Frequently Asked Questions

Enrolling is easy. Start by registering your child's details on our Register Now page.

We also encourage you to book a tour so you can visit the centre and meet our team in person. If you have any questions along the way, call us on 1300 216 208. We look forward to welcoming your family.

Yes. You can book a tour online or call us on 1300 216 208.

Yes. Families frequently request places at Maples, so we recommend registering your child's details on our waitlist if Maples interests you. There is no commitment when you register, and it keeps your child in line for a place.

If you would prefer to speak with a team member, call us on 1300 216 208.

Maples Early Learning welcomes children from six weeks old to school age, with programs tailored to babies, toddlers and kinder-aged children. Each stage supports age-appropriate learning and development in a safe, nurturing environment, with a strong focus on school readiness.

Hawthorn East is open from 7.00am to 6.30pm.

Kilmore is open from 6.30am to 6.30pm.

Yes. We are open 52 weeks a year and closed only on national and Victorian public holidays.

Yes. Both Kilmore and Hawthorn East have on-site parking for families. At Hawthorn East, you can enter from Toorak Road, or from Tooronga Road via the laneway next to Liberty Oil.

Our daily fees are $161.50 at Kilmore and $187.50 at Hawthorn East. Fees are subject to change.

We are an approved provider for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS), so eligible families receive their subsidy as a reduction on their fees. For ACCS, please speak with your Centre Director.

Your CCS depends on your family income and the number of children you have in care. Since 5 January 2026, the activity test no longer applies, and every eligible family can access at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Use our CCS calculator to estimate what you could pay.

Yes. We offer four weeks of 50% holiday discount per financial year. Please see the terms and conditions in our service fee policy for more information.

Yes. Full fees, less any Child Care Subsidy, are charged for permanent bookings that fall on a public holiday. In return, we offer a free make-up day, which can be used within 12 months. For full-time children, the public holiday is charged at a 50% discount.

Yes. All meals are prepared by our in-house chef and are included in the daily fee.

Our menu is endorsed by Nutrition Australia and includes breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack. We also offer take-home dinners for families. Please speak to your Centre Director if you would like to register for take-home dinners.

Our curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), both of which place the child at the centre of the learning journey.

We foster curiosity, creativity and independence by creating rich, engaging environments that invite exploration and collaboration. Educators observe and respond to each child's interests, using them as the foundation for meaningful experiences that support cognitive, emotional and social development.

Through this play-based, inquiry-driven approach, we nurture a lifelong love of learning and encourage children to express themselves in many different ways. Read more about our curriculum.

Yes. We offer separate Three- and Four-Year-Old Kinder programs, and we pass the Free Kinder subsidy on to family accounts each fortnight.

Families who choose Maples as their funded provider receive subsidies of up to $2,101 for 15 hours a week. Our Kinder program is taught by Bachelor-qualified teachers, assisted by Diploma-qualified educators. Funded children also take part in our Pre-Prep program, taught by a primary-trained teacher, to further build their readiness for school. Learn more about Kinder and Pre-Prep.

We support children with additional needs through a tailored, inclusive approach that respects each child's unique abilities. Our educators work closely with families, specialists and allied health professionals to develop individual learning plans built on each child's strengths and goals.

We adapt our environments and teaching strategies to ensure accessibility, using sensory-friendly materials, visual aids and flexible routines. Open communication with families is central, and we regularly consult with therapists and support services for continuity and consistency.

By fostering a nurturing, inclusive setting, we empower every child to thrive, participate fully and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

We use the OWNA platform (the Maples app) for bookings, accounts and curriculum updates, giving families real-time access to important information in one place.

Our team connects with families every day through face-to-face chats, phone calls and messages in the app. We keep an open-door policy, welcome feedback, and use it to keep improving the care and education we provide.

We manage allergies and special dietary needs with great care, using detailed checklists, visual displays and thorough team training.

Every team member follows step-by-step processes for safe food handling, preventing cross-contamination and meeting medical, allergy-related and cultural dietary requirements. For any child with a special requirement, we sit down with the family to develop a personalised Risk Minimisation and Communication Plan, so everyone understands and protects the child's needs.

We uphold high standards of safety and hygiene through thorough daily cleaning, regular spot checks by management, and support from professional external cleaners.

Our practices follow the Staying Healthy in Child Care guidelines for hygiene and infection control. To protect everyone's health, children who are unwell are excluded until they have fully recovered.

All children must be immunised in line with Victoria's No Jab No Play legislation, and we check immunisation records at enrolment. For more information, please speak with our team on 1300 216 208.

Children's safety and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do. Our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety is supported by comprehensive policies, including Reportable Conduct, Child Protection and Child Safe Environments, which guide our daily practice and how we respond to concerns.

All our team have completed Victoria's mandatory reporting training and complete the national child safety training through Geccko. CCTV operates in all classrooms and outdoor spaces (never in bathrooms), with footage accessible only to the approved provider and, when needed, the Department of Education or police.

Read more about child safety at Maples.

Your first point of contact is your Centre Director, who will work with you to resolve any concern.

If your concern is not resolved, please contact our owners, Samantha and Jarrod Macdonald, at enquiries@maplesearlylearning.com.au or on 1300 216 208.

For anything urgent, you are always welcome to speak directly with our owners, Jarrod and Sami.