Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre
Centre Highlights
SunSmart Aware
Nappies & Wipes Supplied
Meals Provided
Bottles Supplied
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Aware
About Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre
Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre is a family-owned boutique child care centre in Ferntree Gully that is staffed with experienced and enthusiastic educators. Building strong relationships with families is their number one priority, to help children feel secure enough to reach their full potential.
Outside in the natural and inviting play areas, the children love the wooden climbing frames, slides, basket swing and bikes. The children also enjoy extracurricular activities such as Bush Kindy where they can explore the natural environment.
The centre cares for children from 6 weeks to school age and is open from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm. It is minutes away from Ferntree Gully train station and local primary schools, and offers easy access to the Burwood Highway and the M1.
Programs:
Bush Kindy program - children have the opportunity to explore the natural environment in their local community and take their learning outside.
Regular incursions - about topics such as sustainability, or from emergency services including police, fire and ambulance.
About the curriculum:
The educators at Little Charlies Early Learning Centre believe that children learn best through play and strive to provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, create and imagine.
They value and understand each child as an individual and recognise that they all have unique capabilities and interests. Educators believe in getting to know each child to be able to provide an inclusive program that supports the learning and developmental needs of all children.
Availability & Fees
6 wks to 2 yrs
Availability
Fees
$145 /day
Benefit
Meals Provided, Nappies
12 Hour Session 6:30am to 6:30pm
2 yrs to 3 yrs
Availability
Fees
$145 /day
Benefit
Meals Provided, Nappies
12 Hour Session 6:30am to 6:30pm
3 yrs to 4 yrs
Availability
Fees
$144 /day
Benefit
Meals Provided, Education & Developmental Programs, Nappies
4 yrs to 5 yrs
Availability
Fees
$144 /day
Benefit
Meals Provided, Education & Developmental Programs, Nappies
Fees for Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre may vary based childcare subsidy eligibility. You may be eligible to a rebate of up to 85% of your childcare fees.
Calculate your subsidy3 yrs to 4 yrs
Availability
4 yrs to 5 yrs
Availability
Fees for Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre may vary based childcare subsidy eligibility. You may be eligible to a rebate of up to 85% of your childcare fees.
Calculate your subsidyReviews for Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre
- Concerned Parent4 days ago
A Sad Decline . Now Just About Money, Not Children It breaks my heart to write this, because this centre used to be wonderful. It once felt like a place where children were genuinely nurtured and supported. But over time, it has become painfully clear that profit is now the priority, not the children. What was once a warm, safe, and engaging environment has drastically deteriorated. The moment you walk in, it feels neglected. Grubby floors, stained carpets, everything looks worn, uncared for, and unhygienic. The toys are old and tired clearly not replaced in far too long. It seems no money is being invested into things the children can use. This is not the environment any child deserves. The Kinder 3/4 room, in particular, is completely chaotic. What used to be structured has devolved into loud, disorganised madness. There’s no sense of calm or safety. I feel so sorry for the teachers working tirelessly in that room. My child would come home daily describing wild scenes, like he was loose in a zoo, with children with behaviour problems scaring my child enough that he was not wanting to go in a lot of the time. Sick children are routinely kept in the centre while coughing, sneezing, with green, runny noses and illness spreads quickly. We only hear about outbreaks once our children are already sick. It’s clear they’re prioritising keeping numbers high rather than taking responsible health measures. And that seems to be the core issue that it’s all about making money and cost cutting now to the detriment of the teachers who do their best and the children who are desperate for more organisation, structure and order. The centre appears focused on enrolling as many children as possible while cutting every corner it can. Some rooms seem almost empty while others are over capacity, and staffing levels do not meet the needs of the children. I’ve since learned that staff are often counted as “on site” even when they’re not actively in the rooms where they’re needed and this seems to be happening here. Teachers to children numbers may look acceptable on paper, but the reality is very different. Teachers, many of whom are warm and genuinely care are clearly stretched far too thin. They’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and unable to provide the quality of care and attention children need, even though they smile and speak positively, it’s very clear. No one can thrive in the kind of pressure cooker environment this has become. Management is evasive and, frankly, dishonest. Concerns are brushed off or met with empty reassurances. The assistant director presents herself as helpful, but I rarely felt supported or heard by her. More often than not, responsibility is passed off to the director. Even the kitchen situation is a mess. On several occasions, the chef was absent and the director was left to prepare meals in a small, chaotic kitchen. The food isn’t that great and my child was often hungry. And perhaps most troubling of all: when families raise these concerns in reviews, they’re offered vouchers for$200 in exchange for positive reviews. If you scroll down, you’ll see negative truth that has been covered up. That’s not only unethical, It’s a clear attempt to bury the truth. In the end, I couldn’t leave my child in this environment any longer. It’s not what it used to be, sadly, not even close. What once felt like a supportive and nurturing place now feels like a business cutting corners at every turn, squeezing in as many children as possible while doing the bare minimum to keep up appearances. I urge any parent considering this centre to look closely and trust their instincts. Your child deserves better than this.
- Daniel Nelson6 days ago
Our grand children have been here for a while now. Our daughter is very happy with the friendly staff and environment. Recently I had the pleasure of dealing with the Centre Director Beth Hopper. She is incredibly easy to deal with , kind and willing to help. Thanks Beth for helping us out.
- Kena Knightabout 1 month ago
We came to have a look on an open day and we're enrolled the following Monday. We couldn't be happier with the care and education our child has at little Charlie's. There is a genuine care from the educators who are just as invested in ensuring our little one has the skills they need and have a great time while learning them. Would recommend Little Charlie's to anyone who is looking for service that truly is child focused and community based.
- Abbey M10 months ago
We had made the call to move centres, and we were able yo do a walk through the same day we called. Upon arrival we were super impressed with the space and layout, making the most of the area. The educators are vibrant and bright, the children are happy, the kitchen always have beautiful food being prepared fresh. I love that there is so much time and effort put into the weeks, there is always something exciting each week for the kids to learn and discover. Beth had created an incredible culture for families and workers. Each point of contact has been a positive experience.
Location of Little Charlie's Early Learning Centre
Ferntree Gully suburb information
Ferntree Gully is a suburb located in Victoria. There are approximately 34 child care centres in Ferntree Gully.
How much is child care in Ferntree Gully? On average, the cost of child care in Ferntree Gully is $135 per day. This breaks down to $135 per day for babies, $152 per day for toddlers and $146 per day for kindergarten.
Ferntree Gully sits just above the national NQS Rating & the average rating of centres is «Meeting NQS».
Number of centres
Child care centres in Ferntree Gully
34
Average cost per day
Baby
0-12 Months
$135
Toddler
13-24 Months
$152
Kindergarten
2-3 Years