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Open days

Visiting a kindergarten will tell you a lot about the atmosphere, activities and facilities. It will also give you an idea of how the staff interact with you and your child. This may help you decide whether the kindergarten is a good fit for your child.

If your child already goes to a child care centre, they may run information sessions for parents about their kindergarten programs.

Most kindergartens welcome enquiries throughout the year and can arrange a time for you to visit. Kindergartens that are members of our Central Registration Scheme hold open days each year in May. You can also contact member kindergartens directly to arrange a time to visit. Visit Member kindergartens to find their contact details.

Find more information about choosing a kindergarten from the Victorian Government website.

Open days in May 2024

Ashburton and Glen Iris
KindergartenDate Time
Alfred Road KindergartenSat 18 May9 to 11 am
Craig Family CentreSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
Estrella PreschoolSat 25 May10 am to 12 noon
Glen Iris Road Uniting Church KindergartenWeds 15 May5 to 6 pm
Rowen Street KindergartenSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
Summerhill Park KindergartenSun 26 May10 am to 12 noon
Balwyn and Balwyn North
KindergartenDate Time
Balwyn East KindergartenSat 25 May10 am to 12 noon
Bellevue KindergartenSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
Boroondara PreschoolSat 18 May11 am to 1 pm
Deepdene PreschoolSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
The Merrell KindergartenSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
Yongala PreschoolSat 11 May10 am to 12 noon
Canterbury, Camberwell and Surrey Hills
KindergartenDate Time
Canterbury and District PreschoolSun 19 May9 to 11 am
Canterbury Gardens KindergartenSat 18 May10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Fordham Avenue KindergartenSat 25 May10 am to 12 noon
St Dunstan's KindergartenSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
St Paul's Anglican KindergartenSat 25 May10 am to 12 noon
Surrey Hills Preschool CentreSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
Hawthorn and Hawthorn East
KindergartenDate Time
Auburn South PreschoolSat 25 May10 am to 12 noon
Camberwell Baptist Kindergarten Sat 18 May9:30 am to 11:30 am
Cara Armstrong KindergartenSat 18 May10 am to 12 noon
Robert Cochrane KindergartenSun 19 May10 am to 12 noon
West Hawthorn Preschool n/aContact West Hawthorn kindergarten 
to book a tour
Kew and Kew East
KindergartenDate Time
Glass Street KindergartenSat 11 May10 am to 12 noon
JJ McMahon Memorial Kindergarten at the former 
Balwyn Leisure Centre, 230 Balwyn Road, Balwyn
Sat 25 May11 am to 1 pm
North Kew KindergartenSat 18 May9 to 11 am
Studley Park KindergartenSat 11 May10 am to 12 noon

Types of kindergarten

There are 3 types of kindergarten to consider depending on your family and your circumstances.

Stand-alone kindergarten

Some kindergarten programs are taught in purpose-built centres. Children attend programs at set days and hours. These are known as 'sessional' or 'stand-alone' kindergartens. The sessions are usually shorter than a business day and run 2 to 4 days per week. Many of these kindergartens are managed by volunteer parent committees.

Many sessional kindergarten enrolments are conditional upon receiving funding from the Victorian Government to secure a place.

Kindergarten in long day care (childcare centre)

Long day care centres offer childcare for children from 0 to 6 years old. Most also offer kindergarten programs that children can attend as part of their time at care that are taught by early childhood teachers. Hours of care vary across centres, but most offer 40 hours per week.

If your child attends both a sessional kindergarten, and a long day care centre, the Victorian Government will only provide funding for kindergarten at one of these centres. Families should discuss this with their long day care centre when enrolling their child.

Kindergarten in an independent school

Some independent schools offer kindergarten programs. Some of these schools offer 'K-12', meaning they provide schooling from kindergarten through to year 12. They sometimes refer to their kindergartens as Early Learning Centres or ELCs.

Look for the Kinder Tick

The Victorian Government is making it easier for families to find funded and approved kindergarten programs. The Kinder Tick helps Victorian families find a funded kindergarten program for their children.

When you see the Kinder Tick:

  • 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 meets government guidelines and complies with the National Quality Framework.

You can find out more about the Kinder Tick on the Victorian Government website.

You can see a map of kindergarten programs that have the Kinder Tick using the Find a Kinder map tool.

Victorian Government approved kindergarten

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