirna and Heathmont.
Our Philosophy
Our Bayswater service embraces the Hygge approach — a philosophy centred on comfort, calm, and connection. This creates a cosy and home-like atmosphere where children feel safe, valued and ready to explore and learn at their own pace.
Find out moreWhat You'll See at Meraki Bayswater
Beautiful learning spaces, passionate educators, and a community-focused approach.
Long Daycare
From 6:30am – 6:30pm
Infant to Preschool
6 weeks to 6 years
Qualified Educators
Minimum qualification requirements
Quality Curriculum
Fostering growth & development
Meet Molly
Meraki's therapy dog
A Word
From Our Director
"Bayswater is a 96 place service across two light-filled stories, situated safely in a court location where the children can watch the trains go by from the kindergarten rooms. Inspired by the Curiosity Approach, our resources reflect those you would see at home and encourage imagination, creativity and learning through play. We have really focused on children-led programs and this is evident throughout the service."
— Sally, Director
Our Team
Meet the Bayswater Educators
Our Bayswater team brings warmth, experience and a genuine love of early childhood education to every day.
Visit our Bayswater centre
17 Burton CourtBayswater VIC 3153
Childcare near Heathmont
Meraki Bayswater also welcomes families from these nearby suburbs.
Childcare Bayswater
Our Bayswater centre
Childcare Bayswater North
Families from Bayswater North
Childcare Boronia
Families from Boronia
Childcare Wantirna
Families from Wantirna
Childcare Wantirna South
Families from Wantirna South
Childcare The Basin
Families from The Basin
Childcare Ringwood
Families from Ringwood
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Meraki Early Learning Centres Bayswater different from other childcare centres?+
Meraki Bayswater is guided by intentional slow pedagogy and child-led learning. Our educators take time to truly know each child, supporting learning at a pace that respects individual development. We prioritise strong relationships, emotional safety, and a calm, welcoming environment where children feel secure and confident to explore.
Is Meraki Early Learning Centres Bayswater a safe childcare option?+
Yes. Child safety is central to everything we do. We have robust child-safe practices, thorough recruitment and screening processes, and clear policies that prioritise children's wellbeing, protection, and voice.
Does Meraki Bayswater follow a child-led learning approach?+
Absolutely. Our program is grounded in child-led learning, meaning educators observe children's interests and curiosities and intentionally extend learning through meaningful experiences.
What ages does Meraki Bayswater cater for?+
We provide early learning and care for children from infancy (6 weeks) through to kindergarten age (6 years).
How does Meraki Bayswater support families?+
We value strong partnerships with families and believe communication and trust are essential. Educators work closely with families to understand each child's needs, routines and culture.
What educational philosophy does Meraki Bayswater follow?+
Our philosophy centres on slow pedagogy, child-led learning and respectful relationships. Our practice aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework.
Your child's early learning journey starts with a single visit
Heathmont families are always welcome at Meraki Bayswater. Come and explore our engaging indoor environments and nature-inspired outdoor play spaces.