Inside Australia’s most luxurious daycare centres

Luxury childcare centres are on the rise across Australia, with more parents than ever wanting only the very best for their kids.

The state-of-the-art facilities offer everything from daily yoga sessions to foreign language classes and meals cooked by a qualified chef.

Naturally, there is a focus on education with language and literacy lessons par for the course. Technology at the elite centres is also cutting edge.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at three of the most stunning boutique-style centres and reveals just what is on offer at these luxury daycare establishments.

Luxury childcare centres are on the rise across Australia with more parents wanting only the very best for their babies or toddlers

ALBYN ROAD EARLY EDUCATION CENTRE

Topping the list of lavish daycare centres is Albyn Road Early Education Centre, a preschool located in the Sydney inner west suburb of Strathfield.

The centre, which reopened last year after undergoing a $2million refurbishment, not only features a state-of-the-art library and a technology hub complete with interactive smartboards, there’s also a focus on health and wellbeing.

Little ones in need of rest and rejuvenation can take advantage of yoga sessions on offer in a beautifully-fitted out health room – or there’s the option to just relax.

The newly refurbished Albyn Road Early Education Centre. The facilities  were upgraded last year at a cost of $2 million

The newly refurbished Albyn Road Early Education Centre. The facilities  were upgraded last year at a cost of $2 million

Little ones in need of rest and rejuvenation can take advantage of yoga sessions on offer in a beautifully-fitted out health and wellbeing room

Little ones in need of rest and rejuvenation can take advantage of yoga sessions on offer in a beautifully-fitted out health and wellbeing room

 We run like an elite private school.

 

Jacklean Daniels, Managing Director of Little Scribblers Early Learning Centre

The lavish centre caters for 99 kids a day and offers places for newborns to six-year-olds at a daily cost ranging from $115 to $140.

The large centre sports open-plan classrooms with high ceilings which enhance a sense of space.

Adding to a sense of luxury, are the landscaped outdoor areas that give children ample room to run and play. 

The centre's technology hub comes complete with iPads, computers and interactive smart boards 

The centre’s technology hub comes complete with iPads, computers and interactive smart boards 

The centre’s education program focuses on learning indoors and out. Teachers at the preschool ensure resources, books and activities have been carefully selected to support this.

There is also an onsite cook who prepares all meals including food for those who have special dietary needs.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, centre director Kylie Naughton said the facilities are second-to-none and are rated accordingly. 

The family retreat. Here families can take time out in a room dedicated to peaceful interaction 

The family retreat. Here families can take time out in a room dedicated to peaceful interaction 

There is also an onsite cook who prepares all meals including food for those who have dietary special dietary needs

There is also an onsite cook who prepares all meals including food for those who have dietary special dietary needs

‘We are rated as exceeding the national quality stands and extremely proud of this as a centre,’ she said. 

‘Our environment enhances exploration, discovery, curiosity, positive social interactions, self-confidence and autonomy.’

LITTLE SCRIBBLERS EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Little Scribblers Early Learning Centre in Sydney’s Belmore is a facility that is as close to a prestigious private school for young ones as you could get.

The boutique-style child care centre features a gymnasium an art studio, classrooms and a library.

It also boasts a cot room, a cafeteria, an outdoor playground and a mini soccer field.

Sydney's  Little Scribblers Early Learning Centre features a colourful and cosy library packed with books that children can either read on site or take home

Sydney’s Little Scribblers Early Learning Centre features a colourful and cosy library packed with books that children can either read on site or take home

The soccer program gives children an opportunity to develop gross motor skills, co-ordination, group interaction and build confidence and self-esteem

The soccer program gives children an opportunity to develop gross motor skills, co-ordination, group interaction and build confidence and self-esteem

Children as young as six weeks old can also enroll at the centre (pictured a cot room)

Children as young as six weeks old can also enroll at the centre (pictured a cot room)

There’s also a dedicated technology corner, offering hands-on learning experiences. Language and literacy lessons are standard and there is a fitness programme.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, managing director Jacklean Daniels said the centre was inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach – an Italian-based world-leading educational philosophy that focuses on each child’s needs and interests.

‘We want to teach children something different every day – and they are learning in an environment with qualified teachers. 

‘We run like an elite private school.’ 

The facility caters for 80 children a day and operates five days a week

The facility caters for 80 children a day and operates five days a week

The technology corner has iPads and iMacs providing children hands-on experiences

The technology corner has iPads and iMacs providing children hands-on experiences

Daily rates at the centre cost $115 for children under three – and $98 for kids aged between three years old to five.

The facility caters for 80 children a day and operates five days a week.

‘Our prices cover all the children’s programs, activities, nappies, wipes and meals,’ Ms Daniels explained.

‘We have more staff on than legally required.’

LITTLE LEARNING SCHOOL IN SYDNEY

The Little Learning School in Sydney is a child care centre for children aged 0-5 years.

The facilities, of which there are 18 dotted around Sydney, offer attendees baby yoga Taekwondo, as well as teaching computer skills and language classes.

‘The yoga classes are popular because in them, the kids stretch and have actions and animal poses that they have to remember each time,’ marketing manager Emily Dawes told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘As well as encouraging them to have fun and move, the classes combine music, dance and play. They also help them to learn and improve their memory.’

Yoga classes: These classes are popular because in in them, the kids stretch and have actions and animal poses that they have to remember each time

Yoga classes: These classes are popular because in in them, the kids stretch and have actions and animal poses that they have to remember each time

Little Learning School is a child care centre that offers an elaborate play area

Little Learning School is a child care centre that offers an elaborate play area

Current languages on offer at the luxury preschool include Mandarin, Japanese, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

‘The Little Learning School is a lovely mix of fun and learning,’ Ms Dawes said.

The school also has a heavy focus on nutrition. As well as having an on-site chef and a weekly rotating menu the school also has a recipe book which parents are able to download as an e-book. 

SAMPLE THREE DAY MENU AT THE LITTLE LEARNING SCHOOL

 Monday:

* Morning tea – Wholemeal toast fingers with spreads and fresh fruit platter, milk and water

* Lunch – Beef, pasta Roma with carrot, corn and broccoli (also vegetarian option)

* Afternoon tea – Vegetable sticks with cheese, fresh fruit and crackers, milk and water

* Supper – Wholemeal sandwiches

 Tuesday:

* Morning tea – Wholemeal toast fingers with baked beans and fresh fruit platter, milk and water

* Lunch – Creamy tuna mornay with carrots, zucchini, peas and rice (also veg option)

* Afternoon tea – Poached fruit and custard, milk and water

* Supper – Raisin bread  

 Wednesday:

* Morning tea – Rice rounds with spreads and fresh fruit platter, milk and water

* Lunch – Beef and broccoli stir fry

* Afternoon tea – Vegetable sticks with cheese, poached fruit and crackers

* Supper – Crisp bread with spreads

As well as music and dance (pictured), the children also learn yoga, Taekwondo and Mandarin

As well as music and dance (pictured), the children also learn yoga, Taekwondo and Mandarin

The school prides itself on being different to other child care centres

The school prides itself on being different to other child care centres

Technology also features at the school with a parent-tailored, personalised app.

The app lets parents communicate with the teachers at the centre to find out how their little one is doing – and questions can range from anything including whether or not their child has eaten lunch that day.

Daily rates at the facility are only available on application to the centre.     



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk