Kindergarten

How do I register for community delivered kindergarten?

Our formal period to register for 2018 closed 30 June 2017.

You can still register your child online, however your application will not be processed until the applications received in the formal registration period have been allocated and confirmed. You can contact Family Services (03) 9599 4755 to discuss which kindergartens may still have vacancies and can be applied for.

Register online

Download a copy of the 2017 Central Kindergarten Registration Guidelines (PDF, 257.68KB).

Age requirement

• Children enrolling for a 3 year old program must have turned 3 by the 31 January in the year they attend. In exceptional circumstances, a child who turns 3 in February or March of the year they wish to attend, may be considered for a place if a vacancy remains after the conclusion of the central registration process but they cannot commence until they have turned 3. Contact us on (03) 9599 4755 to discuss your options and eligibility.
• Children enrolling for a 4 year old program must turn 4 by the 30 April in the year they attend. A child may start 4-year-old kindergarten at the commencement of the kindergarten year even if they have not yet turned four.

How to gauge your child's readiness

It is very important to consider when your child is likely to gain the most benefit from starting school, as this will help you determine when your child's kindergarten experience should commence. Once a child starts 3 year old kinder, their education journey has commenced with an expectation of moving into 4 year old kinder the following year and then school the year after.

Although every child's development is unique, observation and research suggest that children who turn 3 between January and April can benefit significantly from waiting a year and starting kinder the year they turn 4.

You know your child best. However, to help make an informed decision about when to start your child's education journey, you can:

• Discuss your options with people whose judgement you trust such as your Maternal and Child Health Nurse, kindergarten educators, school teachers (especially foundation and prep) and other parents.
• Attend kindergarten information sessions. These are displayed in our news and events section.
• Read up on kinder readiness.

Remember

• Both 3 and 4 year old programs can have children ranging from 3, 4 and 5 years old in attendance.
• Your child must be at school in the year that they turn 6 years of age, this is the compulsory school starting age (See the Department of Education and Training for exemptions)
• Access to a second year of either 3 or 4 year old kinder is only available under limited circumstances and should not be assumed as an automatic entitlement.

When is my child old enough to attend?

What are my community delivered kindergarten options?

Follow the links below to the kindergartens which are part of our Central Registration Service. Each service has its own timetable with some offering extended hours of care.

• Beaumaris 3 year old Kindergarten
• Black Rock Preschool
• Brighton Baptist Kindergarten
• East Beaumaris Kindergarten
• Gordon Street Preschool
• Grange Road Kindergarten
• Hampton Community Kindergarten 
• Helen Paul Kindergarten
• Hurlingham Preschool
• Jack and Jill Kindergarten
• Janet Mundy Kindergarten
• Livingston Kindergarten
• Nagle Preschool
• North Brighton Kindergarten
• Olive Phillips Kindergarten
• Olympic Avenue Kindergarten
• St John's Kindergarten
• St Mary's Kindergarten
• St Peter's Preschool

What if I decide to wait another year?

There are other options to consider if you decide to wait a year. Play group, occasional care and family day care are available in the Bayside area and provide opportunities to develop your child's readiness for kinder.