Kindergarten

3 young children in laughing in playground with a teacher

Council manages registrations for sessional kindergarten programs across Brimbank. We don't manage registration for kindergarten offered at long day care centres. 

All Victorian children can now access 2 years of kindergarten: 

  • 4-Year-Old (4YO) kindergarten - 15 hours per week. 
  • 3-Year-Old (3YO) kindergarten - 5 to 15 hours per week. By 2029, it will be 15 hours per week at all kindergartens.

To help you register for kindergarten: The videos below explain the difference between sessional kindergarten and long daycare kindergarten, and how to register for kinder and accept an offer. You may also find our new handbook helpful: Kindergarten Registration Handbook (PDF 2.4MB) as well as the Kindergarten Registration and Enrolment Guidelines (PDF 1088KB). 


Brimbank's annual kindergarten survey is now live! Have your say and help us improve our services. 


   

About kindergarten and how to express interest in your child attending

Types of kindergarten programs

Kindergarten programs are run in: 

  • sessional kindergartens - we manage registrations for sessional kindergarten programs in Brimbank. The programs are then run by kindergarten service providers. 
  • integrated programs within long day care programs at childcare centres -These are privately managed. We do not manage registrations for these programs - you will need to contact the centre directly. 

The table below outlines the difference between sessional and integrated programs. 

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

Yes

 
Daily fees payable  

Yes

Child Care Subsidy available  

Yes

Bachelor qualified 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

  • If your child was born between January and 30 April: They can start attending kindergarten in the year they turn 3 years old.
  • If your child was born after 30 April: They can start attending kindergarten the year after they turn 3 years old.
  • Children can attend 4YO kindergarten the year before they start school.

To check when your child will be eligible to start 3-Year-Old Kindergarten and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten, refer to the table below or use the Victorian Government's Kindergarten starting age calculator.

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
1/5/2024 - 30/4/2025 2028 2029

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.

Express interest in your child starting kindergarten (at a Maternal and Child Health appointment or via this online form)  

You can express interest in your child starting kindergarten anytime between birth to 2 years of age. 

You can do this in one of the following ways:  

Once you've put in an expression of interest, you will be notified as soon as kindergarten registrations open.

Kindergarten expression of interest - download a form  

Kindergarten Registration Handbook

This new handbook (PDF 2.4 MB) includes information on everything you need to know to register your child for kindergarten and accept an offer.

Kindergarten registration

Complete your kindergarten registration

We manage registration for sessional kindergarten only. To register for an integrated kindergarten program (at a child care centre), contact the child care centre directly the year before the kindergarten program is due to start.  

Registration for sessional kindergarten opens in February in the year before the kindergarten program starts. 

Once you've registered, please remember to keep your registration details and kindergarten preferences updated by contacting the Kindergarten team on 03 9249 4000 or kindergartenregistration@brimbank.vic.gov.au

Register for kindergarten online

Paper form to download, print and email to us

If you prefer, you can download a registration form, then email your completed form to kindergarten@brimbank.vic.gov.au

Kindergarten offers

When places are allocated

In the year before a kindergarten program starts, we contact all families already registered in our system to confirm their contact details and kindergarten preferences.

  • From June: Places for 4-year-old (Pre-Prep) kindergarten are allocated. 
  • From July: Places for 3-year-old kindergarten are allocated. 

Families must accept their offer 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.

Places are allocated in accordance with the Department of Education and Training's Priority of Access criteria. You will find more information about the criteria in our Kindergarten registration and enrolment guide. (PDF 1.1MB)

Kindergartens in Brimbank - Locations and timetables

List of kindergartens in Brimbank

There are over 35 kindergartens in Brimbank, operated by a range of early years management organisations.

To find kindergartens near you, you can: 

Kindergarten timetables

Kindergarten timetables are set by the centres that operate them.

Visit providers' websites to confirm times and learn more.

Additional kindergarten support available

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 Referral Program.

Last updated: 19 November 2024 - 12:58pm