Kindergarten

Kindergarten in Victoria is government subsidised. Children get access to 15 hours of funded kindergarten per week in the year before they start school. Three-year old children get between 5 and 15 hours of funded kindergarten per week.

When will my child start kindergarten?

Kindergarten begins when your child turns 3 The timing is aligned to when your child is expected to start school. This table provides a guide. We recommend speaking with your kindergarten about the best time for your child to start 3-year-old kindergarten.

For more information on starting kindergarten visit Best Start, Best Life.

What are the different types of kindergarten?

There are 2 different types of kindergarten:

• Sessional kindergarten
• Integrated kindergarten

Sessional kindergarten is run in standalone kindergartens. They have set hours on set days and usually run during school terms.

Integrated kindergarten runs in centres that also have childcare programs. All local childcare centres with integrated kindergarten are listed on our Childcare and kindergarten page. There is a cost to access care for a whole day for your child. Whole day care is not covered by the Free Kinder program. Eligible families can access the Child Care Subsidy to help with the cost.

Choosing the right kindergarten for your child depends on your needs. Importantly, both types:

• provide kindergarten for 3 and 4-year-olds
• provide free kindergarten if the service is part of the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder program
• are taught by an Early Childhood Degree qualified teacher
• run set hours kindergarten sessions.

Early Start Kindergarten

Early Start Kindergarten is a program for children who meet any of these criteria:

• Identify as First Nations or Torres Strait Islander.
• Refugee or asylum seeker background.
• Living in out-of-home care.
• Have had, or their family have had contact with child protection.

A child must have turned three by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten to be eligible.

For more information, visit Early Start Kindergarten.

The Kinder Tick

Services with the Kinder Tick:

• are led by a qualified teacher
• use play-based learning
• are funded and approved by the Victorian Government
• run a program that complies with government guidelines and the National Quality Framework.

All the services listed on the childcare and kindergarten page have the Kinder Tick.

Find a Kinder Tick service.

Community run sessional kindergartens

All the services listed below have the Kinder Tick.

• Albert Park Kinder
  18 Dundas Place, Albert Park
  Phone: 03 8672 9981
• Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children's Centre
  85 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne
  Phone: 03 9676 8400
  Email: info@bwfcc.org.au
• Civic Kindergarten
  256 Richardson Street, Middle Park
  Phone: 0403 097 244
• Lady Forster Kindergarten
  63b Ormond Esplanade, Elwood
  Phone: 03 9531 6812
• Lilian Cannam Kindergarten
  97 Eastern Road, South Melbourne
  Phone: 03 9699 3695
• Middle Park Kindergarten
  131 Mills Street, Middle Park
  Phone: 03 9690 1220
• Poets Grove Family and Children's Centre
  18 Poets Grove, Elwood
  Phone: 03 9531 6563

Not-for-profit sessional kindergartens

• Port Phillip Specialist Pre-School
  Corner of Nott St and Poole St, Port Melbourne
  Email: port.phillip.ss@edumail.vic.gov.au
• Port Melbourne Uniting Care Kindergarten
  144 Bridge Street, Port Melbourne
  Phone: 1800 183 103

Independent sessional kindergartens

• St Michael's Kindergarten
  8-12 Marlton Crescent, St Kilda
  Phone: 03 8530 3320
• Wesley College Early Learning Centre
  625 St Kilda Road, St Kilda
  Phone: 03 8102 6108
• Yesodei Ha Torah College
  39 Dickens Street, Elwood
  Phone: 9531 3203