Frequently Asked Questions
About St Mary’s
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St Mary’s Children Centre is a not-for-profit early learning and kindergarten service in Kensington, providing education and care for children from approximately 6 months to school age.
Our approach combines high-quality early childhood education and care with a strong sense of community, Christian values and a commitment to every child's wellbeing, development and potential.
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Yes.
St Mary’s Children Centre is a not-for-profit service. Our focus is on providing high-quality education, care and experiences for children and supporting the families who make up our community.
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We are located at 5–11 Epsom Road, Kensington VIC 3031, within the St Mary’s community.
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We are open Monday to Friday, 7:00am–6:30pm.
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Our programs cater for children across the early childhood years:
Babies: approximately 6 months–2 years
Pre-Kinder: approximately 2–3½ years
Kinder: 3 years and older
The program in each room is designed around children's developmental needs, interests and learning.
Your Child's Day
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No two days are exactly the same.
Children experience a balance of:
play and exploration
intentional teaching
indoor and outdoor learning
creative experiences
stories, language and communication
physical activity
social and emotional learning
music and movement
projects and investigations
routines that build independence
opportunities to make choices
group and individual experiences
rest and relaxation.
We believe children learn throughout the day, not only during formally planned activities.
Visit our Learning Programs page for more information.
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Yes.
Play is central to how young children learn.
Our educators use children's interests, questions and experiences as starting points for meaningful learning while intentionally supporting development across the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
St Mary's Children Centre’s program is guided by EYLF and draws on educators' knowledge of child development, family knowledge and the Centre's philosophy.
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We recognise that every child develops differently.
Educators observe each child, listen to their interests and needs, and use this knowledge to extend their learning and development.
Our aim is not to make every child learn in exactly the same way. It is to provide the right opportunities, encouragement, attention and support for each child to flourish.
Please click here to read Robert’s testimonial.
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We place strong importance on relationships, belonging and emotional safety.
Children are supported to:
identify and express emotions
develop confidence
build relationships
negotiate with others
solve problems
develop independence
learn appropriate boundaries
develop resilience
feel listened to and respected.
Our philosophy emphasises children's voice, choice, self-determination and sense of belonging.
Kindergarten & School Readiness
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Yes.
Our kindergarten program is integrated within our early learning environment and is designed to support children's learning, development, wellbeing and preparation for school.
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St Mary’s Children Centre is approved for funded kindergarten.
Families should speak with the Centre about current Victorian Government kindergarten funding arrangements, eligibility and how funding applies to their child's enrolment.
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Our funded Kindergarten program is integrated within our long day care setting, giving children the benefits of a quality kindergarten program alongside the flexibility and continuity of long day care.
Children learn throughout the day with a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, with the program guided by the EYLF and Victorian kindergarten requirements. Learning extends beyond structured experiences through play, projects, outdoor learning, incursions, excursions, language, literacy, numeracy and everyday experiences.
For families, integrated Kindergarten provides flexible enrolment days, longer care hours and continuity throughout the year, including school holiday periods.
For children, it means learning and friendships continue within a familiar environment with familiar educators, supporting a strong sense of belonging and providing valuable opportunities to build independence, confidence and school readiness.
Kindergarten learning doesn't stop when the kindergarten session ends, it is part of your child's whole day at St Mary’s.
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School readiness is much more than learning letters and numbers.
We support children to develop the foundations they need to approach school with confidence, including:
communication and language
early literacy
early numeracy
curiosity and problem-solving
concentration and persistence
independence
emotional regulation
social skills
confidence
following routines
listening and responding
caring for belongings
making choices
participating in group experiences
developing positive learning dispositions.
Our goal is to help children become confident, capable and enthusiastic learners.
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We provide intentional learning experiences that build strong foundations for literacy, numeracy, communication, thinking and problem-solving.
However, school readiness is not simply about teaching children academic skills early.
A child who can communicate, form relationships, regulate emotions, persist when something is difficult, ask questions, listen, make decisions and approach new experiences confidently has developed many of the capabilities that support a successful transition to school.
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Yes.
Children can benefit from experiences that extend learning beyond the immediate Centre environment, including incursions, excursions, community experiences and projects where appropriate.
These experiences are planned with children's learning, interests, safety and developmental needs in mind.
St Mary's Children Centre’s policies specifically address excursions and service events, while its learning philosophy emphasises meaningful experiences and children's exploration of their environment.
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Child safety is fundamental to everything we do.
Our approach includes:
active supervision
safe environments
appropriate educator practices
child-safe policies and procedures
emergency and evacuation procedures
first aid
medication management
allergy and anaphylaxis management
food safety
hygiene
safe collection and delivery of children
sleep and rest procedures
water safety
sun protection
excursion risk management
digital safety
privacy and confidentiality
incident, injury, trauma and illness procedures.
We also maintain a strong culture in which children are encouraged to speak, participate and have their voices heard.
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We are committed to creating a child-safe environment and to meeting our responsibilities under Australia's child safety requirements.
Staff and educators uphold professional standards and undergo regular training. They do not only meet safety requirements, but they are strong advocates and practitioners of child safety. They prioritise children's safety, wellbeing, dignity and rights.
Our child-safe approach includes policies covering child safety, interactions with children, supervision, conduct, privacy, photography and digital technology.
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Educators working with children are required to meet the relevant Victorian regulatory and child-safety requirements, including required qualifications, checks and clearances.
As part of our extensive recruitment process, we request a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC), and a recent Police Check
We track and monitor educators’ training and certificates to ensure they all maintain professional conduct and participate in ongoing professional development.
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We follow procedures for illness, infectious diseases, medical conditions and incidents, injuries and trauma.
If your child becomes unwell or requires medical attention, we will communicate with you and follow the appropriate procedures to protect your child and the wellbeing of the other children and educators.
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We have procedures for managing allergies, anaphylaxis and medical conditions.
Families are asked to provide accurate and current medical information and management plans so educators can appropriately support their child.
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Food safety is an important part of our responsibilities.
We follow appropriate food safety, hygiene, nutrition and allergy-management procedures and take children's individual dietary and medical needs seriously.
All our educators have undergone the appropriate food safety training and obtained the relevant certificate.
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We maintain emergency and evacuation procedures and regularly prepare educators and children for emergency situations in an age-appropriate way.
Children need to know what to do without being unnecessarily frightened, so emergency preparedness is approached calmly and developmentally appropriately.
Safety & Wellbeing
Families & Communication
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We use OWNA to support communication between the Centre and families.
Families can receive information about their child's learning, experiences and development through the platform.
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Yes.
We encourage respectful, constructive communication between families and educators.
Your child's educators know them well and your knowledge as a parent or carer is equally valuable. We see children's learning as a partnership between home and the early learning environment.
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Yes.
Educators observe children's learning and development and use these observations to plan experiences that extend children's interests, skills and capabilities.
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Absolutely.
We want families to feel comfortable raising questions, concerns or feedback.
We have a formal Compliments and Complaints Policy and encourage families to communicate concerns appropriately so they can be addressed respectfully and constructively.
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Yes.
St Mary’s Children Centre publishes a substantial range of policies covering areas including enrolment, fees, child safety, medication, first aid, allergies, infectious diseases, delivery and collection, education programs, excursions, food safety, privacy, supervision, sleep, water safety and digital technology.
Enrolment & Orientation
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The first step is to register your interest.
Once we receive your enquiry, we can provide further information and arrange a tour so you can see the Centre and discuss your family's needs.
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Yes, and we encourage you to.
Choosing childcare is a personal decision. A tour allows you to see the environment, meet the team, ask questions and get a feel for why St Mary’s is the right place for your child and family.
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No.
Registering your interest or joining a waitlist does not necessarily mean a place has been confirmed.
The Centre will discuss availability, your preferred days and the enrolment process with you.
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We recommend enquiring as early as possible. Places are limited.
This is particularly important if you have specific days or are planning ahead for kindergarten.
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Every child is different.
We work with families to understand the child's routines, personality, interests, comfort needs and previous experiences.
A gradual and responsive transition can help children develop trust and confidence in their new environment.
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Transitions are planned carefully around each child's developmental readiness and individual needs.
We aim to make transitions positive and familiar rather than simply treating them as an administrative move from one room to another.
One of the many advantages at St Mary’s is the regular mixed-aged activities. A child will have friends in other rooms, and this makes transitions joyful and seamless for the child.
Older children practise empathy and kindness towards younger children, while younger children pick up advanced skills from the older children.
This is similar to a home environment, where siblings of mixed ages play together and interact. School yards, too, are mainly mixed-age. Our regular mixed-age activities are a significant advantage, and make transitions successful, seamless, and a celebrated achievement.
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Not at all.
Our convenient location at the corner of Epsom Rd and The Ridgeway, Kensington means parents living outside Kensington, Victoria find our childcare centre easily accessible and attractive.
Families from surrounding suburbs eagerly enrol their children, because of all the advantages they experience in our childcare centre. Families come not only from Kensington, but also Flemington, Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds, Essondon, North Melbourne, Yarraville, Footscray, Maribyrnong, Melbourne CBD, Parkville, and many other suburbs around Kensington.
In fact, we have families coming from as far as Roxburgh Park, 32km north of Kensington.
For the sake of their child, these families travel quite a distance to ensure they get the best care and education for the child. They want their child to be part of a long success story and insist on a childcare centre where the child's character develops to the fullness of their abilities.
In short, families from all walks of life, from anywhere in Victoria are most welcome at St Mary's Children Centre, Kensington.
Fees, CCS & Practical Information
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St Mary’s Children Centre is approved for CCS.
Families may be eligible for the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy, subject to government eligibility requirements.
We can help you understand how CCS applies to your enrolment.
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Fees can change and may vary according to your child's program and enrolment arrangements.
For 2026, our daily fee is $165.
Please contact us for the current fee schedule.
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The fee includes healthy lunch, tea and snacks, among many other things. For a full list, please check Fee Inclusions.
We recommend asking about inclusions when discussing enrolment so you have a clear understanding of what is provided.
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This will depend on your child's age and individual needs, but families should expect to provide appropriate personal items such as spare clothing and any required comfort or medical items.
The Centre will provide you with a detailed list as part of the enrolment and orientation process.
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Availability depends on the days and places available in the relevant room.
Please discuss your preferred attendance pattern with us when enquiring.
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Families should notify the Centre according to our attendance and enrolment procedures.
Specific fee and CCS implications can depend on the circumstances.
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Children must be delivered to and collected from the Centre in accordance with our procedures.
We take children's security seriously and have procedures governing the delivery and collection of children.
Infrequently Asked Questions
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Yes.
But as you know, young children experience a wide range of emotions.
What we can promise is that we will work to know your child, build trusting relationships, provide a sense of belonging and support them through the ups and downs of growing up.
Our aim is for children to feel safe, known, valued and encouraged.
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That's one of the most important parts of quality early childhood education.
Educators observe children, listen to them, learn about their interests and work with them and with families to understand their individual needs.
We want your child to be known not simply as "a child in the room", but as an individual person with their own personality, strengths, interests and potential.
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Both care and education matter.
Children need nurturing relationships and they also need opportunities to investigate, question, experiment, create, problem-solve and develop new skills.
Our program combines responsive care with intentional teaching and play-based learning.
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Our kindergarten program supports the foundations of school readiness, including communication, confidence, independence, social development, emotional regulation, early literacy, numeracy, curiosity and positive learning dispositions.
We want children to leave us not simply knowing things, but ready and excited to keep learning.
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There is no single answer to this question because every family values different things.
For many families, St Mary’s offers a distinctive combination of:
high-quality early learning + nurturing care + Christian values + community + kindergarten & school readiness + a strong commitment to child safety.
Our purpose is to provide more than a place for children to spend the day.
We want children to learn, belong, grow and thrive.
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Because choosing an early learning centre is ultimately about trust.
You are entrusting us with your child's safety, wellbeing, development and some of their most formative years.
We take that responsibility seriously.
At St Mary’s, we aim to provide a place where children are safe enough to explore, secure enough to belong, supported enough to grow and encouraged enough to discover their potential.
Still have questions?
The best way to understand St Mary’s is to come and see us.
Meet our team.
See the learning environments.
Ask the questions that matter to your family.
Come and discover why St Mary’s Children Centre is the right place for your child.