Kindergarten

Kindergarten program options

Kindergarten programs are offered through community-based kindergartens (sessional), long day care centres, early learning centres, and schools. You can choose the option that best suits your child and family. 

• Community-based (sessional) kindergartens
  Run on set days and times determined by the service.
• Long day care services
  Provide full-day care with an integrated kindergarten program. These services manage their own enrolments. 

When to attend kindergarten?

Families with children born between 1 January and 30 April need to make an informed decision about which year they would like their child to commence school and therefore which year their child will attend a kindergarten program.

If you are unsure which year your child should attend kindergarten, talk to your local kindergarten educator, an educator in a long daycare centre, your Maternal and Child Health nurse or check the 'When to start' calculator.

Three-year-old kindergarten

To be eligible to attend three-year-old kindergarten, your child must turn three by 30 April in the year they attend kindergarten. Children cannot commence kindergarten until they turn three-years of age. 

Children enrolled in three-year-old kindergarten will transition on to four-year-old kindergarten the following year. You will register for three- and four-year-old kinder at the same time.

Some children may be eligible to access one additional year of either three- or four-year-old kindergarten. This decision is made in consultation with the kindergarten, families and the Department of Education. For further information parents are encouraged to refer to the Department of Education’s guidelines Does my child need an additional year of kindergarten.

Refer to the table below to guide as to which year your child should attend.

Four-year-old kindergarten

To be eligible to attend four-year-old kindergarten, your child must turn four years of age by 30 April in the year they attend kindergarten.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from a refugee or asylum seeker background, and children who have had contact with Child Protection services (this includes children who were supported by the Access to Early Learning program in their three-year-old kindergarten year), can access between 16 to 25 hours per week of funded four-year-old kindergarten (Pre-Prep), or as advised by the Department of Education.

From 2028, children who hold a Commonwealth concession card, or who have a parent or guardian who holds one, and children who are part of a multiple birth (triplets or more) will be eligible for up to 25 hours per week of funded four‑year‑old kindergarten (Pre‑Prep), or as advised by the Department of Education. 

Children enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten will typically move on to school the following year.

Some children may be eligible to access one additional year of either three- or four-year-old kindergarten. This decision is made in consultation with the kindergarten, families and the Department of Education. For further information parents are encouraged to refer to the Department of Education’s guidelines Does my child need an additional year of kindergarten.

Refer to the table below to guide as to which year your child should attend.

Before you register

We encourage parents to attend their child's Key Ages and Stages visits at a Maternal and Child Health Centre.

Your child must be vaccinated, and their immunisations recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register. To find out more visit Immunising your child. 

Register for kindergarten 

When to register 

• The main registration period is 1–7 May; registrations remain open after this period.
• Registrations submitted between 1–7 May may be prioritised.

Use the table below to find out when to apply based on your child’s date of birth.

If you are unsure if you have previously registered contact us on 03 9524 3333.

Kindergarten is free at participating sessional kindergartens.
A fee offset applies at long day care services.

Some services may charge additional levies (for example, an administration fee). Please check directly with the service.

All funded kindergarten programs in Victoria:

• Are led by a qualified early childhood teacher
• Follow the same government learning framework
• Use play-based learning

How Kindergarten Places Are Allocated

Glen Eira City Council’s Central Registration Scheme manages the allocation of funded kindergarten places on behalf of 14 participating community-based services.

Important Information

• Registration does not guarantee a place in three- or four-year-old kindergarten due to high demand.
• Allocations follow the Department of Education Priority of Access guidelines and Council’s Local Area Criteria.
• Where possible, registrations received between 1-7 May will be prioritised.
• When the number of registrations exceeds the available kindergarten places, a ballot process will be used to allocate places. In this process, the date of registration will be considered as part of the selection criteria.

Offer Process

• Offers begin in June, the year before your child attends kindergarten.
• The main offer period concludes in August.
• Places are allocated according to the Kindergarten Central Registration Scheme Policy.
• If your priority is based on living in Glen Eira, you may need to provide supporting evidence.
• Families can accept, decline or withdraw from the current allocation process. Families who choose to withdraw from the current allocation process will have their registration moved to the following year, where it will be reconsidered through the standard allocation process. Previously accepted places will not be carried forward, but a new registration is not required. 

Waitlist and Group Allocation

• If there are more registrations than available places, Glen Eira City Council will maintain a waitlist.
• Families who receive an offer will be contacted by the kindergarten with details about:
• Timetables
• Group allocations
• The enrolment process
• Please note: Glen Eira City Council does not decide which group your child will be placed in. This is managed by the individual kindergarten including the days offered. Some kindergartens offer Saturdays as part of the timetable.

Department of Education Priority of Access guidelines and Council’s Local Area Criteria used for allocation of places

Additional kindergarten information

Kindergarten is an important part of your child's development. To find out how to choose the right education and care options for your family, visit:

• Kindergarten information for families — Victorian Government
• Find A Kinder Program — Department of Education, Victoria
• Starting Blocks — Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)   

Apply or change your kindergarten registration

You can apply for kindergarten or update your existing registration using the buttons below.

• Register now: Start a new registration for your child.
• Change of registration: Update your contact details, change your kindergarten preferences, or cancel your registration.

Important: If you change your kindergarten preference without changing your address, the date you make the change will be used as your new registration. If you withdraw your kindergarten registration your registration will be moved to the following year, where it will be reconsidered through the standard allocation process. 

Need help? 

Get in touch online at kindergarten@gleneira.vic.gov.au or call 9524 3333.