Kindergarten

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten

Your child must be three years old on or before 30 April in the year your child attends kindergarten to be eligible for a funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten place.

Children born between January and April have a choice on which year to attend Three-Year-Old Kindergarten - either the year they turn three or the following year when they turn four. Decisions on when to start your child will be up to the individual families, and factors that might be taken into consideration include the individual child’s developmental and learning levels, family circumstances and potential school starting ages.

Please Note: Your child may not be eligible to commence the kindergarten year until they turn three years of age. Please check directly with the kindergarten as all kindergartens have their own policies in place with commencement for children who are yet to turn three.

Four-Year-Old Kindergarten

Your child must be four years old on or before the 30 April in the year your child attends kindergarten to be eligible for a funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten place.

Please note children do not need to be toilet trained to attend kindergarten.

When should I send my child to kindergarten?

The Department of Education has developed two easy to use calculators, one to assist in finding the year your child can start kindergarten based on their age and the second to help you check your child’s eligibility for Pre-Prep. To use these calculators visit: Sending your child to kinder | vic.gov.au

From 2025, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten will gradually transition to Pre-Prep, with programs across Victoria increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week.

Increasing the hours of play-based learning in the year before school gives children even greater access to the many benefits of early childhood education.

In 2026 and 2027 children in the below specified priority cohort will be eligible to access a minimum of 16 hours per week of Pre- Prep.

Children who:

• are from a refugee or asylum seeking background, or
• identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or
• have had contact with Child Protection, including children in out of home care.
• were supported by Early Start Kindergarten (ESK) or Access to Early Learning (AEL) in their Three-Year-Old Kindergarten year.

For further information on Best Start Best Life visit: vic.gov.au/preprep 

Melton City Council runs a Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) which makes it easier for you to register your child for kindergarten, choosing from the 27 services in the City of Melton that participate in the scheme. 

Parents or guardians are required to complete one kindergarten registration form per child.

You can lodge your completed registration form including all supporting documents online via:

• 2026 Kindergarten Registration Form(PDF, 550KB)
     Or

Lodgement of your completed hard copy form must be in person at one of our three locations listed below.

• Melton Civic Centre, 232 High Street Melton 3337
• Melton Library and Learning Hub, 31 McKenzie Street Melton 3337
• Caroline Springs Library and Learning Hub, 193-199 Caroline Springs Blvd, Caroline Springs 3337

The registration form will ask you for contact details, information about your child including factors that might prioritise your child’s allocation to a kindergarten.

Melton City Council follows the Priority of Access guidelines that supports the inclusion of children with additional needs, children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, asylum seeker and refugee families with an appropriate visa, and children known to Child Protection.

To complete the kindergarten registration form, make sure you have:

• Evidence of living in the municipality or of being a ratepayer of Melton City Council : a utilities bill, rental agreement or rates notice with your family name and address (this must be the main residence of your child)
• A copy of your child's birth certificate (if the birth certificate is unavailable, a copy of another official document such as an immunisation record or passport will be accepted)

You may also include the following documents:

• Concession cards and immigration visas (where applicable)
• Documents from Family Support Services or a Maternal and Child Health nurse confirming high support needs and/or disability, or letter from a doctor for complex medical needs (where applicable)

The form will also ask you about preferences for which kindergarten you would like your child to go to. We recommend only listing kindergartens that you intend to accept an offer from. You may wish to visit the kindergarten and ask questions, to see if the kindergarten is right for you and your child prior to submitting your registration. 

Visit our kindergartens located within the City of Melton for a list of local kindergartens. 

Children learn more in their first five years of life than at any other time. Kindergarten provides children with an environment that encourages and supports their development. Kindergarten gives children the opportunity to explore the world and provides a solid foundation to learn the skills that are required for Primary School.

Kindergarten provides opportunities to:

• Develop communication and literacy skills
• Develop independence and responsibilities to gain confidence and a feeling of self- worth
• Learn social skills such as listening and respecting other people’s ideas
• Build self-awareness and respect for others
• Learn to be creative
• Experience maths, social studies and science
• Use technology
• Discover the joy of learning
• Make new friends

Children learn these skills through play-based curriculum where they are able to make choices and share in decision making.

Children are provided with the opportunity to develop caring relationships with adults as well as friendships with other children. The best outcomes for children are achieved when Kindergarten staff and parents/guardians work in close partnership.

Your child should turn three by 30 April of the year they start a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program.

Your child should turn four by 30 April of the year they start a Four-Year-Old Kindergarten program.

Your child can start school if they turn five years old by 30 April of the year they start school. Your child must be enrolled in school by the age of six, unless they have an exemption. So, if your child’s birthday falls before 30 April in the calendar year, you have a choice about whether to enrol your child in school in the year they turn five or the next year.

Children learn at different rates, in different ways, and at different times. In some cases, your child may benefit from starting a kindergarten program later. 

It is important for families to carefully consider if their child is ready for Four-Year-Old Kindergarten as the following year, the child will attend school.

Please note children do not need to be toilet trained to attend Kindergarten.

Melton City Council allocates kindergarten places fairly and transparently via a priority of access.

All remaining children are randomly ordered via a ballot to be allocated to their highest available preference. There is no ‘first in, first served’ rule.

If your preferred kindergarten(s) are full, you will remain on a wait list.
Families will receive information from kindergartens directly regarding orientation details.

Non-Resident applications from families who reside outside the municipality and do not meet any of the priority one access criteria are required to be assessed by the Melton City Council’s Director, City life, and you will be notified of the outcome.

Sessional kindergarten programs operate in line with the school term. 

Funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten programs operate for a minimum of five hours per week, and Four-Year-Old programs operate for a total of fifteen hours per week.

Kindergarten programs in long day care centres are combined with extra hours of care and can provide flexibility for parents/carers who have commitments during standard working hours. Long day care centres typically operate for at least eight hours a day for a minimum of fourty-eight weeks per year and charge on a per-day basis. Children can access a funded kindergarten program at many long day care centres.

Council does not manage registrations for kindergarten programs at long day care centres. Please contact centres directly for more information.

All funded kindergarten programs are delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.

The Victorian Government is investing in kindergarten for all Three-Year-Old; giving all children an extra year of learning playing and making friends. Children in the City of Melton will be able to access a minimum of five hours of Three-Year-Old funded kindergarten per week. Registrations for funded Three-Year-Old kindergarten at 27 kindergarten locations will be managed by the Melton City Council Central Registration and Enrolment scheme.

You can register your child online for Kindergarten 2026 

If you are unable to submit your form online, you can obtain a hard copy form at one at the below locations:

• Melton Civic Centre, 232 High Street Melton 3337
• Melton Library and Learning Hub, 31 McKenzie Street Melton 3337
• Caroline Springs Library and Learning Hub, 193-199 Caroline Springs Blvd, Caroline Springs 3337
    

Your child must be Three-Year-Old by 30 April the year your child attends kindergarten to be eligible for a funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten place. 

There is no longer a registration fee to any family wishing to register their child into kindergarten. 

Free kindergarten is available for both Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs.

A critical part of the state governments Best Start, Best Life reform is free kindergarten, which will support access to two years of high-quality kindergarten programs for all Victorian children.

For more information regarding Free Kindergarten please visit https://www.vic.gov.au/sending-child-kinder 

Every child is different, so we recommend visiting different kindergartens to find one that suites your family's needs.

Families are encouraged to contact kindergartens and/or arrange an appointment to visit preferred kindergartens prior to completing the registration form.

Some things you might like to consider are:

• What is the kindergarten quality rating?
• What are the available sessions days and times and do these suit your family’s needs?
• What is the physical environment like? Does is feel safe and welcoming?
• What is the kindergarten philosophy and what types of activities do they provide?

Families are encouraged to 'look for the Kinder Tick' logo displayed at a service. When you see the Kinder Tick you can be confident :

• the program will be led by a qualified teacher
• children will benefit from play-based learning
• the kindergarten program is funded and approved by the Victorian Government
• the program complies with government guidelines and the National Quality Framework 
    

Looking for a kindergarten location in a specific area?
Visit: Find a Kinder Program - Department of Education and Training , Victoria website.

Please note: you will be able to locate specific Kindergartens by entering a postcode.  As a result, not all of these Kindergartens will be located in the City of Melton or form part of the Melton City Council Kindergarten Registrations.

Under the ‘No Jab, No Play’ legislation, before enrolling a child into Kindergarten you must first obtain evidence that the child is:

• fully immunised for their age OR
• on a vaccination catch-up program OR
• unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons.

‘Conscientious objection’ is not an exemption under the ‘No Jab No Play’ legislation.

You will be required to provide your selected Kindergarten with a copy of your child’s immunisation status to confirm registration.

Individual kindergarten session times vary from year to year. Please contact kindergarten providers below directly for an indication of session times offered in the current year.

SPARKWAYS:
Ph: 1300 677 275
(Bellevue Hill, Burnside, Deanside, Diggers Rest, Eynesbury, Kingsway, Melton West, Mt Carberry, Parkwood Green, Plumpton, Rockbank and Thornhill Park Kindergartens).

ECMS:
Ph: 8481-1100
(Brookside, Cambrian Way, Arnolds Creek, Melton Central, Mt Atkinson and Bridge Road Kindergartens).

BPA:
Ph: 9312-3689
(Brookfield, Botanica Springs Fraser Rise and Taylors Hill Kindergartens).

One Tree Community Services:
Ph: 1800 919 995
(Timbertop and Weir Views)

Kindergartens operating within a school site are delivered by the school:
Kororoit Creek: Ph: 8358 0600
Springside: Ph: 9449 6402
Creekside :Ph: 8363 6400 

Early Start Kindergarten (ESK) was introduced in response to research showing that two years of quality education and care prepares children for success at school and leads to positive impacts later in life.

Early Start Kindergarten can help ensure you get the maximum amount of free kinder program hours possible each week for your child for 2 years.

To be eligible, your child must meet one of the following criteria:

• are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or
• have had contact with Child Protection, including children in out of home care.
• are from a refugee or asylum seeker background, and:

• have a refugee or humanitarian visa, or
• are applying for a refugee or humanitarian visa, or
• have previously held a refugee or humanitarian visa, or

• have a current or expired ImmiCard
• If none of these apply but you or your child have been a refugee or asylum seeker, or had similar experiences, your child may still be eligible. Contact your local Department of Education office to ask about an exemption. You can also ask any professional who supports you to contact the Department for you.

Your child must turn three before 30 April in the year they are enrolled to attend Three-Year- Old Kindergarten to access Early Start Kindergarten.

Children participating in ESK may also be eligible for the Access to Early Learning Program.

Koorie Kids Shine was launched by the Victorian Government to help promote participation by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in kindergarten.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children can get up to fifteen hours of free kindergarten each week. To be eligible, your child must turn Three or Four-Year-Old by 30 April in the year they go to kindergarten.

More information

The Preschool field Officer (PSFO) program, funded by the Department of Education, is available to support the inclusion and participation of children in State Government funded Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs including Early Start Kindergarten and Access to Early Learning, and to build the capacity of educators.

Learn more about the Preschool Field Officer Program, contact the team on 9747 5316, or email psfo@melton.vic.gov.au for more information. 

There are guidelines that early childhood teachers must follow to assess your child’s eligibility for an additional year of kindergarten.

It's important that you and your child’s teacher work together to achieve the best outcome for your child’s learning. With your consent, the teacher will:

• meet with you to discuss the requirements for an additional funded year of kindergarten and whether it is in the best interest of your child
• develop a Term 3 Learning and Development Plan for your child, if delays in your child’s learning or development are identified
• engage the support of other early childhood professionals as needed.

If your child’s teacher believes your child has a developmental delay in two or more key areas and would benefit from an additional year of kindergarten, they will talk to you about your options.

If you agree, they will complete a 'Declaration of Eligibility' for an additional year of funded kindergarten. They will send the declaration to the Department of Education. You will also get a copy. They will also complete an 'Additional Year Statement' with your help during Term 4.

Children who have been granted early entry to funded Kindergarten (i.e. children who are less than four years of age by 30 April in the year they attend a funded Kindergarten program) are not eligible to apply for an additional year of funded Kindergarten, unless they are enrolled under the Early Start Kindergarten criteria.

A Regulatory Authority in each state and territory will be primarily responsible for administering the National Quality Framework.

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority oversees the National Quality Framework and ensures consistent and effective implementation of the new system.

National Quality Standard

The National Quality Standard sets a national benchmark for the quality of education and care services.

The National Quality Standard is divided into seven Quality Areas:

• Educational program and practice
• Children’s health and safety
• Physical environment
• Staffing arrangements
• Relationships with children
• Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
• Governance and Leadership

The National Quality Standard aims to promote:

• The safety, health and wellbeing of children
• A focus on achieving outcomes for children through high-quality educational programs
• Families’ understanding of what distinguishes a quality service.

National Quality Rating and Assessment Process

Kindergarten's will be assessed and rated against each of the seven Quality Areas of the National Quality Standard and the National Regulations. They will also be given an overall rating. The assessment and rating process aims to drive continuous quality improvement at services and provide families with better information for making choices about their children’s education and care. Early childhood experts and professionals maintain that quality is critical when it comes to early childhood education and care.