Childcare and kindergarten in Craigieburn, Victoria
Welcome to Pelican Childcare Fairways, a nurturing childcare and kindergarten centre in Craigieburn, proudly supporting families in Roxburgh Park, Somerton, Greenvale and beyond. As a smaller, 70-place day care centre, we offer a more personalised experience where every child is known, supported, and celebrated. Our age-specific rooms are thoughtfully designed to promote learning, independence and wellbeing, with inviting indoor and outdoor environments tailored to each stage of development. Children enjoy large sandpits, bike tracks, vegetable gardens, pirate ships, themed play areas, and engaging indoor spaces including art stations, sensory corners, digital learning zones and calm areas. Our dedicated team includes two registered Early Childhood Teachers and a diverse group of qualified educators who speak 14 languages. As a Government-funded kindergarten provider, we focus on school readiness through play-based learning, language development, and positive daily routines.
We enrich every child’s learning journey through a variety of programs, including Kindy Dancing, yoga, Zumba, cooking classes, and incursions like reptile shows and circus workshops. Excursions to the zoo, aquarium and Traffic School broaden children’s understanding of the world. With strong ties to our local library and community services, we help children build confidence, connection, and a love of learning from an early age.
Why you’ll love Pelican Childcare Fairways in Craigieburn
Spacious outdoor environments
Passionate, qualified educators
Nappies and wipes provided
Chef-prepared meals
Government-approved Kindergarten program
Individual learning plans
Local school connections
Family communication app
Extended/flexible hours
Allergy and anaphylaxis aware
Sun protection aware
Music and dancing
Meet our Centre Manager
Victorian Government–approved Kindergarten program
Our kindergarten programs are tailored to support your child’s individual learning journey across literacy, numeracy, social and emotional development, resilience, and self-regulation, equipping them with the skills they need for a smooth transition to school.
At our Craigieburn early learning centre, school readiness is about more than academic preparation. It’s about supporting the whole child. For children aged 3–5, we offer targeted programs including Wings to Fly, a guided learning framework that nurtures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth, and encourages independence and a love of learning. We also collaborate with allied health professionals, such as speech and occupational therapists, to provide onsite early intervention where needed. Our educators and teachers are also supported with Gowrie Australia programming resources to ensure our curriculum aligns with the EYLF and VEYLDF frameworks.
Our early learning centre proudly offers the Victorian Government-approved Kindergarten program, delivered by our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers. If your child is eligible, they can access up to 15 hours per week of funded kindergarten, 40 weeks per year, at no cost to you. Ask us how this can help reduce your out-of-pocket fees.
We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating
At our Craigieburn child care centre, we’re proud to have an experienced in-house chef who understands the nutritional needs of young children. Our chef holds a current Food Safety Supervisor Certificate, ensuring that all meals are prepared to the highest standards of health and safety.
We follow a nutritionally balanced 4-week rotating menu aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The menu is updated seasonally and includes breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack, all freshly prepared onsite. We cater to each child’s individual needs with allergy-safe, culturally respectful, and dietary-appropriate options. As part of our orientation, we ask families about their child’s eating habits at home, helping us personalise food offerings and ease fussy eaters into new routines. Each child also has a personalised placemat with their photo and dietary requirements, and we use colour-coded bowls to help manage allergies and anaphylaxis safely.
We believe mealtimes are more than just nourishment – they’re an opportunity to build healthy habits, encourage social interaction, and create positive food experiences that children will carry with them for life.
Inclusive support for every child
At our Craigieburn centre, we embrace each child’s individuality and take a personalised approach to learning. Our educators work closely with families to understand each child’s interests, strengths, and needs, creating a supportive environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. Through play-based learning and strong relationships, we help children grow in confidence, independence, and resilience at their own pace.
For children with additional needs or those learning English as an additional language, we provide tailored support through a Strategic Inclusion Plan. We use tools like visual aids, key word signing, and consistent routines, and when needed, we apply for additional educator funding to ensure every child can participate fully. Our multilingual team and strong family partnerships help build cultural understanding and ensure every child feels included and supported.
Fees
The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.
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Nursery0 – 2 years
$179.00 -
Toddler2 – 3 years
$179.00 -
Kindergarten3 – 5 years
$179.00
Child Care Subsidy Estimator
Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*
CCS Estimator results
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Total fees
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Estimated subsidy
$0.00 -
Kindergarten subsidy
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Out-of-pocket cost (what you pay)
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*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:
- Accuracy and currency of family income information entered.
- Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
- Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres).
- Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight).
- Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.
Kindergarten/Preschool subsidy is subject to State Government specific requirements including child age eligibility criteria and the delivery of the funded program by an Early Childhood Teacher on the day the subsidy is claimed by the family. Calculations herein are based on the assumption all eligibility criteria is met. Please contact your Centre Manager for detailed information.
For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.
Calculate my subsidyExplore nearby G8 Education centres
Looking for other great childcare, kindergarten or preschool options? Discover more G8 Education centres near you!
Frequently asked questions
A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.
On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.
Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.
We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.
Our Family Support Team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Pelican centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.
It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.
Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.
Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.
For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.
For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.
Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.
It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.
Pelican Childcare uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.
After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.
If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Pelican Childcare is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.
Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.
Contact us
We look forward to welcoming your family.