Little Lane Montessori Doncaster
At Little Lane Montessori Doncaster, we give children space to explore, time to practise and encouragement to try things for themselves. Our family-owned centre at 90 Tram Road brings together Montessori early learning…

6 weeks to 6 years
Monday to Friday, 6:30 am–6:30 pm. Closed on public holidays
90 Tram Road Doncaster, Victoria
Montessori early learning
Welcome to Little Lane Doncaster
At Little Lane Montessori Doncaster, we give children space to explore, time to practise and encouragement to try things for themselves. Our family-owned centre at 90 Tram Road brings together Montessori early learning, bright classrooms and outdoor spaces designed for young children.
Read more about our centre
Independence begins with everyday experiences. Choosing an activity, working with a learning material and returning to a task are all part of the Montessori approach. Educators introduce activities with care, observing each child’s interests and readiness as they guide the next step. There is room for individual discovery and learning alongside other children.
Our purpose-built centre offers spacious indoor learning environments and nature-inspired outdoor areas. Inside, thoughtfully arranged materials give children a clear place to begin exploring. Outdoors, there is space for movement and connection with the natural world. These environments bring practical activity, sensory exploration and creativity into the childcare day.
Getting to know your family matters, too. Your child’s interests, familiar routines and the things that make them feel at home are a useful starting point for a conversation with our team.
Come and see Little Lane Doncaster. Send an enquiry using the form on this page or call (03) 9964 1600 to arrange a tour. Explore the spaces, meet the team and picture your child’s day here.
Preparing for your visit? Read our questions to ask on a childcare tour.
Centre highlights
Montessori with purpose
Montessori with purpose. Practical life, sensorial exploration, language, mathematics and cultural learning give children different ways to engage with the world through hands-on activity.
Space to explore
Space to explore. Our purpose-built centre combines bright, spacious classrooms with outdoor learning and play areas, including spaces inspired by nature.
Food prepared here
Food prepared here. An in-house kitchen and our centre chef bring freshly prepared food into the day, with care for ingredients and an enjoyment of cooking for children.
Family-owned
Family-owned, with relationships at its heart. Our centre team values strong connections with children and families, and the knowledge you bring about your child.
Choosing care means finding a place where the learning approach, surroundings and people feel right for your family. At Doncaster, these are the foundations of our centre:
Montessori with purpose. Practical life, sensorial exploration, language, mathematics and cultural learning give children different ways to engage with the world through hands-on activity.
Space to explore. Our purpose-built centre combines bright, spacious classrooms with outdoor learning and play areas, including spaces inspired by nature.
Food prepared here. An in-house kitchen and our centre chef bring freshly prepared food into the day, with care for ingredients and an enjoyment of cooking for children.
Family-owned, with relationships at its heart. Our centre team values strong connections with children and families, and the knowledge you bring about your child.
Visit us: 90 Tram Road, Doncaster VIC 3108
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 6:30 am–6:30 pm. Closed on public holidays.
Call: (03) 9964 1600
Photo gallery
Take a look inside our Doncaster centre.

programs
The Montessori difference, day by day
Montessori gives children an active role in their learning. They choose purposeful activities, work with materials and have time to repeat and practise. Educators observe, introduce materials and guide children as their interests and skills develop. Individual and small-group experiences make space for both independent exploration and learning with others.
The learning environment is carefully prepared, with order and a place for each material. This gives children a setting in which to make choices and become familiar with the resources around them. Five connected areas shape the Montessori curriculum:
Practical life: Everyday tasks such as dressing, cleaning and organising give children opportunities to do things for themselves. These activities bring coordination, concentration and care for the shared environment into useful, familiar tasks.
Sensorial learning: Children explore and compare information from their senses, including touch, sight and sound. Materials invite them to notice differences, make comparisons and organise what they discover about the world.
Mathematics: Concrete materials make ideas such as quantity, number and grouping tangible. Number rods, counters and beads give children ways to explore these ideas through handling and arranging, before moving towards more abstract understanding.
Language: Conversation, storytelling and Montessori materials offer ways to explore sounds, words and expression. Sandpaper letters and movable alphabets are examples of the resources used within the approach to connect spoken and written language.
Cultural learning: Geography, science, history, music and art broaden the possibilities for discovery. Children explore the natural world, different cultures and creative expression through this part of the curriculum.
Together, these areas offer children a range of meaningful activities, with educators responding to their readiness rather than expecting every child to take the same next step at the same time.

food
Food and mealtimes
My name is Guan Suan Lin, but you can call me Amber. I am the Centre Chef at Little Lane Early Learning Centre Doncaster. I love cooking and sharing healthy food with children.
My cooking journey started in culinary school, where I learned both Chinese and Western cooking, baking, and food service. I have worked in many different places, including restaurants, bakeries, hotels, and the famous restaurant Din Tai Fung. In these roles, I learned how to keep food quality and standards very high. Later, I went back to my school to work as a Food Safety Teacher. I enjoyed teaching students about cooking and how to keep a kitchen clean and safe.
To me, food is more than just energy.it is a way to show love and care. I grew up watching my mother cook healthy meals for our family every day. She taught me that good food brings people happiness. Now, I bring that same love to my work. I enjoy preparing natural and healthy meals for young children. It makes me very happy when I see children enjoy my food and ask for more.
I always do my job with honesty and respect for ingredients. My goal is to make sure every meal I cook brings health and a little moment of happiness to the children.
Freshly prepared food is part of the day at Doncaster, with meals made on site in our in-house kitchen. Our centre chef, Amber, brings experience in Chinese and Western cooking, baking and food service to her work with children.
For Amber, cooking is a way to care for people, shaped by memories of the meals her mother made for their family. That personal connection to food sits alongside care for ingredients and the pleasure of sharing a meal.
Read about nutrition at Little Lane and speak with the team about the current menu and your child’s dietary requirements.
team
A word from the Centre Manager
My name is Tina, and it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Little Lane Montessori Children’s House – Doncaster.
With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education and leadership in Singapore, I feel incredibly fortunate to do what I love every day, supporting young children as they grow, learn and discover the world around them. I hold a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and have been deeply inspired by the Montessori philosophy, which continues to guide my approach to teaching and leadership.
At Little Lane Montessori Children’s House Doncaster, the Montessori approach is at the heart of everything we do. We embrace a child-centred philosophy that encourages independence, hands-on learning and respect for each child’s unique pace of development. We believe children learn best when they are given the freedom to explore, discover, and grow in a thoughtfully prepared environment that fosters curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of learning. As Dr. Maria Montessori beautifully said, “The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”
We want every child to feel safe, valued and inspired, and every family to feel a true sense of belonging within our community. Building strong, meaningful and trusting relationships with families, educators and our wider community is so important to me, as we work together to support each child’s journey.
I feel honoured to be part of these early years in your child’s life and look forward to welcoming your family into our centre.
Warm regards,
Tina Francis
FAQs
Can we visit the centre before enrolling?
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.
How do fees and Child Care Subsidy work?
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.
How do you keep families connected with their child’s day?
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.
How does enrolment work at Doncaster?
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.
How does Montessori learning work at Doncaster?
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.
How does Montessori support the transition to school?
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.
What are the Infant Community and Cycle 1 programs?
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.
What are your opening hours?
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.
What food will my child enjoy at Doncaster?
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.
What if my preferred days are not available?
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.
What information helps you plan a place for my child?
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.
What makes Little Lane Doncaster’s approach distinctive?
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.
What should I know about arrival, collection and safety?
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.
Who leads the Doncaster centre?
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.
Enquire about Little Lane Montessori Doncaster
We’d love to hear about your little learner. Tell us their interests, the days you’re considering and when you’d like to start. Arrange a tour, discuss the program or get current information about fees and availability from our Doncaster team.

