Children
Safety and wellbeing come first. Children are respected as capable global citizens and involved in decisions throughout their program, routine and play.
Family-owned in Donvale since 1996
A place that
feels like home.
A safe, nurturing early learning community where children from six weeks to five years can play, belong and grow with familiar educators.
Since 1996Family-owned and local
6 weeks–5 yearsOne familiar learning journey
STEAM inspiredCuriosity through play
Longstanding teamWarm, qualified educators
Welcome to Donvale ELC
Big learning begins with feeling safe, seen and known.
Since 1996, Donvale Early Learning Centre has provided a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn, play and build social skills. Experienced, qualified and loving educators create a space that feels like a second home.
Children move from baby and toddler care through to government-funded kindergarten, surrounded by familiar faces throughout their early years.
Discover our centreGrowing together
A room for every stage
Six thoughtfully designed rooms let each child progress gradually, with learning tailored to their age, interests and individual development.
Up to 2 yearsNursery
A gentle beginning built on secure relationships, individual routines and belonging.
Explore nursery →
2–3 yearsToddlers
Confident exploration, growing independence and joyful language-rich play.
Explore toddlers →
3–5.5 yearsKindergarten
Play-based learning with registered Early Childhood Teachers and two years of kinder.
Explore kindergarten →Beyond the everyday
Rich experiences, included
Purposeful programs help children connect with language, nature, creativity, movement and their wider community.
Family-ownedsince 1996
A family caring for families
Familiar faces make all the difference.
Husband and wife Thomas and Lesley founded the centre with a belief that staff wellbeing and children’s care belong together. Their daughter Catherine joined the service in 2018, continuing a culture where educators and children keep learning and growing together.
Low staff turnover means children can form deeply supportive relationships with the same educators throughout their early years.
Meet our familyInside our days
Space to wonder, make and move
Come and feel the difference
Your family’s next chapter can begin with a visit.
Our centre
More than care.
A community for growing.
Family-owned, deeply local and thoughtfully focused on every child’s whole development.
Safe, nurturing and full of possibility
Donvale Early Learning Centre is a family-owned service that has provided a safe and nurturing environment for children to grow since 1996. Many highly qualified staff have been part of the centre for more than ten years.
Education is inspired by Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, helping children build holistic skills for their future. Funded kindergarten and extra-curricular activities are offered as part of the learning experience.
Everything families need in one place
- Government-funded kindergarten
- Qualified early childhood educators
- Age-appropriate shaded playgrounds
- Toys, books, reading materials and incursions
- Nappies and nutritious meals throughout the day
- On-site parking
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of the land in which we meet. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and respect, acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and events within the curriculum.
Our family
A family caring for families since 1996.
Donvale Early Learning Centre was founded with a focus on serving the Manningham community and creating a place where staff wellbeing and children’s care and education are the highest priorities.
Husband and wife Thomas and Lesley believed that a happy workplace would naturally give children a warm, nurturing environment. Inspired by her parents’ dedication to early childhood education, Catherine joined the service in 2018 and continues their passion for continuous improvement.
More than one third of the team has worked at the centre for over ten years. This continuity gives children familiar faces and the chance to form deeply supportive relationships across all their early years.
Come and feel the difference in our loving, supportive family environment.Arrange a tour
Our philosophy
Every child’s journey is beautifully their own.
A holistic approach built around safety, belonging, curiosity and partnership.
Vision
Donvale ELC recognises that the early years are crucial for children’s development. The centre supports emotional, social and academic skills through rich learning experiences and ongoing educator development, working with families to create a second home.
Families
Families are each child’s first teacher. Their culture, knowledge, feedback and aspirations shape individual learning.
Educators
Warm, longstanding educators model supportive relationships and keep developing their practice together.
Program
STEAM-inspired planning follows each child’s needs and interests through reflection and partnership.
Community
Local professionals, excursions and community partnerships extend children’s understanding of their world.
Environment
Thoughtful spaces act as a third teacher, inviting open-ended exploration and sustainable daily practice.
Inclusion
Donvale ELC proudly serves Manningham’s multicultural community. Children of all abilities have equal opportunity to participate meaningfully. Educators respect every family’s culture, religion, values and beliefs, and work with families and support networks to create quality inclusive strategies.
Learning curriculum
Curiosity is where learning starts.
Play-based experiences inspired by STEAM, the Early Years Learning Framework and each child’s individual interests.
STEAM inspired
Creative problem-solvers, innovative thinkers and confident learners.
Programs focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics alongside the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards.
A reflective planning cycle helps educators respond to children’s emerging ideas, build on learning at home and create rich experiences across literacy, numeracy, communication, wellbeing and social development.
See learning across the rooms →Science
Observe, wonder, predict and investigate.
Technology
Explore tools and purposeful ways of making.
Engineering
Build, test, adapt and solve together.
Arts
Imagine, communicate and express.
Mathematics
Notice pattern, shape, number and space.
Our rooms
Six rooms. One connected learning journey.
Children progress gradually through familiar spaces, relationships and routines from babyhood to school.
Belonging, being and becoming
All curriculum is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards. Play-based learning supports communication, early literacy and numeracy, physical development, creativity, identity, wellbeing and social-emotional growth.
- Strong sense of identity
- Connected with and contributing to their world
- Strong sense of wellbeing
- Confident and involved learners
- Effective communicators
Up to 2 years
A gentle place to begin.
Belonging comes first
Nursery programs are designed around each child’s individual rhythms and needs. Educators build warm, caring relationships to make separation from parents as comfortable as possible.
Only one new child is introduced to a room each week, supporting a calm settling experience. Learning fosters social, emotional, gross motor and fine motor development, while individual sleep times and nappies are fully catered for.
By graduation, children are building confidence in walking, talking, feeding themselves and expressing creativity.
Nursery rooms
White Room
Approximately 6–18 months
Blue Room
Approximately 18–24 months
Focus
Secure attachment, communication, movement and belonging
Toddler rooms
Big discoveries for busy little minds.
Growing independence through play
Toddler learning builds confidence, communication and independence in a responsive environment. Educators support emerging language, friendships, self-help skills and creativity through hands-on experiences.
Art, movement, books, music, imaginative play and outdoor exploration give children many ways to test ideas and express themselves while familiar routines provide security.
Toddler learning
Pink Room
A supportive next step after nursery
Focus
Language, relationships, independence and imagination
Every day
Indoor and outdoor play, meals, rest and learning
3–5.5 years
Ready for school. Ready for life.
Two years of kindergarten
Both kindergarten rooms are led by registered Early Childhood Teachers with bachelor or master qualifications. Play-based programs strengthen early literacy and numeracy, confidence, creativity and social skills.
Children practise independence with belongings, build and maintain relationships through group experiences, pursue individual interests and spend generous time outdoors developing gross motor skills.
Cooking and mealtimes also help children understand healthy living and everyday responsibility.
Explore funded kinderKindergarten rooms
Purple Room
Three-year-old kindergarten
Green Room
Four-year-old kindergarten
Focus
Belonging, confidence, communication and school transition
Funded kindergarten
More time to play, connect and learn.
Comprehensive three- and four-year-old kindergarten programs run for 7.5 hours every weekday.
Extended full-day programs give children more opportunities to build learning foundations through play-based experiences, supported by passionate teachers who regularly complete professional development.
Individual learning, familiar relationships
Educators nurture each child’s strengths and interests across STEAM, emotional development and social learning. Detailed handover meetings between room leaders maintain continuity as children progress through the centre.
The four-year-old room is led by two registered Early Childhood Teachers, providing above-ratio teaching tailored to individual needs.
Funding information changes over time.
Families should confirm current Free Kinder fee offsets and eligibility with the centre and the Victorian Government before making decisions.
View current Victorian Government information →Program highlights
- Year-round learning, including term breaks
- Special incursions such as animals, music, dance, drama and egg hatching
- Parent-teacher interviews and information evenings
- STEAM-inspired learning foundations
- Two years of familiar, connected kindergarten
Language & culture
Mandarin learned through joy and connection.
The bilingual program introduces Mandarin through meaningful, age-appropriate experiences including music, stories, movement, creative arts and everyday conversation.
Children build familiarity with another language while celebrating culture, communication and the many ways families connect with the world. Home languages are welcomed and respected across the centre.
Ask about the program
Nature learning
Muddy hands. Bright eyes. Brave ideas.
Bush Kinder extends learning into the natural world, giving children time and space to explore, move, notice change and build confidence outdoors.
Nature-based experiences encourage responsible risk-taking, collaboration, physical development, creativity and respect for the environment—all through children’s own questions and discoveries.
Ask about Bush KinderHealthy food
Good food fuels good days.
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are part of the daily rhythm, with nutrition and dietary needs considered.
Meals give children energy to play and learn, while shared mealtimes build independence, conversation and positive relationships with food.
The centre provides morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea and incorporates daily dietary requirements into its nutritional menu. Families should discuss allergies, cultural needs and individual dietary requirements directly with the centre.
Ask about the current menuOur team
Experience you can feel. Care children can trust.
Qualified educators of all ages, including team members who have been part of the centre for decades.
Friendly, familiar faces
Across management levels, staff hold bachelor and master degrees in early childhood education. Ongoing development and mentoring help the team deliver thoughtful care and education.
All educators hold at least Certificate III qualifications along with Working with Children Checks and current training in first aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and asthma management.
Catherine
Approved ProviderMaster of Teaching (Early Childhood). Catherine celebrates individuality and playful relationships while supporting growth across the team and children.
Angela
Centre ManagerBachelor of Early Childhood and Education. Angela brings more than a decade of centre knowledge and a deep focus on families and stimulating learning.
Bei
Educational LeaderBachelor of Early Childhood Education. Bei values strong family relationships, exciting environments and research-informed teaching.
Brendan
Early Childhood TeacherFour-year-old Room Leader. Brendan sees children as capable, curious learners and builds confidence through exploration and creativity.
Kamilia
Early Childhood TeacherThree-year-old Room Leader. Kamilia embraces play-based discovery and values families as every child’s first teacher.
Vanessa
Early Childhood TeacherVanessa supports curious explorers through respectful relationships, hands-on learning and empowered decision-making.
Yumi
Bilingual Program TeacherMaster of Teaching in Early Years Education. Yumi builds on children’s strengths and their connections with the local community.
Jenny
Toddler Room LeaderJenny brings over 14 years supporting young discoverers and values trusting family partnerships.
Lucy
Nursery Room LeaderLucy creates warm relationships and playful, imaginative experiences where every child feels secure.
Jane
Nursery Room LeaderJane brings more than ten years supporting children’s first journeys through safe and responsive play.
Karen
EducatorKaren has proudly worked with the centre for more than 29 years and brings exceptional warmth and attentiveness.
Team roles and biographies are reproduced from the centre’s public website and should be confirmed before any official launch.
For families
Understanding Child Care Subsidy
A useful starting point, with current decisions always based on official Services Australia information.
Child Care Subsidy can help eligible families with the cost of approved child care. Entitlements depend on individual circumstances and government rules can change.
Always check the official source.
The centre’s existing detailed CCS information may be out of date. Use Services Australia for current eligibility, activity requirements, income thresholds and claim steps.
Visit Services Australia →Useful steps
- 1
Check eligibility
Review current requirements through Services Australia.
- 2
Estimate your subsidy
Use official tools and keep family information current.
- 3
Speak with the centre
Ask how enrolment and attendance information is submitted.
Gallery
Small moments. Big discoveries.
A glimpse of the spaces, relationships and learning experiences that fill each day.
For families
Helpful links
Trusted places to learn more about early childhood, family support and government assistance.
Careers
Do meaningful work with people who care.
Join a family-owned service that values educator wellbeing, professional learning and longstanding relationships.
Donvale ELC believes that when educators feel supported, children benefit from warm, consistent and inspiring care.
Expressions of interest can be sent directly to the centre. Include your qualifications, experience and what draws you to early childhood education.
Email a career enquiryEnrolment
A thoughtful start for every new child.
The team works with families and room educators to plan orientation and help each child settle comfortably.
Book a tour
Visit the centre, meet the team and ask questions in an individual tour.
Email to book →Join the wait list
Ready to take the next step? Add your family’s details to the existing wait list.
Join the wait list →Complete enrolment
Once you receive an offer, use the centre’s existing enrolment form.
Open enrolment form →A calm orientation
To support comfortable settling, the centre introduces only one new child to a room each week and arranges orientation times with each family.
Contact
Let’s start a conversation.
Ask a question, arrange a visit or find the centre in Donvale.
Talk to the team
Donvale Early Learning Centre
Tour the centre
See how it feels in person.
Individual tours are available by request. Email the enrolment team and they will be in touch.
Book a tourFamily connection
Follow your child’s journey with Storypark.
Real-time learning updates, photos and videos help families stay connected with their child’s day.
Storypark gives families a secure window into children’s learning and development, available on mobile devices at no extra cost.
Educators can share meaningful observations, photos and videos while families contribute insights from home, strengthening the partnership around each child.
Learn about Storypark