Childcare & Montessori Early Learning in Doncaster

Yes. A tour gives you time to see the learning spaces, meet the team and picture your child’s day at Little Lane Doncaster.

Use the enquiry form on this page or call (03) 9964 1600 to arrange a visit. Bring your questions about programs, routines and the next steps for your family. Our childcare tour questions can help you prepare.

The centre can provide current fees and inclusions for the care you are considering. Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is Australian Government assistance with the cost of eligible child care; your eligibility and subsidy amount depend on your circumstances.

Services Australia provides the eligibility information and application process. See the official Child Care Subsidy information, and speak with our team about the centre fees and attendance details you need when planning care.

Our parent app shares updates, photos, learning observations and centre announcements. These give you a window into your child’s experiences and help you stay connected with the learning happening at the centre.

We also value what families share with us. Changes in routines, new interests and important moments at home help the team build a fuller picture of your child.

Start with an enquiry and tell us your child’s date of birth, the days you need and your preferred starting timeframe. We’ll discuss current room options and help arrange a centre visit.

From there, the team can guide you through fees, availability, enrolment information and orientation. This is also a time to share your child’s routines, interests and anything that will help us get to know your family.

Children learn through purposeful activity in a thoughtfully prepared environment. Educators introduce materials, observe how each child uses them and offer guidance as their interests and skills develop. Children have time to practise, repeat an activity and experience the satisfaction of doing something for themselves.

Practical life, sensorial learning, language, mathematics and cultural studies give this approach its breadth, from caring for the learning space to exploring sounds, numbers and the natural world.

Montessori learning helps children practise skills they can carry into the school years: choosing and completing an activity, caring for materials, communicating with others and participating in a group.

In Cycle 1, practical experiences with language and mathematics sit alongside growing concentration and independence. Educators respond to each child’s readiness, recognising that preparation for school includes social confidence and everyday capabilities as well as early literacy and numeracy.

The Infant Community gives younger children opportunities to learn through movement, their senses and everyday practical activity, with a focus on coordination, independence and language.

Cycle 1 extends that exploration through individual and small-group activities. Educators introduce Montessori materials in response to each child’s needs and readiness, supporting concentration, language, number concepts and participation in the learning community. Learn more about the Montessori programs at Little Lane.

Little Lane Montessori Doncaster is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 am–6:30 pm, at 90 Tram Road, Doncaster VIC 3108.

We are closed on public holidays. To arrange a visit, call (03) 9964 1600.

Our Centre Chef, Amber, prepares food for the children in our in-house kitchen. Her background includes Chinese and Western cooking, baking and food service, and she brings that experience to meals made for young children.

Little Lane’s seasonal menus draw on homestyle food from different cultures. Share your child’s allergies, dietary requirements and cultural food preferences during enrolment so the team can discuss the arrangements needed. Read more about our approach to food and nutrition.

Availability depends on the room, the days you need and when you would like to start. If a suitable place is not available, the team can discuss waitlist options with you.

Let us know whether your days or start date are flexible. We can then discuss the days and starting timeframes that may suit your family.

When you enquire, include your child’s date of birth, preferred days and proposed start date. These details help us discuss suitable room options and current availability with you.

Tell us what your child enjoys and what matters most to your family, too. This gives us a useful starting point for a centre visit and a conversation about the move into care.

Montessori learning is central to our Doncaster centre. Purposeful materials, a prepared environment and educators who guide each child’s exploration create opportunities for independence, concentration and discovery.

That educational approach sits alongside the people and everyday care that make a centre feel welcoming: Tina’s leadership, Amber’s cooking, spaces for indoor and outdoor learning, and relationships with families. Together, these give you a fuller picture of life at Little Lane Doncaster.

The centre uses controlled entry to manage access. During orientation, the team can explain arrival and collection procedures, authorised collection arrangements and the routines that apply to your child’s room.

Keeping contact and collection information up to date helps the centre and your family work together. A visit is also an opportunity to see the indoor and outdoor spaces and discuss how supervision is organised.

Our Centre Manager is Tina Francis. Tina holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and brings more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education and leadership in Singapore.

Her approach is shaped by Montessori principles and a commitment to strong relationships with children, families and educators. You can read Tina’s own welcome on this page and get to know the team during a centre visit.