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Birches Early Learning Centre Bunyip

Welcome to Birches at Bunyip, a premium family-owned and operated childcare centre and kindergarten. Nestled in the picturesque heart of Bunyip, our bespoke facility is designed to provide an exceptional early learning experience for children in the district.

At Birches, we pride ourselves on offering a state-of-the-art learning environment that is both beautiful and inviting. Our centre is bathed in natural light, creating a warm, vibrant atmosphere where children can explore, learn, and grow. We have carefully crafted our space to be organic and homely, ensuring that children feel comfortable and secure while they engage in their educational journey.

We believe that learning extends beyond the four walls of our centre. That’s why we offer regular incursions and excursions, providing our children with enriching experiences that broaden their horizons. Whether it’s welcoming special guests to our centre or venturing into the community for educational field trips, these opportunities help our children develop a well-rounded perspective of the world around them.

One of our proudest features is our long-standing staff. Our dedicated team of educators has been with us for many years, creating a stable and nurturing environment for the children in our care. Their expertise, passion, and commitment to early childhood education ensure that every child receives the attention and support they need to thrive.

Being family-owned and operated is at the core of our values. We understand the importance of family and strive to create a community where everyone feels like an extended family member. Our close-knit environment allows us to build strong partnerships with families, promoting open communication and collaboration. We value the trust that families place in us and work hard to create a nurturing and supportive environment for every child.

At Birches at Bunyip, we are dedicated to providing a holistic and enriching early learning experience. We invite you to join our family and embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and endless possibilities. Experience the difference at Birches at Bunyip, where education, care, and family values come together to create an exceptional foundation for your child’s future.

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Centre Highlights

Nappies Supplied
Parent Engagement App
Sports Programs
Music Programs
Cooking Classes
Qualified Educators
Meals Provided
Community Connection
Incursions / Excursions
STEM Program
Our Philosophy

At Birches Early Learning Centre, we strive to elevate the standard of early education, and our dedicated team works tirelessly to provide high-quality care and education to every child, every day. We adopt the widely respected Reggio Emilia approach to learning, which emphasizes enquiry and play-based learning experiences in natural and responsive environments. Our educational philosophies are anchored on this approach to provide an engaging and stimulating learning experience for children.

Our learning programs are designed to be flexible and emergent in nature, and they are guided by the interests and needs of the children. We are committed to reflective practices, which enable us to continually improve and refine our programs to ensure that they are effective in fostering learning and development in children. At Birches Early Learning Centre, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life, and we are passionate about creating an environment that supports and nurtures their growth and development.

Regular documented learning is provided in the form of:
  • Daily Communication Book
  • Daily Reflection
  • Group and Individual Learning Stories
  • Group/wall displays
  • Regular management communiques
  • Parent and educator interviews
Qualified, Experienced and Dedicated Staff

At Birches Early Learning Centre, we recognize that our team of Early Childhood educators is one of our most valuable assets. We believe that we couldn’t achieve our goals or honour our philosophies without their knowledge, support and hard work. Our educators understand the importance of their role and are dedicated to ensuring that every child receives the best possible learning and developmental opportunities.

We take a team approach to ensure that the individual and collective needs of the children are met in a harmonious and friendly environment. By maintaining a consistent and professional team of staff, we facilitate continuity and familiarity for the children and their families.

Our team consists of highly qualified and experienced individuals who have been carefully selected through a rigorous recruitment process. All our team members hold the required certifications, including:

  • Working With Children Check
  • First Aid
  • CPR
  • Emergency Anaphylaxis Management and EpiPen administration
  • Emergency Asthma Management
  • Food Handling and/or Food Supervisor Certificate

We are committed to ensuring that our team remains at the forefront of their profession through regular professional development, mentoring, and first aid training. Additionally, all our team members hold (or are actively working towards) an early childhood qualification.

At Birches Early Learning Centre, we maintain educator-to-child ratios that adhere to the required ratios to ensure high-quality care and supervision. We proudly offer a team that provides minimum staff turnover and maximum fun for the children. We proudly offer a team that provides minimum staff turnover and maximum fun for the children.

Meet the Centre Manager

My name is Kylie Fletcher and I am the centre manager at Birches early learning in Bunyip.

I have been in the early childhood sector for over 16 years and have been managing early childhood services for over 9 years.

Throughout my time in the sector, I have developed a passion for creating environments that support and nourish children’s development to give them the best possible start to their early childhood journey.

I am passionate about ensuring my service has a strong sense of community and believe that building positive and trusting relationships is vital to achieving this, together with families and the community we can work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcome for each child.

Bunyip has such a strong community feel and I really enjoy connecting our centre with the local community.

We welcome you to come and see what our amazing service has to offer and we look forward to meeting you and your family.

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Have You Estimated Your CCS?

The Child Care Subsidy has made child care more affordable, flexible and accessible to Australian families. Use our free Child Care Subsidy Estimator Calculator to calculate how much subsidised care you could be eligible to receive.

31 High Street,
Bunyip 3815

(03) 7036 0330
bunyip@bircheselc.com.au
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Our Locations

Birches Early Learning Centres – FAQ

We welcome children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age. Our rooms are grouped to suit each stage of development from our nursery through to our funded kindergarten program.

Our centres are open Monday to Friday, typically from 6:30am to 6:30pm (hours may vary slightly by location). We’re open all year round, except on public holidays.

Your daily fee includes:

  • All meals and snacks, freshly prepared on-site
  • Nappies, wipes, sunscreen, bedding and a hat on enrolment
  • A full educational program aligned with the EYLF to help support your child’s growth and development at every stage. Our approach helps nurture essential milestones, including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills.
  • Incursions, excursions, music and movement sessions, sports sessions, STEM program, and a school readiness program
  • Daily updates and photos through our parent communication app

Fees vary based on your child’s age, centre location, and days booked. Most families are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Contact your local Birches centre for a personalised quote or try our online CCS calculator.

No! We provide all nutritious meals and snacks, as well as nappies, wipes and bedding. You only need to pack a change of clothes, water bottle, and any personal comfort items your child may need (like a dummy).

Start by contacting your nearest Birches centre or submitting a waitlist application online. We encourage families to book a tour, meet the team, and see the centre before enroling. Our Centre Directors will then guide you through the enrolment process step-by-step.

Yes. Our three and four-year-old kindergarten programs are delivered by Bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teachers and are funded under the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder initiative. Kinder is integrated into the long day care routine, giving you both education and flexibility.

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a federal government payment that helps reduce your out-of-pocket childcare fees. It’s calculated based on your family’s income, activity level, and the number of hours of care you use. You apply for the CCS through your MyGov/Centrelink account. Once approved, Birches applies the subsidy directly to your fees. To get a personalised quote and find out exactly how much you’ll pay each day, contact your local Birches team – we’re happy to help!

Yes. fees still apply for booked days, including public holidays and absence due to illness or holidays. CCS covers up to 42 absence days per year (without needing a medical certificate), and some centres may offer make-up days if available.

All educators at Birches Early Learning hold approved Early Childhood Education qualifications, including Certificate III, Diploma, or Bachelor’s degrees. In addition to their formal training, our educators are certified in First Aid, CPR, Asthma, and Anaphylaxis management. They also complete training in Child Protection, Safe Sleep practices, Diabetes, and Food Allergy awareness. This ensures they are fully prepared to support children’s health, safety, and well-being every day. We meet or exceed all required educator-to-child ratios across our centres.

Absolutely. We encourage all families to book a tour so you can explore the centre, meet the educators, and see if Birches is the right fit for your family.

We use a secure parent app to share daily updates, photos, meal and nap times, and learning activities. You’re always welcome to drop in, call or speak with your child’s educators at drop-off or pick-up if you have any questions.

We work closely with families to support any medical needs. We follow individual health or allergy action plans, and all staff are trained in managing asthma, anaphylaxis, and administering medication safely.

Each day includes:

  • Indoor and outdoor play
  • Group learning experiences
  • Meal and rest times
  • STEM Program
  • Music, art, sport, cooking classes a,nd story time
  • For older children, a school readiness program to get them ready for school

Our kinder runs within long day care, meaning your child can attend full days with a qualified teacher, all year round. Unlike sessional kinders that may only run short hours and close for holidays, our program offers 15 government-funded hours per week, plus extended hours and meals – perfect for working families.