Kindergarten

What is three and four-year-old sessional kindergarten? 

Three and four-year-old sessional kindergarten (sometimes called ‘funded kindergarten’, ‘preschool’ or ‘early years education’) is a 2-year early education program for children before they start primary school. 

Where is funded kindergarten offered?

Funded kindergarten is offered in:

• stand-alone community sessional kindergartens (during school terms)
• long day child care centres, children's centres and early learning centres.

Visit Find a Kinder for a map of all funded kindergarten services.

Is my child eligible?

Children who turn three or four before 30 April in the year they attend are eligible for kindergarten.

For example, children who are born between 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024 will be eligible to start funded kindergarten in 2027.

How many hours of funded kindergarten can my child have?

Eligible children can receive funding for 15 hours per week for 4-year-old kindergarten and 5 to 15 hours per week for 3-year-old kindergarten.

In 2026 some 4-year-old children will be eligible for 16 to 25 hours of funded Pre-Prep kindergarten. To find out more see the Victorian Government’s Pre-prep Calculator.

Sessional kindergarten operates on certain days and at specific times. These days and times are set by the kindergarten service. To find out more download the timetables(PDF, 2MB).

What is the kindergarten central registration scheme? 

Council facilitates an equitable and transparent registration and allocation process for families to access sessional kindergarten in their local area. Families can nominate three kindergarten group options and participate in the allocation process. 

View our map to find participating sessional kindergartens in Kingston.

How are registrations prioritised?

Children are prioritised based on the Victorian Government’s Kindergarten Priority of Access Policy. New Priority of Access criteria will apply for kindergarten enrolments from 2027 which includes children moving from three to four-year-old kindergarten.

Once priority children have been placed, we consider the child’s residential proximity, and any prior connection to their first option group.

How do I register my child?

Council administers the sessional kindergarten registration and allocation process on behalf of participating sessional kindergarten services.

All you need to do is submit our free online registration form and nominate your three group options, these can be at the same or different kindergartens, and we’ll take care of the rest. 

A group refers to the set days and times the kindergarten offers in their timetable.  

View our map above to find participating sessional kindergarten services and their timetables.

When can I submit my registration form?

Registrations open each year on 1 May for kindergarten in the following year. For example, if your child is eligible to commence kindergarten in 2027 you can submit your registration from 1 May 2026.

Registration received before 30 June will be included in the first allocation round.

Submitting a registration form does not guarantee a kindergarten placement and is not a confirmed enrolment.

When are places allocated?

Allocations are communicated via direct mail.

There are three formal allocation rounds held in July and August in the year before your child attends kindergarten. To be included in the first allocation round, submit your registration by 30 June.

Three allocation rounds for kindergarten in 2027:

• Round 1: Monday 27 July to Friday 31 July.
• Round 2: Monday 10 August to Friday 14 August.
• Round 3: Monday 24 August to Friday 28 August.

Ad hoc allocations are made all year round where there are vacancies.

What if I don't get my first group or kindergarten option?

You can:

• stay on the wait list until there is a vacancy
• accept an offer for a different group or kindergarten and remain on the wait list for a place at your preferred kindergarten or group.

Registration doesn’t guarantee a kindergarten placement.

How do I change my kindergarten group options?

You can change your kindergarten group options at any time by submitting your information using our online form or send an email to kindergartenenrolment@kingston.vic.gov.au.

Can my child start kindergarten before they turn three?

Children who turn 3 in the year they start kinder usually start from their third birthday. Depending on staff numbers and demand, some kindergartens may allow your child to start early. Check with your preferred kindergarten.

Can my child repeat a year of 3-year-old kindergarten?

Yes, if your child meets the Victorian Government’s eligibility requirements for a second year of 3-year-old kindergarten and it is supported by the educators.

Children who repeat 3-year-old kindergarten won’t be able to repeat 4-year-old kindergarten as well.

Why do the number of funded hours differ between kindergartens?

Funded 3-year-old kindergarten is new and will gradually be rolled out by the State Government over the next few years.  Most kindergarten services already offer 15 hours of funded 3-year-old kindergarten, and some are working towards that and may offer less hours. To find out more about what kindergartens offer, view our map above which includes timetable information or alternatively you can download the timetable(PDF, 2MB).

What is Early Start Kindergarten?

Early Start Kindergarten provides up to 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten to eligible 3-year-old children where the programs are offered by a qualified teacher.

You can email us at kindergartenenrolment@kingston.vic.gov.au or get in touch with your kindergarten directly for more information.

Will I be guaranteed a place at the same kindergarten my child attends 3-year-old?

You only need to submit one registration form for 3- and 4-year-old kindergarten, however places are allocated separately.

Every effort will be made to place children at the same kindergarten for both years.

Can my child repeat 4-year-old kindergarten?

Yes, if your child meets the Victorian Government’s criteria for a second year of 4-year-old kindergarten, and it is supported by the educators, and they didn’t repeat 3-year-old kindergarten.

What if my child hasn’t attended 3-year-old kindergarten, can I still register for a place in 4-year-old?

Yes.

What is Pre-Prep?

From 2025, 4-year-old kindergarten will gradually transition to Pre-Prep, with programs across Victoria increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week by 2036.

For more information see the Victorian Government’s Pre-prep Calculator.

How much does kindergarten cost?

The Victorian Government has announced that funded kindergarten will be free for eligible children attending a participating sessional kindergarten service.

Optional additional hours may be offered by a service and will incur a fee.

If you are attending funded kindergarten at a long day care check with your service to find out about the fee offset.

For more information, you can download the Department of Education's Advice for families: Free Kinder in long day care fact sheet.

Can my child attend more than one funded kindergarten program?

No. Only one service can claim kindergarten funding for your child each year.

More information about kindergarten funding is available from the Victorian Government's quick kinder guide.

Where can I get more information about funding?

More information about kindergarten funding is available from the Victorian Government's quick kinder guide.

Contact us

For more information about how the kindergarten registration and allocation process works or to provide us with feedback please contact the Kindergarten Central Registration Team on 03 9581 4851 or kindergartenenrolment@kingston.vic.gov.au.

Can my service join the Kindergarten Central Registration Scheme?

To participate in the Central Registration Scheme (CRS) services must deliver sessional kindergarten. For more information see Central Registration for Funded Kindergarten Policy(PDF, 552KB).