How to choose a childcare centre in Melbourne's outer east
Ratings, ratios, fees and the 12 questions worth asking on every tour before you accept a place.
🎒 Starting childcare · 7 min read
Key facts
- Every approved Australian service is rated against the National Quality Standard (NQS) — check the rating before you tour.
- Educator-to-child ratios are set nationally: 1:4 for under-2s, 1:5 for 2-3 years and 1:11 for over-3s in Victoria.
- Most families in the outer east tour 3-4 centres before enrolling.
Start with the non-negotiables
Before you fall in love with a playground, narrow your list using the things you cannot change later: location relative to your commute, opening hours, the days you actually need, and whether the service runs a funded kindergarten program if your child is turning three or four.
Both Meraki centres are open Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:30pm, which covers most shift and commute patterns across Bayswater, Boronia, Mooroolbark, Croydon and Lilydale.
- Distance and direction of travel from home or work
- Opening and closing times versus your real start and finish
- Availability on the specific days you need, not just 'a place'
- Whether funded 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten runs on site
- Whether meals, nappies and sunscreen are included in the fee
Understand the quality rating
Every approved service in Australia is assessed against the National Quality Standard across seven quality areas, then rated: Significant Improvement Required, Working Towards, Meeting, or Exceeding the NQS. The rating is public and must be displayed at the service.
A 'Meeting' rating means the service is doing what is required. 'Exceeding' means assessors found practice that goes beyond the standard in at least four of the seven quality areas. Meraki Mooroolbark is rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard.
The 12 questions to ask on tour
- What is your educator turnover like, and how long has the room leader been here?
- Who is the Early Childhood Teacher and how many days are they on the floor?
- How do you settle a child who is finding drop-off hard?
- What does a full day look like, hour by hour?
- How is food prepared, and can you cater for our dietary needs?
- How much of the day is spent outdoors?
- How do you communicate with families day to day?
- How do you document my child's learning?
- What is your policy on illness, and when must we keep our child home?
- How do you handle biting, hitting and other big behaviours?
- What are the total weekly fees before and after subsidies?
- What is the notice period and what happens over public holidays and closures?
Trust what you see, not just what you're told
Tour during the middle of the morning when rooms are busy rather than at nap time. Watch how educators speak to children who are upset, whether children move freely between indoors and outdoors, and whether the room feels calm and engaged rather than merely quiet.
If you leave a tour able to picture your child there, that instinct matters as much as any checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I look for childcare in Melbourne's outer east?+
Aim for six to twelve months ahead for nursery places and by the middle of the year before for four-year-old kindergarten. Waitlists move, so it is always worth asking about your specific days even when a centre appears full.
Does a higher fee mean better quality childcare?+
Not reliably. Fees reflect location, staffing, meals and facilities. The National Quality Standard rating, educator retention and what you observe on tour are far better indicators of quality than the daily rate.
Keep reading
Settling your child into childcare: a week-by-week guide
Orientation, drop-off tears and the four-week rhythm most children settle into — plus what to do when it takes longer.
Child Care Subsidy explained in plain English
Income test, activity test, hourly rate caps and how the subsidy reaches your invoice — without the Centrelink jargon.
Want to talk it through in person?
Book a tour of our Bayswater or Mooroolbark centre and ask us anything.