Childcare and kinder in Ballarat and Pakenham
Reggio-inspired childcare and kinder where every child belongs
For children from six weeks to school age. Calm rooms full of natural materials, educators who follow your child's curiosity, and extra support inside every room for any child who needs it.
Ballarat (Lake Gardens), and Pakenham on Savage Street — tours now open
6 weeks to school age
Four rooms, each at your child's pace
An Inclusion Specialist in every centre
Working inside the room, every day
Fresh meals, cooked daily
Made in our own kitchen
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved
We help you work out your gap fee
Welcome to Lumora
Learning that starts with your child
Children learn best when they feel safe, known and free to explore. So our rooms are set up to invite it: natural materials, real tools, and time to follow an idea for as long as it holds their interest.
Our educators watch closely, ask good questions, and step in with intentional teaching when it helps. We also track your child's growth across seven areas of development, so you'll know how they're growing, not only how their day went.
More about us
The Room Journey
Four rooms, and each move happens when your child is ready
Children don't change rooms on a birthday. We look for clear, everyday signs that they're ready, and we talk it through with you before anything changes.
More about our programsDiscovery ● 0–2 years
Babies
A calm, responsive nursery. Feeds, nappy changes and sleep are unhurried moments of connection, not jobs to get through.
Learn moreReady to move on when they can:
- Walk confidently
- Finding ways for your child to communicate their needs.
- Show curiosity about their surroundings
Every child moves at their own pace, and you'll always know where they're at and why.
The Lumora Approach
Rooms that invite curiosity, educators who follow it
Our approach is inspired by Reggio Emilia, a way of teaching from Italy that sees young children as capable and curious. We design each room as a "third teacher", with natural materials and open-ended invitations to explore. Everything we do is grounded in Australia's Early Years Learning Framework.
Introduce
We spark an idea with a question, a story, a song or something interesting left out on the table.
Investigate
Children explore it with educators alongside, using real tools and working in small groups.
Internalise
Children explore it with educators alongside, using real tools and working in small groups.
Seven areas we plan for, every week
Life at Lumora
Outdoors, hands busy, and time to rest
Outside and exploring
The garden is a favourite part of the day. Children dig, climb, balance, and find out what's living in the garden.
Real food, shared
Our cook makes every meal fresh in the centre kitchen. Children eat together, serve themselves when they can, and try new tastes without pressure.
Ready to focus
Before each change in the day, children do a short movement routine we call Body Ready. It helps their bodies settle so their minds can focus.
Safety and care
How we keep your child safe
You should know exactly how your child is cared for, not just be told they're safe. Here's what we do every day. We're happy to walk you through any of it on your tour.
Educators always close by
Every room is staffed to Victoria's required ratios or better, with a clear plan for who is watching where, indoors and out.
Safe sleep
Babies sleep on their backs in cots set up to safe-sleep guidelines, and educators check on every sleeping child at regular intervals.
Secure drop-off and pick-up
Every child is signed in and out, and we only hand children over to the people you've named.
You'll always hear from us
If your child is hurt or unwell, you'll hear about it the same day. You can raise any concern with our Centre Manager at any time.
Ask us anything about how we keep children safe. We'd rather you asked.
Resources
Helpful reading for new parents
Getting ready for kindergarten and school
School readiness is less about letters and numbers and more about confidence, independence and friendships. Here is what actually matters and how to build it at home.
Read article →
How to choose the right childcare for your family
Visiting a centre tells you more than any website can. Here is a practical way to compare options, the questions worth asking on a tour, and what to notice before you sign anything.
Read article →
Simple play ideas for babies and toddlers
The best play at this age is unhurried and uses what you already have at home. Here are ideas that cost nothing, plus what to watch for and when to ask for advice.
Read article →The best way to get to know us
Come and visit. Our Centre Manager will show you around and answer every question, with no pressure to decide on the day.
Book a tourCall Ballarat on 03 5340 0726 or Pakenham on 04 06 929 780