How to Increase Childcare Enrolment in 2025: Proven Strategies

Childcare enrolments in Australia in 2025 are a competitive space, with increasing cost of living, falling birth rates, and greater activity in the commercial childcare market all giving parents more choice than ever before. 

With a growing number of providers, centres must adapt to modern expectations to stand out. Traditional enrolment methods—such as paper-based forms, slow response times, and limited digital communication—no longer meet the expectations of today’s parents.

Australian families now demand digital-first experiences, fast responses, and seamless interactions when choosing a childcare provider. If your enrolment process is outdated or difficult to navigate, families may look elsewhere.

Heading into a Federal Election, and with the introduction of new government funding models and regulatory changes, the childcare sector is evolving. Centres that embrace technology-driven solutions to streamline their enrolment process will not only attract more families but may also improve retention rates.

Modern platforms like LineLeader Enrol help childcare centres manage the entire enrolment journey—from initial enquiry to long-term retention—by offering automation, digital forms, and seamless communication. 

To stay ahead in 2025, childcare centres must prioritise efficiency, engagement, and ease of use in their enrolment processes. Here are some tips for success.

Simplify the Childcare Enrolment Form

One of the biggest barriers to increasing enrolments is a complicated or time-consuming registration process. If a form is too long, difficult to fill out, or requires parents to print and scan documents, many families will simply abandon the process and look elsewhere.

How to simplify enrolment forms:

• Go digital: Ditch paper-based forms and opt for mobile-friendly, digital enrolment forms. Most families in Australia prefer to complete forms online, especially on their phones.

• Reduce steps: Avoid excessive questions upfront. Capture essential details first, then follow up later for additional information.

• Pre-fill data: Make it easy for parents by auto-filling known information wherever possible, reducing effort and potential errors.

• Offer save-and-resume functionality: Parents are busy, and they may not complete the form in one sitting. Allow them to save progress and return later.

By simplifying the enrolment form, you remove unnecessary friction and increase the chances of families completing the process.

Build Trust Early to Improve Enrolment Conversion

First impressions matter. If a family enquires about your centre and receives a delayed or impersonal response, they may move on to another provider. Establishing trust and credibility early in the enrolment journey significantly improves conversion rates.

To build trust with families try these ideas:

• Respond quickly and personally: Parents expect fast responses. Aim to reply to enquiries within a few hours with a personalised message, not just an automated response.

• Offer virtual tours: While in-person visits are valuable, many parents appreciate the convenience of virtual tours before committing to an in-person visit.

• Provide digital welcome packets: A well-designed digital welcome guide with information about your centre, curriculum, and testimonials can reassure families.

• Leverage testimonials and social proof: Showcase reviews from current families, success stories, and word-of-mouth recommendations to build confidence in your services.

By engaging families early and making them feel valued, you increase the likelihood of them choosing your childcare centre over others.

Use Automation to Nurture Families and Save Time

Following up with families manually can be time-consuming and prone to delays, leading to lost enrolments. Automating communication not only saves time but also ensures no family is left waiting.

How to use automation to improve enrolment rates:

• Automate follow-ups: Send personalised email or SMS follow-ups after an enquiry, ensuring families receive timely responses.

• Schedule reminders: If a family has started but not completed their enrolment form, automated reminders can nudge them to finish the process.

• Send tour reminders: Reduce no-shows by sending automated reminders before scheduled centre tours.

• Use platforms like LineLeader: Tools like LineLeader Enrol streamline these processes, allowing childcare centres to nurture families automatically.

Automation helps maintain consistent engagement with prospective families, keeping them informed and interested without adding to your team’s workload.

Improve Childcare Enrolment Retention

Increasing enrolments isn’t just about attracting new families—it’s also about keeping the ones you already have. Retaining families reduces the pressure to constantly fill vacancies and creates a more stable, predictable environment.

Here’s some tips on how to improve enrolment retention:

• Keep families engaged: Regular communication through newsletters, app updates, and social media keeps families connected with your centre.

• Personalise the experience: Acknowledge milestones, birthdays, or achievements to make families feel valued.

• Identify and address churn risks: Use enrolment data to spot early signs of families considering leaving, such as a drop in attendance, and proactively address concerns.

• Provide excellent customer service: A positive ongoing experience ensures families stay enrolled and recommend your centre to others.

By focusing on retention, you can create a loyal community of families who remain with your centre for years to come.

Key Takeaways to Boost Childcare Centre Occupancy

To successfully increase childcare occupancy in 2025, centres need to adapt to evolving family expectations and embrace digital-first strategies. The key areas to focus on include:

• Simplifying the enrolment process with mobile-friendly, digital forms

• Building trust early through fast, personalised responses, virtual tours, and social proof

• Using automation to nurture families and improve follow-up efficiency

• Enhancing retention efforts to reduce drop-offs and maintain stable enrolment numbers

Childcare centres that modernise their enrolment process will have a competitive advantage, attracting and retaining more families with ease.

If you’re looking to streamline your childcare enrolment journey and boost retention without adding extra work to your team, LineLeader Enrol is the solution. This platform helps childcare centres manage enrolment from start to finish—reducing paperwork, automating follow-ups, and improving family engagement.

Ready to transform your childcare enrolment process? Schedule a demo or head to the website to learn more.