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                    Kindergarten

                    Kindergarten programs operate from a range of service environments including stand-alone centres, long day childcare centres, and integrated child and family centres.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Kindergartens aim to develop children's individual social, emotional, intellectual, physical and language abilities in the two years prior to commencing primary school. Kindergartens extend a child's knowledge of themselves and others as well as helping children understand their social environment.

                    Children have the opportunity to be involved in creative activities, develop physical skills, increase independence and develop positive self-awareness and confidence.

                    Kindergarten is for all children and is inclusive of all children. If your child has a disability or needs additional assistance with their learning and development, the educators will work with you to ensure that the program and learning environment meet the needs of your child.

                    Kindergarten eligibility

                    Four-year-old kindergarten

                    • Children who will turn four years of age on or before 30 April are eligible to register in a State Government-funded kindergarten program from term one.
                    • In Victoria, children cannot attend more than one State Government-funded kindergarten program at the same time.
                    • Children who turn four years of age on or after 1 May will be eligible to register in a four-year-old program in the following year.

                    Three-year-old kindergarten

                    • Children who turn three on or before 30 April are eligible to apply for three-year-old kindergarten.
                    • Children whose birth date is between 1 January and 30 April are eligible to start in a program once they have turned three years of age.
                    • Children who turn three years of age on or after 1 May will be eligible to register in a three-year-old program in the following year.

                    An additional year of funded kindergarten

                    Children in a four-year-old kindergarten program who have developmental delays in two or more key areas of development and would benefit from another year of kindergarten can access an additional year of funded four-year-old kindergarten. This requires an assessment by an early childhood teacher.

                    To assist decisions regarding transitions to school being made as close as possible to school age, all children in three-year-old kindergarten will be expected to transition to four-year-old Kindergarten in the following year. A funded additional year of kindergarten will only be available for children in the four-year-old program who meet the Department of Education and Training’s criteria.

                    Enrolment at a kindergarten can be arranged by contacting the relevant kindergarten in your area and follow their registration process. 

                    See preschools and kindergartens section directly below for list of kindergartens in the city of Melbourne.

                    Please note, individual kindergartens can have waiting lists well in advance of the actual year of your child's commencement.

                    Preschools and kindergartens

                    Preschool (also called ‘kindergarten’) provides educational programs for children during the year before they start school. Children must be at least four years old before 30 April of the year they attend preschool. Sessional preschool programs for three-year-old children are also available.

                    You can enrol your child in a funded kindergarten program in a variety of settings, including children’s centres, long day care centres, community kindergartens, independent schools and a small number of government schools.

                    For more information, contact the following preschools:

                    For all other childcare centres that offer an integrated kindergarten program operating in the city of Melbourne, please refer to the following list:

                    Kinder Tick

                    From March 2021 the Victorian Government has a new symbol to help Victorian families find quality kindergarten programs called the Kinder Tick. The symbol will be displayed at the kindergarten or early childhood service building’s entrance and website to signal to families that their child will be taking part in a play-based learning program that:

                    • is evidence-based
                    • led by a qualified teacher
                    • is funded and approved by the Victorian Government
                    • complies with the National Quality Framework.
                    Kinder Tick logo

                    Free Kinder

                    ​In an Australian first, children across Victoria can now access 2 years of Free Kinder before school at participating services.

                    Families will not need to make a claim for this funding, as participating services receive funding directly from the Victorian Government.

                    Sessional kindergartens

                    • Free Kinder means that families with children enrolled in sessional kindergarten programs at participating services will receive a free program, a saving of up to $2,563 per child.
                    • For 3-year-old children, this means a free kindergarten program of between 5 and 15 hours each week (200-600 hours each year).
                    • For 4-year-old children, this means a free kindergarten program of 15 hours each week (600 hours each year).

                    Long day care cen​tres

                    • Families with 3 and 4-year-old children enrolled in participating long day care services will receive a fee offset of up to $2,050 per child.
                    • This means a saving of $2,050 for children enrolled in a 15-hour kindergarten program (600 hours a year).
                    • Children enrolled in a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program of less than 15 hours will receive a pro-rata amount.

                    Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)

                    Three year old children that identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, their family has had contact with Child Protection or are refugee or asylum seekers, are eligible for up to 15 hours of funded kindergarten through Early Start Kindergarten (ESK).

                    Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week for two years before starting school.

                    To be eligible, your child must be three by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten, and:

                    • identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or
                    • your family has had contact with Child Protection, or
                    • your family are refugee or asylum seekers.

                    Children who have accessed Early Start Kindergarten or are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander can access free or low cost four-year-old kindergarten through the Early Start Kindergarten Extension Grant.

                    Please speak directly to your kindergarten provider if your child meets this eligibility criteria.

                    Immunisation requirements

                    Under the ‘No Jab, No play’ legislation that came into force on 1 January 2016, children are required to be fully vaccinated for their age before they can be enrolled in a kindergarten program.

                    All centres are, therefore, required to obtain evidence that your child is fully immunised for their age, is on a vaccination catch-up program or is unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons.

                    You will be required to provide immunisation evidence twice per year.

                    Conscientious objection is not an exemption.

                    Related program

                    Kindergarten information for multicultural families

                    ​Are you a multicultural family and need help in accessing kindergarten? 

                    Kinder is for children aged 3-4 years. It helps prepare them for primary school and encourages a love of learning.

                    City of Melbourne has a CALD Outreach Officer who can support families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to access information on kindergarten.  

                    We also run a monthly drop-in session where you can come along to discuss your kindergarten options with our CALD Outreach Officer. 

                    When 
                    The last Monday of each month, from 10.30am-12.00pm

                    Where
                    narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services (Children's Library)
                    Level 3, 454 Queen Street
                    Melbourne​

                    Please contact parentingservices@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ for more details.

                    Preschool Field Officer Program

                    The Preschool Field Officer program aims to support the access and participation of children with additional needs in kindergarten. It supports children with a range of developmental concerns and additional needs who are usually not receiving support from the Early Childhood Intervention Services or Kindergarten Inclusion Support Packages.

                    Preschool field officers are highly qualified early childhood professionals specialising in early childhood education and development. They support kindergartens by providing consultation, resources and advice to teachers and families.

                    Any family with a child attending a state-funded kindergarten program with additional needs or a teacher working in a state-funded kindergarten program can access this service.
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