According to Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority data, there are 8332 Learning Development Centres, an increase of 297 for FY21.

The 3.7 per cent annual growth rate has slowed from the 3.8 per cent growth rate seen in FY20. The slowing of supply growth is indicated by the fact that 159 new centres opened between January and June 2021, which is lower than the previous year’s equivalent period.

However more families are using childcare centres, according to the Department of Education. The percentage of children under the age of five who attend a child care centre has increased from 39 per cent in 2011 to 45 per cent by December 2020.

Assets worth more than $170 million changed hands in the six months leading up to June 30, 2021, with recent sales in the second quarter of the year averaging initial yields of 5.33 per cent nationally.

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT recently agreed to give major operator Goodstart 20-year leases with set yearly increases on 48 buildings throughout their portfolio.

Arena REIT, meanwhile, recently renegotiated 87 leases with Goodstart, extending the lease periods to 25 years.