Sessional kindergarten
Sessional kindergartens provide education programs for three to five-year-olds. They are run by either
- the community - parent committees
- Early Years Managers - organisations that manage multiple kindergartens.
Kindergarten in the year before school is government subsidised. Children get access to 15 hours of funded kindergarten per week. Kindergartens provide session times and hours that meet the needs of their local community. Check with the kindergarten for days and hours that best suit you.
Eligible families can access low-cost or no-cost kindergarten. For more information, speak with the sessional kindergarten directly or visit Education Victoria.
Early Start Kindergarten provides free or low cost sessional kindergarten to eligible three-year-old children. Programs are offered by an early childhood Degree-qualified teacher.
The Victorian Government is rolling out funded three-year-old kindergarten. It will be available in some areas from 2020 and state-wide by 2022. This will be available in sessional and long day care kindergartens. Kindergartens will offer a minimum of five hours of funded three-year-old kindergarten.
Some sessional kindergartens also provide extended hours for longer sessions, beyond 15 hours per week, for family convenience. Check with the kindergarten about the additional out of pocket costs.
Sessional kindergartens manage their own waiting lists. Please contact your local kindergarten for more information and to register.
Note that children should be enrolled for funded kindergarten in the year they turn two.
Community-run sessional kindergartens
- Albert Park Kinder
18 Dundas Place, Albert Park
Telephone: 03 8672 9981 - Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children's Centre
85 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne
Telephone: 03 9676 8400
Email: info@bwfcc.org.au - Civic Kindergarten
256 Richardson Street, Middle Park
Telephone: 0403 097 244 - Lady Forster Kindergarten
63b Ormond Esplanade, Elwood
Telephone: 03 9531 6812 - Lilian Cannam Kindergarten
97 Eastern Road, South Melbourne
Telephone: 03 9699 3695 - Middle Park Kindergarten
131 Mills Street, Middle Park
Telephone: 03 9690 1220 - Poets Grove Family and Children's Centre
18 Poets Grove, Elwood
Telephone: 03 9531 6563 - Port Phillip Specialist Pre-School
Corner of Nott St & Poole St, Port Melbourne
Telephone:
Email: port.phillip.ss@edumail.vic.gov.au - South Port Uniting Care Kindergarten
136 Bridge Street, Port Melbourne
Telephone: 03 9676 3077 - St Kilda and Balaclava Kindergarten (extended hours only)
23 Nelson Street, Balaclava
Telephone: 03 9534 6488
Email: info@skbk.org.au
Independent sessional kindergartens
- Children's Garden Kindercare - Rudolf Steiner Childcare and Kindergarten
45 Ferrars Place, South Melbourne
Telephone: 03 9699 1913
Email: info@childrensgarden.net.au - St Michael's Kindergarten
20 Redan Street, St Kilda
Telephone: 03 8530 3320 - Wesley College Early Learning Centre
625 St Kilda Road, St Kilda
Telephone: 03 8102 6108 - Yesodei Ha Torah College
39 Dickens Street, Elwood
Telephone: 9531 3203