Childcare Mentone

Bayside Early Learning Centre is a family-owned and operated early learning centre that provides quality childcare and early childhood education in a warm, welcoming setting.

Conveniently located at 132 Collins Street, Mentone, our privately run independent childcare centre features dedicated baby, toddler and kindergarten rooms. We are just minutes from Mentone Station, and operate Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, 52 weeks a year.

Our nurturing environment is designed to help every child feel safe, valued and confident. Through meaningful relationships, engaging educators and play-based learning, we support children throughout their early years while working closely with families.

Our Mentone Early Learning Centre

132 Collins Street, Mentone VIC 3194
PH 03 8524 4415

Enquire Now

Book A Tour

Our Mentone childcare centre offers:

Two dedicated rooms for babies and toddlers, thoughtfully designed for comfort, exploration and early learning.
Engaging Pre-Kinder and Kindergarten rooms where children learn through a balance of intentional teaching and play-based experiences.

Our homely centre is filled with natural light and has secure entry. It also offers inviting indoor and outdoor learning spaces which encourage children to explore, discover and grow with confidence.

As a bonus, we are located within easy walking distance of Mentone Station. This means you can conveniently drop off and pick up your child from work.

Now enrolling for selected age groups. Contact our friendly team to discuss current availability.

Babies & Toddlers

At our Mentone Centre, we provide a nurturing, loving and home-like environment where your kindergarten baby or toddler feels safe, supported and cherished. Our approach is grounded in attachment theory. This means your child’s emotional wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.

A Safe, Calm & Caring Environment

Our nursery and toddler rooms provide a supportive environment where children feel secure and confident. Daily routines such as feeding, rest and care are treated as valuable opportunities to build trust and connection.

We work closely with families to maintain familiar routines. We also provide nutritious meals and snacks that support their healthy growth.

Respectful, Individualised Care

We know that every child develops differently. That is why our educators tailor each day's experiences to individual routines, interests, and developmental stages, to create a positive and supportive learning experience for each of them.

Play-Based Early Childhood Education

Our babies and toddlers learn through rich, play-based experiences designed specifically for their stage of development. This includes:

Sensory play
Music
Movement
Outdoor exploration
Creative activities
Stimulating learning activities
Early communication experiences

Collectively, they help to stimulate curiosity and support physical, social and emotional growth. Educators extend learning by following each child’s cues, interests and emerging abilities.

Partnership With Families

We believe that strong, respectful partnerships with families create the best outcomes for children. We listen, communicate openly and collaborate with you to support your child’s needs. Together, we work to build a smooth, happy and confident start to early learning. You can learn more about our approach to care for babies and toddlers here.

Mentone Childcare Kindergarten & Pre-Kinder Program

Our Reggio Emilia-inspired kindergarten program combines intentional teaching with child-led exploration. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework and our educational philosophy, we create very positive experiences that encourage children's confidence, creativity and independence.

Children participate in language and literacy, STEM, creative arts, outdoor learning and collaborative projects. All of which build their problem-solving skills and confidence. We carefully observe each child's interests and strengths while supporting the five EYLF learning outcomes.

As children prepare for school, we focus on developing the social, emotional and learning skills needed for a confident transition into local schools. This includes Mentone Primary School and other nearby primary schools.

School Readiness

Our Kindergarten program helps children build the confidence, independence and resilience they need to enjoy a successful start to school. They are run by qualified educators who encourage communication, early numeracy, literacy, problem-solving and emotional regulation through engaging, play-based experiences.

If you would like information about funded kindergarten options or enrolment, please contact our team today.

Nutritious Meals Made Fresh

We believe that healthy food plays an important role in children's learning and wellbeing. That's why we provide our children with nutritious meals cooked fresh every day as well as morning tea and snacks.

We also accommodate allergies, cultural requirements and dietary needs to ensure that every child enjoys healthy meals that support their development.

Enrichment Programs & Experiences

At Bayside Early Learning Centre, our kindy kids benefit from a variety of wonderful experiences throughout the year. They include:

Nature and vegetable garden
Outdoor play on a great covered decking area
Movement, yoga or music classes
Creative arts and sensory learning
Gardening and sustainability activities

All of these activities are run by our fantastic staff in a safe environment that focuses on fun and your child's well-being.

Meet Our Mentone Educators

As you might pick up from our Google reviews, our experienced and qualified educators genuinely care about every child and family. Together, their gentle approach creates a nurturing environment where children feel secure, respected and encouraged to reach their potential.

Our team regularly participates in professional learning. This helps to ensure our practices continue to reflect the National Quality Standard and the seven quality areas that underpin quality early childhood education.