Where Learning Is Always an Adventure: Niño Early Learning Adventures in Malvern East

Nestled opposite the iconic Chadstone Shopping Centre on Chadstone Road, Niño Early Learning Adventures Chadstone offers families in Malvern East and surrounding suburbs a light-filled, purpose-built early learning environment where every day feels like discovery. This spacious centre provides long day care and Victorian Government-funded kindergarten programmes for children from six weeks to six years, creating a warm, secure “home away from home” that supports busy working parents while nurturing the whole child.

Family-owned and operated, Niño Early Learning Adventures (often simply called Niño ELA) stands out for its thoughtful approach. Guided by Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework, the centre weaves together emergent learning and the science of positive psychology. The goal is clear: to help each child become brave, creative, resilient and kind. Educators work closely with families to create individual learning programmes that honour a child’s interests, routines, strengths and emerging independence.

A Thoughtfully Designed Space for Little Explorers

The Chadstone centre is architecturally designed with large, sun-drenched rooms that flow easily between indoor and outdoor learning spaces. Capacity sits at 158 children, allowing for age-appropriate environments while maintaining a sense of community. Underground parking makes drop-off and pick-up straightforward, and the location—minutes from East Malvern and Hughesdale stations with easy M1 access—suits families across the Stonnington and Monash areas.

Outdoors, children enjoy challenging yet inviting play spaces featuring swings, a large sandpit, cubby house, wooden climbing equipment, slides, trikes, water play and vegetable gardens. These areas encourage physical development, risk-taking in a safe setting, social skills and a genuine connection with nature. Shade and soft-fall surfaces support all-weather exploration.

Curriculum That Builds Confident, Curious Learners

Niño ELA’s programmes are carefully staged. In the nursery, a primary caregiving model helps babies form secure attachments with a key educator who works in partnership with families around sleep, feeding and routines. Toddlers move into the centre’s “Small Steps, Big Footprints” programme, which supports self-discovery, mastery and self-regulation during the important transition years.

Three- and four-year-old kindergarten programmes are led by bachelor-qualified teachers and diploma-qualified educators. They follow the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and draw inspiration from positive education principles (including elements developed with Geelong Grammar School’s Institute of Positive Education). Play-based learning sits at the heart, with intentional teaching that builds language, early literacy and numeracy, social-emotional skills, resilience and a love of learning ready for school.

Enhancement Programmes That Extend the Day

Beyond the core curriculum, children enjoy specialist experiences that broaden horizons. These typically include Spanish language classes, yoga and mindfulness, music, physical education and sports (including tennis), cooking experiences and sustainability activities. Regular incursions and community excursions further enrich the programme. Daily communication through the centre’s parent app keeps families connected with photos, observations and moments from their child’s day.

Nourishing Bodies and Minds

Nutrition is taken seriously. Fresh, seasonally influenced meals are prepared on-site daily and tailored for dietary needs. The menu includes family-style breakfast, morning tea, a cooked lunch and afternoon tea, with fresh fruit and water available throughout the day. Children participate in planting, harvesting and composting in the vegetable gardens, learning where food comes from and developing healthy habits for life. Olympic gold medallist and nutritionist Lauren Burns has collaborated with Niño ELA on its nutritional approach, reinforcing the “Healthy Food, Healthy Minds” philosophy.

A Centre That Feels Like Family

Parents consistently praise the warm, attentive educators, the variety of engaging activities, the quality of the food and the genuine sense of care. Many families stay for several years, watching siblings move through the rooms together. The centre meets the National Quality Standard and maintains a strong focus on child safety, relationships and continuous improvement.

Practical Details for Malvern East Families

• Address: 11–15 Chadstone Road, Malvern East VIC 3145
• Phone: (03) 9086 4800
• Email: chadstone@ninoela.com.au
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
• Ages: 6 weeks to 6 years
• Website: ninoela.com.au (find the Chadstone centre page under Locations)

Fees are competitive for the area (approximately $174–$181 per day before Child Care Subsidy). Inclusions typically cover meals, nappies, education programmes and many enhancement activities. Vacancies can change, so the best first step is to book a tour.

Whether you are returning to work after parental leave or seeking a high-quality kindergarten programme with the flexibility of long day care, Niño Early Learning Adventures Chadstone offers a compelling option right in the heart of Malvern East. Learning here truly is an adventure—one that builds confident, curious and kind little people ready for whatever comes next.