About

  • We hold the children and their families at the centre of all that we do. That’s why we maintain low child to educator ratios and recruit and retain the best staff.

    Being a not-for-profit organisation means that all fees go back into enhancing the centre and the children’s learning and play experience.

  • The Avenue Children’s Centre and Kindergarten is a community-run, not-for-profit, early childhood centre in Balaclava.

    Operating since 1975, The Avenue combines early education and long day care. Our centre offers 40 daily day care places for children aged from six weeks to school age, including:

    • 20 funded kindergarten places (3-5 years)
    • 12 toddler places (2-3 years)
    • 8 baby places (0-2 years)

    Our centre is managed by a board of parents and programs are run by a dedicated team of qualified, experienced and enthusiastic educators. Low staff turnover and familiar faces
    ensure that programs and activities are delivered by a team of educators that pride themselves on delivering consistent and continuous education and care.

  • Our fees

    The Avenue is proud of the quality of care and education that we provide our children. Our children to staff ratios are some of the lowest in the area and we strive to pay our experienced and committed educators above award rates. Our centre has a growing waitlist, which is a testament to the quality education and care we provide our children. As a community-run, not-for-profit early learning centre we are one of the most affordable in the area.

    Our daily fee of $155 includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack, as well as incursions and excursions. Parents provide nappies and infant formula.

    • Hours of Operation

      We are open from 7.30am – 6.00pm
      Monday to Friday

    • Annual Closures

      The Avenue is closed for two weeks over Christmas, plus one non-contact day after Christmas holidays to prepare the children’s rooms and program for the new year.

    • Holidays

      The Avenue is closed for all Victorian State Government approved Public Holidays. Families are charged for these days.

    • Staff Development

      As part of our ongoing commitment to our team’s professional development, we allocate two non-contact days throughout the year to allow for staff training. These days are decided upon at the beginning of each year, and families are informed well in advance. Families are not charged for these days.