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Goodstart Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street

Goodstart Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street

Small, top-rated centre with highly qualified team

Early learning and care for our local community’s children.

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4-6 Arcadia Street, CARRUM DOWNS, 3201, VIC

6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday
Open every weekday of the year, except public holidays

Nursery, Toddler, Kindergarten

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Welcome to Goodstart Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street!

We’re your local long day care centre and kindergarten, built on Bunurong land.

Ours is an Exceeding-rated, homely service for 56 children across three age-based rooms. We have a serene nursery for babies, a toddler space, and classroom for three- and four-year-old kindergarten with renovated outdoor yard.

Take a tour; we’d love to show you around. We’re near a quiet residential area near Skye and Frankston North. You’ll find us on Arcadia Street, just a short walk from the primary school on Ballarto Road, close to Seaford Train Station.

Some of what makes our early learning centre special:

Walking distance to Skye Primary School and close to public transport
Exceeding rating from the regulator ACECQA – we’re above the standard
Healthy room-to-room connections, making room transition easier for children
Multicultural educators who speak Mandarin, Hindi, Punjabi, Sinhalese, and Tamil
Highly qualified team: four teachers with degrees and many educators with diplomas
Government-funded and approved play-based kindergarten program

Discover why families love our inclusive community and highly qualified staff. Our dedicated educators ensure each child’s program is individually paced, educationally and developmentally appropriate - and fun!

We focus on play-based learning for children to learn skills for school and life. We believe in open communication and fostering strong bonds with families, so we’re always aligned, and you know how your little one is getting on.

Most of our team is longstanding and experienced, with five to 20 years at Goodstart, and they always remain up to date with best practices and training. You can meet them during your tour.

Our staff come from diverse backgrounds, which helps our community’s bilingual families feel at home while enriching the cultural and language experience of all children.

We foster healthy connections between learning spaces, making it easier for the children to move to the next room.

As part of our enriching programming, we plan incursions and excursions for all ages, such as visits from occupational therapists and a local children’s dentist, weekly walks to the park and celebration events. Most of all, we’re about family and community.

Discover the difference at Goodstart Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street.

Learn more about Goodstart Carrum Downs – Arcadia Street

At Goodstart Carrum Downs – Arcadia Street, our philosophy centres around the belief that every child is a unique individual with their own interests and strengths. We embrace a play-based learning approach that nurtures curiosity and creativity, allowing children to explore their world in meaningful ways. 
We prioritise: 
1. Holistic Development: Supporting cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth through engaging and developmentally appropriate activities. 
2. Family and Community Engagement: Building strong partnerships with families and the community to create a supportive network for each child. 
3. Inclusive Environment: Celebrating diversity and ensuring that all children feel valued, respected, and included. 
4. Lifelong Learning: Instilling a love of learning by encouraging exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. 
Through our philosophy, we aim to create a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive and become confident, capable learners. 
Children need to feel safe and supported to learn and grow, so we promote key educator relationships between our educators and children. Your child will have at least one educator (their key educator) who takes them under their wing and really gets to know them. 
Our Key Educator relationships help children form secure attachments. Educators work closely with smaller groups and individual children to better understand each child. These relationships lead to improved outcomes for children as we foster more communication between families and educators. 
We inform families regularly about their child's progress and welcome family involvement in our centre events and activities.  
At Goodstart Carrum Downs – Arcadia Street centre, we're proud to inspire your child's love of learning with the support of our passionate and qualified early childhood experts. Teachers with bachelor's degrees run our three and four-year-old kindergarten program, so children can be well on their way to excellent learning outcomes by the time they start school. 
At Goodstart, we believe all children deserve the best possible start in life, which includes access to high-quality early childhood education and care. We offer:  
- Discounts on multiple days 
- All day sessions  
- Discounted shorter sessions  
- Fee assistance programs for families that need support
We work closely with parents to ensure the individual needs, interests and strengths of children are considered, and our learning goals reflect them. Using Storypark, a wonderful communication platform, we stay in close touch with families and ensure you're well informed about your child's development and achievements. 
Click here to book your tour or call our Family Services team to find out more on 1800 222 543.

Family testimonials

We couldn't be happier with our daughter's experience in the toddler room. The team here provides truly outstanding care; we feel complete trust leaving her each day. It's wonderful to witness her blossoming curiosity and social skills. She arrives home happy and content, a clear sign of how much she enjoys her time. We've seen such positive growth in her development, and it's clear she's getting a fantastic start here.

Lauren

Goodstart is a wonderful place. The staff are caring, passionate, and truly committed. The chef makes delicious meals - my kids actually enjoy them! A special shoutout to Aman and Sally in the baby room - they’re exceptional. Thank you for your warmth, the enriching learning experiences, and the regular updates. We’re so grateful for the happy, supportive environment where our children can grow and explore with confidence.

Stacey

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When every moment counts, make them Goodstart moments.

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Hi, I’m Vanessa Martel and I’m the Centre Director here at Goodstart Arcadia Street in Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street.

I hold a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and am currently studying towards my Graduate Diploma. My journey in early childhood education has spanned over 10 wonderful years with Goodstart, where I have had the privilege to work alongside dedicated Educators, support families, and watch so many children grow and thrive.

My Early Learning values:
I believe that every child deserves a nurturing, inclusive, and inspiring environment where they feel safe, valued, and free to explore. These precious early years are the foundation for lifelong learning, and I am passionate about creating opportunities that spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster a genuine love for learning.

What I love about our community:
Our community is full of warmth, connection, and support. The relationships we build with families, children, and the local community create a real sense of belonging. Whether it's celebrating special events, partnering with local groups, or simply sharing daily conversations, it's the people that make our centre so special.

A little more about me:
Outside of work, I enjoy going to the gym, spending time with my family, and travelling. I love exploring the world, experiencing different cultures, and trying new cuisines. Every new experience adds to my passion for learning and discovery.

Why your child should spend the day with me and our amazing team at Goodstart Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street:
At Goodstart Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street, we provide a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where children are encouraged to explore, grow, and learn at their own pace. Our dedicated team works in partnership with families to ensure each child's unique needs are met, helping them to develop a strong sense of confidence, belonging, and joy in learning.

Children learn best when they feel safe, loved, and inspired, and that's exactly what we strive for every single day.

I look forward to welcoming you and your family to our Goodstart community!

Government Funded Kindergarten Program

At Carrum Downs - Arcadia Street, you and your child can enjoy the best of both worlds. Our early learning centre offers a Government-funded kindergarten program and long day care under the one roof. Our kindergarten teachers are University qualified and provide a play-based learning program that will support your child in learning the skills for school and life.