Marino Early Learners

Small by design. Big on Belonging.

Most childcare centres measure success by capacity. We measure it differently — by how well we know each child.

With just 39 places, our educators build genuine relationships with every child in their care. They know how your child learns, what brings out their confidence, what makes them anxious, and what they’re excited about this week. That depth of knowing shapes everything — how we respond, how we plan, how we support.

That kind of individual attention isn’t possible at a large centre. But it’s what happens here, every day.

What families tell us, again and again:

“I would describe MEL as a gem in our community. The staff genuinely care, support and nurture children — they got to know my daughter very well, and always took an interest in our family.” — Alison M.

Children here don’t just feel cared for — they flourish.

Our families tell us their children wake up excited to come in. They watch their shy child find their voice. Their cautious child grow bold in the outdoor space. Their quiet child make a best friend.

This isn’t accidental. It happens because our educators take the time to truly understand each child — their interests, their pace, their needs — and build learning around them.

When your child leaves us for school, they leave curious, capable, and genuinely ready.

A few of the things families love most:

Our large, natural outdoor play space. Our child-led curriculum. Our multicultural and inclusive approach. The learning portfolios that document each child’s journey. The relationships that last beyond the centre.

Room to move. Room to grow.

Our large natural outdoor play space is the heart of our centre. No artificial turf. No muted-colour Scandi play structures. Just a genuine, inviting environment where children dig, explore, build, and discover — the way children are meant to learn.

There’s even a glimpse of the ocean from here. It’s that kind of place.

See our natural play area

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 35 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Alana Douglas 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our daughter started here at 11 months and it’s been over a year and we couldn’t be happier. The staff are fantastic and so lovely it’s made the experience all the more enjoyable. My daughter happily walks in on her own to see her friends and the staff. Communication is great, the community is great and most importantly the staff truly care about the kids and their education.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Vero Bayam 
 
 
 
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We have had such a wonderful experience with Marino Early Learners. My two toddlers have been attending since 2024, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the care and support they have received.

It is a safe and nurturing learning environment, and the educators are always so friendly, helpful, and genuinely caring. They take the time to support each child’s development and make learning fun and engaging.

As a parent, it brings so much peace of mind knowing my little ones are in such good hands. I highly recommend MEL to any parent looking to enrol their children into a loving and supportive early learning centre.

Thank you to the amazing team for all that you do 💛

Veronica
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Susanna Whitmarsh 
 
 
 
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my daughter attended Marino Early Learners for 2 years and she had an overall positive experience there – she made some great connections with peers and learned so much from the educators. The things that immediately attracted us to Marino Early Learners was the small, home-like environment, and large emphasis on outdoor/nature play. These are things that Marino Early Learners does very well. Another big plus is if you have children of different ages who both attend this centre, they will be able to spend time together and maintain their bond, whilst still having individual group times tailored to their own learning and developmental stages. Other things we came to love about Marino Early Learners was the quality of the education received there, the focus on multicultural awareness and the end of year celebrations.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Alison Massey 
 
 
 
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I cannot speak highly enough of Marino Early Learners.  We are so lucky to have this gem in our community!

The staff are exceptional!  They genuinely care, support and nurture children.  They got to know my daughter very well, and always took an interest in our family.
My daughter loved attending and would be rushing out the door to get there in the morning.... and sometimes was very reluctant to leave at the end of the day!

The environment has a homely feel to it and the outdoor space is very inviting.  I used to feel jealous leaving my daughter in the garden in the mornings when I had to go to work and be inside all day!

My daughter has built strong friendships there and we have got to know other families well too.  Her confidence has really grown during her time there.
The education program is impressive and each terms' learning project is centered, and evolves, around the interests of the children.  I have been amazed at some of the things my daughter has learnt there - eg. learning songs in mandarin, indigenous culture, naming states/territories, learning how to tie.  Families are always invited to be as involved as they want in the learning.  When she finished, we were presented with folders which documented her learning portfolio during her years there and this is a really lovely keepsake to have.

We really appreciate all the staff do and will miss MEL.... until our youngest is old enough to attend!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Jana Kromkamp 
 
 
 
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Marino Early Learners Childcare Centre has been an incredible place for my child’s early development. The centre offers a warm, homely environment where every child feels safe and valued. The centre has excellent educator-to-child ratios, which are higher than many other centres. This means each child receives more individual attention and support.

The outdoor space is large and inviting, giving children plenty of opportunities to explore, play, and connect with nature. The educators are truly exceptional—they are caring, inclusive, and deeply committed to understanding and supporting each child’s unique needs. They follow the interests of the children, creating engaging learning experiences that foster curiosity and confidence.

They have an inclusive approach and partner with families on how to best support children. The educators provide guidance and support not only for the children but also for parents, making the transition to school smooth and stress-free. Thanks to their dedication, my child is well-prepared and excited to start school next year.

I highly recommend Marino Early Learners to any family looking for a nurturing, supportive, and enriching childcare environment.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Wendy Wang 
 
 
 
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We are so grateful for the care our daughter received at this centre. When she first started, she couldn’t speak any English at all, but the educators supported her with so much patience and kindness.

Over the months, we watched her grow in confidence, start using English, and truly enjoy coming to the centre every day.

The team is warm, professional, and genuinely cares about each child. As a family new to Australia, we felt very welcomed and supported.

We couldn’t be happier with our experience and highly recommend this wonderful centre.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Luke Atkinson-Copley 
 
 
 
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The team at Marino early learners are amazing. Exceptionally welcoming, caring and supportive. Our son is thriving thanks to the educators and all the staff at the centre.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Renee B 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Edited to add: Our son started school this year (2025) and he was so beautifully prepared, thanks in part to the team at MEL.
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Any reservations I had about starting our almost-3-year-old in childcare were quickly put to rest when he started at MEL.

The educators clearly care about and form bonds with the kids in their care. The centre has a lower than usual staff to child ratio, which was one of the major draw cards for us. It has a homely feel inside and a beautiful big and natural outdoor space for play (none of this muted colour palate, Scandi, fake grass bizzo)!

Our son has been attending for a year and a half now and recently asked to go for another day because he loves it so much! He has truly flourished in his time at MEL; so impressed are we by the care he receives there that we've decided he'll attend his kindy year there, too.

We cannot thank the staff at MEL enough for all they do. As a parent, it means the world to know my child is in safe and loving hands when he's not with me.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Kristie Johnstone 
 
 
 
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My son attended Marino Early Learners for a year leading up to starting primary school. His experience there was amazing. He started at Marino after 4 different childcare centres and within that year he gained confidence, made freinds and learned so much. I can't thank Jie, Tracey and all of the wonderful educators enough. I would recommend Marino Early Learners to every parent and if you have a shy child, they will thrive 😊
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Wijith Pathiranage 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We are truly grateful for the care and support provided by Marino Early Learners Childcare Centre. From the very beginning, Director Jie and all the staff have been incredibly helpful, kind, and attentive to our daughter’s needs. She genuinely enjoys every day she spends at the centre, and we’ve seen remarkable growth in her confidence, social skills, and development.

Whenever we faced challenges, whether related to her behavior or development, the educators were always there with the right guidance and support. Their advice has made a real difference in our parenting journey, and we always felt like we were not alone.

What means the most to us is how happily our daughter talks about the educators—it's clear how much she feels loved and valued there.

We highly recommend Marino Early Learners to any parent looking for a nurturing and supportive environment. Just visit the centre and have a chat with Jie—you’ll quickly see why this place is so special. She truly has the answers and will guide you in the right direction. ❤️
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
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