Kindergarten options and eligibility

Families with children who turn 3 years old between 1 January and 30 April can choose to start kindergarten in that year, or in the year they turn 4. 

Use our kindergarten dates calculator to check when your child will be eligible to start 3-year-old kindergarten.

Four-year-old kindergarten offers all children at least 15 hours of funded kindergarten. 

The Victorian Government is increasing the number of hours for 4-year-old kindergarten, with the program to be known as Pre-Prep by 2036. 

All children in Boroondara will be eligible for up to 20 hours of funded Pre-Prep from 2034, increasing to up to 25 hours in 2035 and up to 30 hours in 2036. For information on these changes visit the Department of Education website.

Some children in Boroondara are eligible for Pre-Prep earlier.

1. Children who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or who have had contact with Child Protection are eligible for up to 25 hours of funded Pre-Prep now. This will increase to up to 30 hours from 2028.
2. Children who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card, or are from a multiple birth (triplets or more) will be eligible for up to 25 hours of funded Pre-Prep from 2028. This will increase to up to 30 hours from 2030.

Use our kindergarten dates calculator to check when your child will be eligible to start 4-year-old kindergarten.

There may be some children for whom an additional year of funded kindergarten is appropriate. 

Your child may be eligible if their teacher has found they have delays in at least 2 key areas of learning and development. They'll have better learning and development outcomes at their current program level, rather than moving to the next level. 

Eligible children can access up to 3 years of funded kindergarten in Victoria. This means they can apply for an additional year of either 3-year-old or 4-year-old kindergarten.

• If you're concerned about your child's readiness for school, speak to their kindergarten teacher. With your permission, the teacher will complete an assessment and potentially reach out to the Preschool Field Officer to discuss.
• Find out more on the Victorian Government's website about an additional year of funded kindergarten. 

Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week for 2 years before starting school. To be eligible, your child must be 3 years old by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten, and:

• identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• be a refugee or asylum seeker, or
• your family has had contact with Child Protection (or been referred to Child FIRST).

Find out more on the Victorian Government's Early Start page.

Also called 'sessional kindergarten', standalone programs are delivered during school terms, at set hours and days.

Sessions are usually shorter than a business day and run for 2 to 4 days per week. Some standalone services provide programs that run for longer than the maximum funded hours. Extra hours are called ‘additional hours’ and there is a cost attached. 

Find out more on the Victorian Government's website about Free kinder at standalone services. 

If you'd like your child to attend a standalone kindergarten in Boroondara, you'll most likely need to register with us (Council). 

• Visit our member kindergartens page to view all the kindergartens that are members of our Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme.
• Find out how member kindergarten places are allocated.

Long day care centres provide kinder programs combined with extra hours of care. Extended hours can include meals and additional educational and recreational activities for your child. 

If your child attends a long day care service, you'll pay a daily attendance fee and may receive a fee offset for funded kindergarten hours. Find out more and register by contacting the service directly.

Find out more on the Victorian Government's website about Free kinder at long day care centres.

Some independent schools offer schooling from kindergarten through to Year 12. These independent schools sometimes refer to their kindergartens as Early Learning Centres (ELC) or K-12. 

Participating independent schools offer funded kindergarten as well as additional hours of care, similar to long day care services. To learn what fees apply and to register, contact the independent school directly.