Kindergarten

3 young children in laughing in playground with a teacher

All Victorian children can now access 2 years of kindergarten!

Kindergarten is important to the learning and development of children in the years before they start school. At kindergarten, children learn key skills for life through play-based learning, such as:

  • creative thinking
  • social and emotional skills
  • early literacy 
  • language skills.

Over 70 kindergarten programs are run across Brimbank by qualified early childhood educators. We manage the registration of some of these programs, known as sessional kindergartens.

Four-Year-Old (4YO) kindergarten is 15 hours per week.

Three-Year-Old (3YO) kindergarten is currently 5 – 15 hours per week, and will increase to 15 at all kindergartens by 2029.


Things you need to know about kindergarten

Types of kindergarten

Kindergarten programs are run in either:

  • sessional kindergartens or
  • as integrated programs within Long Day Care programs at childcare centres.

We manage the registration of sessional kindergartens in Brimbank only. Council does not run the kindergarten programs. Integrated programs are privately managed. Find the difference between sessional and integrated programs in the table below.

Services Sessional
(Stand Alone)
Integrated
(Long Day Care)
No fees required (from 2023)

Yes

 
Daily fees payable  

Yes

Child Care Subsidy available  

Yes

Bachelor qualifed teacher

Yes

Yes

Play-based learning

Yes

Yes

Up to 15 hours available

Yes

Yes

During school terms only

Yes

 
Set days and times (2/3 days per week)

Yes

 
Long-day program (up to 5 days per week)  

Yes

Before and aftercare  

Yes

Meals provided  

Yes

When to start kindergarten

Families with children born between January and 30 April may choose whether to enrol their children in a kindergarten program in the year they turn 3 years old.

Children born after 30 April can start attending kindergarten the year after they turn 3 years old.

Children can attend 4YO kindergarten the year before they start school.

Child's date of birth 3YO kindergarten 4YO kindergarten
1/5/2019 - 30/4/2020 2023 2024
1/5/2020 - 30/4/2021 2024 2025
1/5/2021 - 30/4/2022 2025 2026
1/5/2022 - 30/4/2023 2026 2027
1/5/2023 - 30/4/2024 2027 2028

When deciding to start kindergarten consider your child’s:

  • developmental and learning levels
  • family circumstances 
  • preferred school starting age.

Families can discuss their child’s kindergarten readiness by speaking with their MCH nurse at their child’s next Key Ages and Stages appointment.

How to sign up for kindergarten

Register for sessional kindergarten

Kindergarten Registration opens in February in the year before the kindergarten program will run. Depending on the program we begin sending offers from June and continue accepting new registrations and offering available places over the following months (See details of the Allocation Process below).

Register online

You can also download and email completed registration forms to: kindergarten@brimbank.vic.gov.au 

Expression of interest

To simplify the process of finding out when registrations open, you can complete an expression of interest and we will automatically contact you when registrations open.

You can complete an Expression of Interest at any time from the birth of your child.  If your child attends a Maternal Child Health Visit we may complete an expression of interest on your behalf.

If registrations are not open for your child, please complete our

Online Expression of Interest form

You can also download and email your Expression of Interest forms to: kindergarten@brimbank.vic.gov.au 

Place Allocations

Kindergarten places are allocated:

  • In the year before kindergarten, we contact all families already registered in its system to confirm their contact details and kindergarten preferences.
  • From June, Council allocates places for 4YO kindergarten
  • From July, Council allocates places for 3YO kindergarten
  • Families must accept their offer with Council to complete the process.
  • Later in the year, families who have accepted their offer will be contacted by their kindergarten to complete the enrolment process.

Allocation is made according to a Priority of Access criteria set out by the Department of Education and Training. Read more about Priority of Access and allocation in the Kindergarten registration and enrolment guide. (PDF 1.1MB)

Contact us: 

Email kindergarten@brimbank.vic.gov.au or call 03 9249 4000

Integrated kindergarten programs (at child care centres)

Contact the child care centre directly the year before kindergarten to register.

Finding kindergartens

Where are kindergartens?

There are over 35 kindergartens in Brimbank, operated by 5 early years management orgranisations.

Kindergarten timetables

Kindergarten timetables are set by the centres that operate them.

Review the 2024 session times or download a copy of the timetable (PDF 495kb) as last provided to us.

Visit providers' websites to confirm times and learn more.

Providers

BPA Children's Services runs kindergartens at 19 locations in Brimbank

Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS) runs kindergartens at 15 locations in Brimbank

Deer Park West Kinder at 12 Adeline Ct, Deer Park

Derrimut YMCA Early Learning Centre at 30 Lennon Parkway, Derrimut

Welwyn Uniting Kindergarten at 44 Welwyn Parade, Deer Park

Inclusive kindergarten programs

Early Start Kindergarten

Early Start Kindergarten is available to eligible 3-year-old children to access up to 15 hours of funded kindergarten.

Children are eligible if they are:

  • Known to child protection
  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • From a refugee or asylum seeker children

For more information:

Preschool Field Officer Program

The role of the Preschool Field Officer (PFSO) is to support, guide and coach kindergarten educators, to provide high quality programs that support the inclusion of children with additional needs.

Learn more about the program or apply for a Preschool Field Officer Referal Program


 


 

Last updated: 22 February 2024 - 12:47pm