Childcare & Early Learning
Compare local childcare & early learning and book online in seconds.
Childcare and early learning services, including long day care, family day care, kindergarten and preschool programs, and outside school hours care, are among the most regulated services in Australia. Providers operate under the National Quality Framework, are assessed against the National Quality Standard by the state regulator, and employ educators with approved qualifications and Working with Children Checks.
OneBookPlus helps you go from shortlist to enrolled. Compare local centres, read reviews from other families, and book tours at times that fit work. Waitlist enquiries, orientation visits and follow-ups sit in one place with reminders, so finding care does not depend on phone calls returned during nap time.
Childcare & Early Learning
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List your business, freeHow to choose a good Childcare Centre
- Check the service's National Quality Standard rating, from Working Towards through Meeting to Exceeding, on the ACECQA national register.
- Visit in person and watch how educators interact with children, not just how the rooms look.
- Ask about educator-to-child ratios and qualifications, which are set nationally and vary by age group.
- Ask about staff turnover, since consistent educators matter more to young children than new equipment.
- Confirm fees, what they include, and your estimated out-of-pocket cost after the Child Care Subsidy.
- Check practical fit: hours, holiday closures, waitlist timing, meals, nappies and how illness is handled.
Questions to ask before you book
Frequently asked questions
How is childcare regulated in Australia?
Approved services operate under the National Quality Framework, overseen nationally by ACECQA and enforced by each state or territory regulator. Services are assessed against the National Quality Standard across seven areas, including educational program, safety, staffing and leadership, and receive a public rating. Educators must hold approved qualifications and a Working with Children Check.
What do the National Quality Standard ratings mean?
Services are rated Exceeding, Meeting, Working Towards, or in rare cases Significant Improvement Required, with an Excellent rating available by application. Working Towards is common and not automatically alarming, but ask what is being improved. Ratings can be several years old, so treat them as one signal alongside your own visit and current staff.
What are the educator-to-child ratios?
National minimums are one educator to four children under 24 months, one to five for ages two to three, and one to ten or eleven for preschool ages depending on the state. Some states set stricter numbers for particular ages. Ask each service how its rooms are staffed in practice, including during lunch breaks.
