1
Gatehouse Montessori Preschool & Early Learning Centre
from 49 Google reviews.
Local businesses, no chains · Updated October 2026
The childcare centres of South Australia
As of October 2026, the three most fairly rated local childcare centres in South Australia on Not a Chain, with chains left out, are Gatehouse Montessori Preschool & Early Learning Centre (5.0 from 49 Google reviews), Confident Kids Childcare & Early Learning Holden Hill (5.0 from 34 Google reviews) and O'Briens Montessori Centre (5.0 from 31 Google reviews).
- Childcare Centres compared
- 205
- Google reviews
- 2,921
- Median rating
- 4.9
The childcare centres of South Australia: the top 50
2
Confident Kids Childcare & Early Learning Holden Hill
from 34 Google reviews.
3
O'Briens Montessori Centre
from 31 Google reviews.
4
Little Investigators Early Learning Centre
from 21 Google reviews.
5
Modbury Community Children's Centre
from 20 Google reviews.
6
Alicia's Family Day Care
from 16 Google reviews.
7
Ridgehaven ELC - Child Care
from 16 Google reviews.
1015 N East Rd, Ridgehaven SA 5097
8
Being Early Education - Hope Valley
from 30 Google reviews.
9
City Community Children's Centre
from 30 Google reviews.
104 Gilbert St, Adelaide SA 5000
10
Tea Tree Gully Childcare
from 15 Google reviews.
1220 North East Rd, Adelaide SA 5097
11
Gawler Riverside Early Learning Centre
from 12 Google reviews.
1 Scheibener Ter, Gawler SA 5118
12
Grey Ward Children's Centre
from 12 Google reviews.
253 Wright St, Adelaide SA 5000
13
Rose Park Community Childcare
from 20 Google reviews.
Adelaide Eastern Comm Cc, 22 Watson Ave, Adelaide SA 5067
14
Highway Child Care & Early Learning Centre
from 11 Google reviews.
267 Salisbury Hwy, Adelaide SA 5108
15
Beyond Early Learning Goolwa
from 9 Google reviews.
28-30 Hutchinson St, Goolwa SA 5214
16
Unley Community Childcare Centre
from 9 Google reviews.
42 Arthur St, Adelaide SA 5061
17
Brightside Early Learning Centre
from 35 Google reviews.
144-146 Burton Rd, Adelaide SA 5108
18
Little Shining Stars Early Learning Centre
from 14 Google reviews.
19
Little Zak's Academy Elizabeth Downs
from 33 Google reviews.
26 Hamblynn Rd, Adelaide SA 5113
20
Walkley Heights Child Care Centre
from 13 Google reviews.
21
Adelaide Early Learning - Athelstone
from 8 Google reviews.
22
Entrée Early Years Recruitment
from 12 Google reviews.
23
Kidz Club Childcare Centre
from 11 Google reviews.
2 Glenere Dr, Adelaide SA 5092
24
Highbury Preschool
from 7 Google reviews.
25
Iqra ELC
from 7 Google reviews.
26
Learn by fun family day care
from 7 Google reviews.
27
Little Para Community Child Care Centre
from 7 Google reviews.
306 Waterloo Corner Rd, Adelaide SA 5108
28
MacKinnon Parade Children's Centre
from 7 Google reviews.
148 MacKinnon Pde, Adelaide SA 5006
29
Rosemont House Montessori Early Learning and Care
from 7 Google reviews.
30
Treehouse Childcare & Early Learning Centre
from 7 Google reviews.
31
Victor Harbor Childcare and Education Centre
from 7 Google reviews.
78-82 Bay Rd, Victor Harbor SA 5211
32
Il Nido Children's Centre
from 20 Google reviews.
33
Cedars Montessori Preschool
from 6 Google reviews.
34
Treetops Early Learning Centre Stepney - Banksia House
from 13 Google reviews.
35
Treetops Early Learning Centre, Stepney - Wattle House
from 5 Google reviews.
51 Henry St
36
Kesters Road Child Care Centre
from 7 Google reviews.
37
Early Steps Childcare Centre
from 37 Google reviews.
346-348 Montague Rd, Adelaide SA 5093
38
St Peters Child Care Centre & Preschool
from 37 Google reviews.
42 Henry St, Adelaide SA 5069
39
Montessori Manor
from 31 Google reviews.
40
Educare Little Learners
from 10 Google reviews.
41
Kin Kin Early Education Murray Bridge
from 27 Google reviews.
228 Adelaide Rd, Murray Bridge SA 5253
42
Blue Skies Early Learning Centre
from 23 Google reviews.
43
Seaford Early Learning Centre
from 18 Google reviews.
44
Hillbank Community Childrens Centre
from 14 Google reviews.
8 Penarth Ct, Adelaide SA 5112
45
Hackham West Children's Centre
from 10 Google reviews.
46
Precious Cargo St Peters
from 55 Google reviews.
47
Confident Kids Childcare & Early Learning Croydon Park
from 48 Google reviews.
48
Zion Preschool
from 6 Google reviews.
49
Noarlunga Community Children's Centres
from 22 Google reviews.
50
Halifax Street Children's Centre & Preschool
from 21 Google reviews.
257 Halifax St, Adelaide SA 5000
Not a Chain compared 205 childcare centres in South Australia, with 2,921 Google reviews between them. Of these, 74 meet this list's method. The median rating is 4.9 from a median of 10 reviews.
Of the childcare centres compared, the most reviewed is Great Beginnings Gilles Plains, with 58 Google reviews at 4.5.
How this list is ranked
Businesses are ranked as in the fairly rated method, but only those whose name and website each appear in no more than two places in Australia are listed, so chains and franchises are left out. Each needs at least five Google reviews.
A business that shares its name with unrelated businesses elsewhere can be left out by mistake, and being part of a chain says nothing about quality.
Questions
- Which local childcare centres in South Australia, not chains, are the most fairly rated?
- As of October 2026, the three most fairly rated local childcare centres in South Australia on Not a Chain, with chains left out, are Gatehouse Montessori Preschool & Early Learning Centre (5.0 from 49 Google reviews), Confident Kids Childcare & Early Learning Holden Hill (5.0 from 34 Google reviews) and O'Briens Montessori Centre (5.0 from 31 Google reviews).
- How does Not a Chain rank childcare centres in South Australia?
- Businesses are ranked as in the fairly rated method, but only those whose name and website each appear in no more than two places in Australia are listed, so chains and franchises are left out. Each needs at least five Google reviews. A business that shares its name with unrelated businesses elsewhere can be left out by mistake, and being part of a chain says nothing about quality.
- How many childcare centres in South Australia did Not a Chain compare?
- Not a Chain compared 205 childcare centres in South Australia, with 2,921 Google reviews between them. Of these, 74 meet this list's method. The median rating is 4.9 from a median of 10 reviews.
- Can a business pay to be listed or to rank higher?
- No. Every business is ranked by the same published method, and no business can pay to be listed or to move up.