The centre will cater for 90 children and will be located next to the college's early learning centre in Mair St.

The school aims to have the centre open by early 2010.

College admissions and marketing manager Denis Moneghetti said 26 babies were born to school teachers last year, prompting the school to look into the possibility of a new centre.

But the capacity of the centre to integrate child care with the early learning centre meant it would hold wide appeal to parents of young children.

"There is a substantial need in the community. We're also quite central here to a number of businesses " Mr Moneghetti said.

The college's head of junior school Dr Maree Matthews said the centre would make it easier for parents who presently had to contend with "a double drop off" at kindergarten and childcare.

"It's a one stop shop," Dr Matthews said.

"It's just about providing the best we possibly can for our young students."

The centre would also make for smooth transitions from care to school for children who were familiar with their environment and school's staff.

She said potential traffic problems along busy Mair St would be largely accounted for by staggered drop-off times at the centre.

Plans for the centre will be developed in coming months by the school's architect.

The junior school caters for 260 pupils, including 75 in its early learning centre.