History of KRCCC

Knaith Road Child Care Centre (KRCCC) was established in 1985 to meet the growing demand for community based, quality child care. The building was funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments, and built by the City of Ringwood on Council land. In 2004, following a grant from the Commonwealth Government and with assistance from the Maroondah City Council, the centre was extended, incorporating a new children’s room, a sleep room and new staff facilities.

The City of Maroondah is the sponsor and has vested the day to day running of the centre to an Incorporated Association, made up of parents using the centre and interested community members.

KRCCC is registered as an Incorporated Association and has a formal constitution (a copy of which is displayed in the foyer). The constitution requires the existence of a Committee of Management to oversee the management and administration of the centre. The Association, (Knaith Road Child Care Centre Inc.) is the Licensee of the Children’s Service, and the Committee of Management is the elected representatives of the Association.

The Centre today

WHAT DOES THE CENTRE CONSIST OF TODAY?

Knaith Road caters for only 50 children across the centre each day, with small group sizes in each of our children’s rooms. This allows for more one-to-one interactions and stronger relationships between Educators and children. Our large, shared outdoor space supports community connections as the children enjoy mixed-age learning environments, opportunities for siblings to interact throughout the day, and leadership opportunities.

We cater for children aged from six weeks to school age, and are open from 7am to 6pm.

We are particularly proud of our:

  • Four inviting and well-resourced children’s rooms
  • Expansive shaded, natural outdoor play spaces
  • Philosophy that values collaboration, respectful relationships and community wellbeing
  • Dedicated team of professional, qualified caring staff with a low turnover rate
  • Emergent curriculums reflecting play-based learning and integrated teaching approaches
  • Government-funded 4-year-old and 3-year-old Kindergarten programs, led by an experienced Early Childhood Teacher, and complemented by the flexibility of long day care hours
  • Delicious home cooked meals that provide 75% of your child’s daily nutritional needs and cater for all dietary requirements
  • Separate sleeping room with cots for babies
  • Strong financial management decisions made by a parent committee
  • Affordable fees which are kept low through fundraising, Working Bees, and the support of Maroondah City Council
  • Strong sense of community with regular social and fundraising events
  • Ongoing commitment to quality improvement and professional growth

What makes us different…?

Knaith Road Child Care Centre and Kindergarten is a community based, not-for-profit centre. Community-based long day care services are unique in that they are run by a Committee of Management made up of community members, the majority of whom are parents. Consequently, we enjoy a strong sense of community, and families experience greater opportunities to have input into decision-making processes at the service.

The Committee of Management employs a Director and Assistant Director who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the centre. Children, families and staff are actively involved in centre activities, and families are encouraged to support the centre’s regular fundraising activities. As we receive no ongoing financial support from Government, our entire income is from parent fees and fundraising. As a not-for-profit centre, any surplus funds are redirected back into the centre to benefit the children.

We believe that the best people to make decisions about how the centre will run are those whose children attend the centre. Therefore we invite all parents to join the Association, to enable them to have input into decisions that affect the way the centre runs. Once you are familiar with the centre, you may wish to consider joining the Committee of Management. Elections are held each year at our Annual General Meeting, where all parents are eligible to nominate for a position on the committee (except where they are employed by the Association).