You and your child are welcome to visit any of our centres during the process. This is a great way to:

• Get to know the centre
• Learn more about the specific kindergarten programs available.

We look forward to helping you find the right place for your child!

Step 1: Expression of interest form submitted by families

To register your interest in enrolling in one of our kindergarten programs, you are asked to complete an expression of interest (EOI) form.

The EOI form allows families to nominate up to two centre preferences for their child/ren. Session times will be decided based upon demand.

Step 2: Allocation process

Once the form is received, we offer places to families based on the following Priority of Access criteria, as determined by the Victorian Kindergarten Guidelines Criteria:

Tier 1 Criteria:

• Children at risk of abuse or neglect, including children in Out-of-Home Care
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
• Asylum seeker and refugee children
• Children and/or families holding concession cards
• Children from families with multiple births
• Children accessing an additional year of Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep
• Children and/or families with additional needs who require additional assistance to fully participate in the kindergarten program. Defined as;
  • is eligible under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or undergoing a continuing assessment of a disability under the NDIS
  • is eligible for Early Childhood Intervention Service Continuity of Support (ECIS COS)
  • is diagnosed with a disability or developmental delay or are undergoing diagnosis
  • presents with developmental concerns that presents barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter or other evidence from a MCH nurse or similar practitioner such as an allied health practitioner)

Or the child has previously accessed:

• the Kindergarten Inclusion Support Program, Commonwealth Inclusion Support Program or another similar program

Or the Child is Referred by;

• the National Disability Insurance Scheme
• Early Childhood Intervention Service Continuity of Support (ECIS COS)
• Preschool Field Officer program, or
• MCH nurse or similar professional such as an allied health specialist, where developmental concerns have been identified.

Parent or Carer;

• holds a Disability Health Care Card.
• is eligible under the National Disability Insurance Scheme or undergoing a continuing assessment of a disability under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
• has complex medical needs that present barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)

Tier 2 Criteria:

• Children currently attending the service

The ‘priority of access’ criteria used are in line with Victorian Government requirements regarding how kindergarten places must be allocated to children. It works to ensure that:

• a transparent, equitable and approved process is followed
• the maximum number of children receive a kindergarten place
• children who are eligible for priority places are allocated a place in their kindergarten of choice

We have a strong commitment to ensuring that, wherever possible, all children are allocated a place in one of our programs. We cannot, however, guarantee a kindergarten place to every child.

Step 3: Letters of offers are sent

Once the allocation of places has been completed, families are notified in writing of the place that has been offered to their child, in a particular group, at one of our centres (including the session times for that group).

Wherever possible, this offer will be made via email.

Ensure you continue to check your emails including your junk mail, for this offer.

Step 4: Offer is accepted by family

You are required to make contact with us to accept or decline the offer by the required date.

If you do not respond to an offer by this date, the place will be re-allocated to another child.

Step 5: Enrolment process

Following your acceptance of the offer, the administration team will guide you through the enrolment process and provide you with the necessary information at a later date. 

Please keep us updated with any changes to your contact details or any information that may be relevant to the registration process.

Please contact us if you are in need of an interpreter to support you with completing the registration process.

Phone; 03 5272 4741

Email [email protected]

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.

Our 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.

We are committed to working with families to ensure that, wherever possible, all eligible children have access to our high quality kindergarten programs. This process gives families the opportunity to nominate their preferences for both three and four-year-old kindergarten places at our eight different centres.

We aim to ensure that children have access to programs in their local area and that the allocation of places is fair and equitable for all children and their families.

Give your child the best start.

The Victorian Government is investing in kindergarten programs for all three-year-olds giving our children an extra year of learning, playing and making friends. Funded kindergarten programs for three-year-olds are being rolled out in Geelong from 2022.

Kindergarten is an important part of young children’s growth and development and attendance is strongly recommended for all children. Attending kindergarten improves children’s health and wellbeing, supports their development, helps them to develop strong social skills and encourages a love of learning.

Children who go to a kindergarten program are more likely to be independent and confident and to make a smooth transition to primary school.

Our high-quality kindergarten programs will offer your child a range of learning experiences and activities that are both stimulating and fun. Your child’s learning and curiosity about their world will be encouraged through different experiences and activities, such as exploring the natural world, being exposed to new ideas and solving problems.

Your child will have the opportunity to:

• develop their social and communication skills by forming relationships and friendships with other children and taking part in group activities and cooperative play
• express their creativity through dance, music and art
• increase their independence and develop an identity that is strong in culture and community
• develop the skills and knowledge that they need for reading, writing and mathematics
• increase their problem-solving skills and their understanding of the world around them.

Kindergarten is for all children and is inclusive of all children. If your child has a disability or needs additional help 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.

Some of our centres also include bush and beach kindergarten sessions, so that children learn to care for and learn from the natural world around them.

Children born between January and April can choose which year to start three-year-old kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn three, or in the year they turn four years of age. Due to staffing requirements, children can only start attending kindergarten after their third birthday. This will mean that some children will not start attending the kindergarten program until part-way into term one.

Children that will turn six in late December (between the last day of the school year and 31 December), can attend four-year-old kindergarten in that year and attend school the following year.

When a child starts at kindergarten directly relates to the age they will start at primary school. Please speak to the Service’s kindergarten teachers and other Early childhood professionals such as your Maternal child health nurse, family doctor, allied health professional or Centre Manager directly about the best time for your child to start at three-year-old kindergarten.

The following table provides a general guide to when children are eligible to attend a sessional program:

For further information regarding when to start kindergarten please visit the Kindergarten - Best Start, Best Life website.

Four-year-old kindergarten is a one year program for young children delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher in the year before they begin school.

The Victorian Government provides funding to services to contribute to the cost of running a funded program.

All children are eligible to access a funded kindergarten program for 15 hours per week for 40 weeks (or 600 hours) in the year before commencing school.

Families can only access Government funding for one kindergarten program at a time and cannot have previously accessed a funded place.

From 2026, across Victoria, children who meet the eligibility requirements due to their learning or developmental needs can access an additional year of either Three-Year-Old Kindergarten or Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (or Pre-Prep for eligible children), but not both.

The Early Childhood teacher and the child’s parents, carers or legal guardians will work together to plan for the child’s transition to school.

In exceptional circumstances where a child is observed to display delays in key outcome areas of learning and development, a second year of either funded Three-Year-Old or Four-Year-Old Kindergarten may be considered in the best interest of the child:

• the kindergarten program is deemed to be the most appropriate learning program and environment for that individual child
• the child will achieve better outcomes at kindergarten than if they go to school.

More information for parents, carers and legal guardians about the assessment process can be found here.

A funded second year of kindergarten will only be available for children who meet the above criteria.

If a child will turn six before or while they are in a funded kindergarten program, parents, carers or legal guardians must get an exemption from starting school.

Why is Kindergarten for three-year-olds important?

Please contact us if you are unsure whether to enrol your child in the three-year-old or four-year-old program.

The collection and handling of personal information is carried out in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

We welcome feedback on the kindergarten registration process. We also recognise the right of families to complain if they are feeling dissatisfied or unhappy with the process.

If you would like to provide us with feedback about your experiences or have concerns about the registration process, please contact us.