Kindergarten FAQs

From 2025, four-year-old kindergarten will gradually transition to pre-prep, with programs across Victoria increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week.

Led by qualified teachers, pre-prep will give four-year-old children greater opportunities to socialise and learn through play. Pre-prep will be delivered through standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care centres.

By 2036, all children across Victoria will have access to 1,800 hours of funded kindergarten before school, including 600 hours of three-year-old kindergarten and 1,200 hours of pre-prep.

Both pre-prep and three-year-old kinder are part of the Free Kinder program.

Pre-prep will be available for all children in Surf Coast Shire from 2028 offering between 16-20 hours of funded kindergarten per week. This will increase to 30 hours in a staged rollout by 2036.

Surf Coast Shire Pre-Prep rollout plan(PDF, 642KB)

See the Victorian Department of Education’s website for more information about pre-prep: vic.gov.au/preprep

There are two priority groups who will get access to increased hours of pre-prep earlier than the rest of the population.

From 2026, children who:

• who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• from a refugee or asylum seeker background
• who have had contact with Child Protection

will be able to access between 16 and 25 hours per week across Surf Coast Shire kindergartens. This will increase to 30 hours per week by 2036.

From 2028, children:

• who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card
• from a multiple birth (triplets or more)

will be able to access between 16 and 25 hours per week across Surf Coast Shire. This will increase to between 16 and 30 hours per week by 2030.

Priority of Access

Surf Coast Shire Council supports the Victorian State Government policy directions which articulate those children with additional needs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, asylum seeker and refugee families with an appropriate visa, children known to Child Protection, children applying for a 2^nd year of 4-year-old kindergarten and families eligible for a fee subsidy, benefit most from being involved in early childhood programs. Families that provide evidence where possible that they have a child in one of these categories will be allocated as a priority.

Kindergarten Priority Groups – This includes 3-year-old and 4year-old programs

• 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 eligible for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy including Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)
• Children with additional needs, defined as children who:
    º Require additional assistance in order to fully participate in the
      program
    º Require a combination of services which are individually
      planned
    º Have an identified specific disability or developmental delay

• Children requiring a second year of 4-year-old kindergarten, approved by the Department of Education (DE).
• Children applying for a 4-year-old program who are currently attending a 3-year-old program at a Surf Coast Shire Council kindergarten
• Siblings who are currently attending or have previously attended the same kindergarten
• Surf Coast Shire residents or those employed within the municipality
• Residential proximity

Kindergarten programs are an opportunity for children to learn in a flexible, play based environment where qualified teachers and educators use a combination of child-led and intentional teaching to support each child’s individual learning, taking into account their current knowledge, culture, abilities, ideas, interests and individual needs.

Children who attend kindergarten programs are generally more independent and confident and are more likely to make a smooth transition to primary school.

Australian and international evidence shows that quality play-based kindergarten programs help lay the foundation for success throughout a child’s education and life. Through play, children engage with the people, places, and objects around them to build an understanding of their world. Positive attitudes towards learning, such as persistence, curiosity, and imagination are developed during play, setting children up for a lifelong love of learning. 

Children learn through play in many ways: physical play, dramatic play, sensory play, nature/outdoor play, and creative play. Through play, children start to develop early concepts in language and literacy, numeracy, STEM and social and emotional skills. Children begin to explore and develop strength in their identity as they engage in their community and develop an understanding of the world around them.

In early learning environments, qualified teachers and educators design and set up purposeful play-based programs that provide children with opportunities to explore, experiment, question and discover new concepts about the world in playful ways. Programs align with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). Qualified teachers and educators play and explore with children, extending their learning through warm and engaging interactions. 

What your child learns

Kindergarten programs are designed to improve your child’s development in:

• social skills, i.e. how to play with other children in a calm, sharing and rewarding way
• self-awareness and respect for others
• emotional skills, for example understanding their feelings
• language, literacy and numeracy skills, such as reading stories and counting objects
• joy of learning and group activities, such as talking, drawing and making things together with other children their own age
• ability to make new friends
• exposure to new ideas and concepts.

Kindergarten also gives families:

• opportunities to meet other families and make community connections
• access to support for children with special needs
• access to other community services.

Kindergarten is accessible and 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.

All Victorian children are eligible for two years of state-funded kindergarten before they start school. All children enrolled in a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program will move onto Four-Year-Old Kindergarten program the following year, then onto school.

A child cannot attend more than one year of funded Three- Year-Old or Four-Year-Old Kindergarten unless they meet the eligibility criteria for a second year of Three-Year-Old or Four Year-Old Kindergarten.

To check when your child will be eligible to start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, you can use the starting age calculator - When to start

Use the Pre-Prep calculator to find out if your child is eligible to attend Pre-Prep and when they can start.

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten

To be eligible for Three Year-Old Kindergarten, your child must have turned three years of age by 30 April in the year attending Three Year-Old Kindergarten. Families with children born between January and April can choose which year to start at 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.

When your child starts kindergarten directly relates to the age they will start at primary school. When enrolling in Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, we encourage families to consider the age they would like their child to start at primary school.

Children cannot start kindergarten until they have had their 3^rd birthday. In this instance, your child’s place will be held until they are old enough to attend.

Four- Year-Old Kindergarten

To be eligible for Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, your child must have turned four years of age by 30 April in the year attending Four Year-Old Kindergarten.

Children who turn six at any time during the kindergarten year need to be exempt from attending school. Parents/guardians must obtain an approved exemption before their child starts kindergarten by submitting an exemption from school form to the Department of Education. Exemption from school forms can be found at www.education.vic.gov.au

 You are required to provide a copy of your child’s exemption from school form prior to confirming enrolment.

Currently, there is no provision for a funded second year of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. Children are required to move onto Four-Year-Old kindergarten after a year of Three-Year-Old kindergarten.

As Pre-Prep is rolled out, and program hours for Four-Year-Old children gradually increase, a second year of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten may better support a child’s learning and development than a second year of funded Pre-Prep.

From 2026, across Victoria, children can access an additional year of either:

• Three-Year-Old Kindergarten; or
• Pre-Prep (or Four-Year-Old-Kindergarten for children not eligible for Pre-Prep),

but not both, provided they meet the applicable eligibility requirements. That is, eligible children can access up to three years of funded kindergarten in Victoria.

The current information for early childhood education professionals on how to determine if a child is eligible for a second year of funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten will be updated to reflect the availability an additional year of either Three-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep by mid-2025.

Currently, a second year of funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten may be considered when a child shows delays in learning and development outcomes in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, and when:

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

If the teacher believes your child has a developmental delay in two or more key learning and development outcomes and would benefit from a second year of kindergarten, they will talk to you about your options and if you agree, they will complete a Declaration of Eligibility for a second year of funded kindergarten. They will send the declaration to the Department of Education for approval. You will also receive a copy. 

Under ‘No Jab, No play’ legislation which 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.

Conscientious objection is not an exemption.

Prior to your child’s enrolment being confirmed, you need to provide:

• a current Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR); and
• the statement must show that the child is up to date with all vaccinations that are due for their age, or that they are able to receive.

The immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is the only document accepted for enrolments. Letters from GPs or local councils are not accepted.

You can find out more about No Jab No Play at the Better Health Channel

Parents and carers can print a copy of their child’s Immunisation History Statement from their myGov account or:

• call the AIR on 1800 653 809
• visit a Medicare or Centrelink office.

A grace period may apply for disadvantaged or vulnerable families. More information is available at www2.health.vic.gov.au

There are no fees for children to attend kindergarten, except when additional hours outside of the government funded hours are offered.

As of 2023, Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is free as part of the ‘Best Start Best Life’ reforms. Free Kindergarten is for everyone. You do not need to be an Australian citizen to be eligible to receive Free Kindergarten.

In 2025 funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program hours vary between 10 to 15 hours across our 6 Kindergarten services.

Provision of increased hours for three year old kindergarten in 2026 will be subject to enrolment confirmation and operational requirements. Sessions may be offered over one or two days depending on each kindergartens timetable. These are structured to make best use of the space available and to reflect community needs.

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program hours will increase to 15 hours in a staged rollout by 2029.

Surf Coast Shire's ‘Best Start Best Life’ rollout Plan is available on our Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) Policy.

Children have access to 15 hours of funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten per week, during school terms. A variety of session models are offered at each service to suit family needs.

From 2026, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten will gradually transition to Pre-Prep, with programs across Victoria increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week. Pre-prep will be available for all children in Surf Coast Shire from 2028 offering between 16-20 hours of funded kindergarten per week. This will increase to 30 hours in a staged rollout by 2036.

Surf Coast Shire's ‘Best Start Best Life’ rollout Plan is available on our Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) Policy.

Surf Coast Shire kindergartens provide an inclusive program for all children. Families are encouraged to provide details of any additional needs or medical requirements your child may have, during the application process.

Early childhood educators work with families to support children with additional needs and provide advice about their needs, including discussing referral pathways and additional support. 

Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week for 2 years before starting school. You may be offered a place in a Three-Year-Old or Four-Year-Old Kindergarten program.

To be eligible, your child must be 3 by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten, and:

• from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or
• identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or
• your family has had contact with child protection.

For more information please email centralapplication@surfcoast.vic.gov.au or go to https://www.vic.gov.au/early-start-kindergarten

Kindergartens encourage active family participation and value links with their local communities. If your Kindergarten has a Parent Advisory Group you can become involved through the Parent Advisory Group. You are also welcome to come along and take part in the program, including by sharing your skills and expertise with your child’s group. To be involved in the program, you will need to have a Working with Children Check and complete a Kindergarten Volunteer registration form.

If you are interested in becoming a Kindergarten volunteer you will need to contact your child’s teacher to complete a registration form.

For all other volunteering queries email volunteering@surfcoast.vic.gov.au

Early childhood educators maintain documentation about each child’s development and learning goals. These are available in each room. Opportunities for parent/educator meetings will be provided and parents are always welcome to ask early childhood educators about their child’s progress.

Kinderloop - provides an interactive online method of documentation and communication. It allows teachers and educators to highlight each child’s individual learning while at kindergarten and gives parents the advantage of being involved in their child’s progress and special moments in a timely manner. With Kinderloop, families are able to see the kindergarten program as it develops and its links to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).

Kinderloop also provides a unique and interactive feature that allows teachers, educators and parents to give constructive feedback and/or comments on the curriculum and learning goals.

Transition Learning and Development Statements are developed for each child in preparation for their primary school orientation in term four. These statements include input from educators and family, and provide an insight into your child’s progress over the kindergarten year.

Online applications for Kindergarten in 2026 are open from 7  April 2025.

Kindergarten online application

Families have until 22 June 2025 to submit their form to be considered for first round offers. Applications received after 22 June 2025 will be processed in September 2025 once round one applications have been confirmed.

Key Dates - allocation of 2026 kindergarten places

Kindergarten applicants will be notified before the end of Term , 2025.

Public Primary School's are zoned to provide access for children to attend the closest school to your home. Before deciding on which kindergarten to enrol your child in, check the location of your zoned primary school.

Find my school

Kindergarten Engagement Officer - 5261 0585 centralapplication@surfcoast.vic.gov.au

Team Leader Kindergarten Programs - 5261 0548

Prior to making your decision, you are invited to contact the Kindergartens directly to organise a convenient time to visit the service.