Our Childcare Centre

Anne Sgro Children’s Centre was established as a work-related childcare service that caters for the needs of families who work, study or live in the city of Moreland.  It was initiated in 1976 by a group of migrant women in F.I.L.E.F. (Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and Families) who recognised the importance of quality childcare to working families. With trade union support, they began and maintained close contact with working women in Coburg, with the aim of establishing the first work related childcare Centre in Victoria. Further support and involvement came from Local and Federal Governments.

After eight years of determined struggle, extensive negotiations and communications with Government at various levels, the Centre was officially opened on the 13th April 1985 in a residential street close to the industrial area of North Coburg. It provided an important precedent in the development of childcare as a political and industrial responsibility.

The Centre building and property is owned by Moreland City Council and provides day care facilities for 50 children from 3 months to 6 years old. It is operated by a Management Committee, which can include staff, parents and representatives of local government, unions, local employers and community members.

The bright, attractive Centre, staffed by caring and skilled workers, offers quality childcare so that parents may leave their children with confidence and peace of mind.

To download our parent handbook, please click here. Please note that this file is 380KB in size and may take a minute to download.

Kindergarten Program

The Kinder program at Anne Sgro Children's Centre is a play-based program, based on emergent curriculum and the Early Years Learning Framework. Each child has activities and learning experiences planned for them, based on their interests and strengths and these activities are incorporated into the group curriculum.

The Early Years Learning Framework supports encouraging children's sense of identity, connections to their community, their sense of wellbeing, their learning skills and processes and the way in which children can communicate and represent their ideas and questions. We focus strongly on supporting your child as a confident and creative learner. The Kindergarten program is integrated with the long day care program, and both are delivered by a Bachelor of Education Kinder teacher, assisted by early childhood educators.

It is a 3 and 4 year old integrated kinder with funding for the 4 year old children. The 3 year old children benefit from access to a qualified kindergarten teacher for two years preceding school.

Hours of Operation

The Centre is open Monday to Friday between 7.00am to 6.00pm.

The Centre will be closed on Public Holidays and two weeks over the Christmas period.  Christmas closure dates vary slightly each year and parents will be notified in November of the dates for that year.

Centre Tours

Tours of the Centre by prospective parents are conducted on Wednesdays between the hours of 9-00am to 11-30am. Time will be made available for tour of the centre, any questions and/or concerns answered, waitlist forms and/or enrolment processes conducted during the tour.

Nutrition (Meals & Snacks)

• A 12-week cycle menu will reflect the cultural diversity of the families using the Centre and is on display on the notice board in the entry foyer, showing a variety of morning & afternoon teas, lunches and second courses.  Water and milk is provided to the children.
• High standards of nutrition will be maintained for all children’s meals.
• Agreements will be reached with parents regarding special dietary requirements or allergies, religious, cultural and medical issues of individual children.
• The Centre is classified as a “Class A” Food Premises as per the Food Act 1984 and is fully compliant with all aspects of the Act. The food and safety program is located in the foyer.  Please see the Centre Cook if you wish to discuss this.
• Each child receives morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Breakfast is served between 7.00am to 8.00am. Lunch times vary according to the children’s needs, however is generally served at 11.30am each day.  A late snack is also served between 5.30pm to 6.00pm for children who leave late.
• The Centre Cook is available from 8.00am to 1.00pm daily.  Feel free to discuss with the Cook any issues relating to meals.
• We are an egg, nut and MSG free centre.

To view a sample weekly menu, click here.

Grouping of Children

The children attending the Centre are grouped according to their ages. This break up is consistent with the method in which the National Accreditation principles are evaluated and allows for more efficient programming and planning.

When vacancies occur in either the Paddington Room or the Teddy and Friends Room, and if appropriate, children are moved up into the next age grouping.

To view details about enrolling your child at the Anne Sgro Children's Centre, please click here.

To view the location of our centre, click here.

To download our parent handbook, please click here.