Early Start

Kindergarten

Why is kindergarten important?

At kindergarten, children learn key skills, including

creative thinking, social and emotional skills,

and early literacy and language skills. Research

shows that two years of kindergarten are better

than one, helping prepare children for success at

school and for life.

What is Early Start Kindergarten?

Early Start Kindergarten provides up to 15

hours of free or low cost kindergarten per

week to eligible three-year-old children where

programs are offered by a qualified teacher.

The Victorian Government is rolling out funded

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten – from five

hours a week. During the roll-out, Early Start

Kindergarten will continue to provide 15 hours a

week of funded kindergarten.

Applications for Early Start Kindergarten

funding are made by the service on your behalf

and the grant is paid directly to the service.

Is my child eligible?

To be eligible, your child must be three by 30

April in the year they start kindergarten and

meet one of the following criteria:

• be from a refugee or asylum

seeker background

• identify as Aboriginal or Torres

Strait Islander

• your family has had contact with

Child Protection

.

How do I enrol my child?

You can enrol your child by contacting a

kindergarten service near you or your local

council and asking to access Early Start

Kindergarten. Alternatively, any professional

who supports you, including your Child FIRST

or Child Protection worker, maternal and child

health nurse, bicultural worker or supported

playgroup facilitator, can do this on your

behalf. Your Early Childhood Implementation

Branch, a Koorie Engagement Support Officer

(KESO) or Early Childhood Learning Adviser

in your nearest Department of Education and

Training office can also help you apply.

Should my child go to four-year-old

kindergarten as well?

Yes. A kindergarten program in the year

before school will build on the strengths

your child will develop through Early Start

Kindergarten when they are three.

Children who are eligible for, or have accessed,

Early Start Kindergarten are also eligible for

free or low cost four-year-old kindergarten

for 15 hours per week in any funded

kindergarten program.

Try to enrol your child for four-year-old

kindergarten as early as possible to make

sure your child gets a place as spots at your

preferred kindergarten are not guaranteed.

Where can I find more about Early

Start Kindergarten?

For more information about Early Start

Kindergarten, visit

education.vic.gov.au

and search for Early Start Kindergarten, or

contact your regional Department of

Education and Training office.

Regional office contacts

21-052

Published by Department of Education and Training

Melbourne April 2021 (Revised)

© State of Victoria

Regional Office

Location

North-eastern Victoria

1300 333 231

Benalla

Wodonga

Wangaratta

Seymour

Shepparton

Glen Waverley

North-western Victoria

1300 338 691

Bendigo

Mildura

Swan Hill

Coburg

Greensborough

South-eastern Victoria

1300 338 738

Moe

Leongatha

Warragul

Sale

Cheltenham

Frankston

Dandenong

South-western Victoria

1300 333 232

Ararat

Ballarat

Geelong

Horsham

Warrnambool

Footscray

Keilor