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Information for families

For more information, including links to useful resources, view the drop-down headings below.

From 2023 onwards, the Victorian State Government has announced that kindergarten will be free for all three and four year old children. From 1 February 2024 it is free to apply for kindergarten at City of Whittlesea kindergartens, subject to change.

We are working with kindergarten providers to cater for your family’s needs and manage capacity across our centres. This means three-year-old kindergarten hours will vary at different kindergartens, providing families with between 5 and 15 hours each week.

Kindergarten timetables for 2024 are available on Council’s website, but are subject to change. Most childcare centres also offer kindergarten programs, contact your local centre for details.

  • Applications will open on 1 February for 3 year old kinder in 2025 and 4 year old kinder in 2026.
  • You can apply for 3 and 4 year old kindergarten at the same time.
  • There are new kindergartens opening in 2024: Murnong Kindergarten and 2025: Wollert Central Primary School Kindergarten.

Find a Kinder Program

To find a free and government-approved kinder program near you, visit the Find a Kinder website.

Bundoora

Donnybrook

Doreen

Epping

Lalor

Mernda

Mill Park

South Morang

Thomastown

Whittlesea

Wollert

Kindergarten (also called preschool) is an educational program for children delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher in the two years before they start school.

Kindergarten is for all children. If your child has a disability or learning difficulty (requires support to access kindergarten), the educators will talk with you about how the program and environment can support your child.

Research shows that kindergarten improves children’s health and wellbeing and helps them to develop strong social skills and encourage a love of learning.

Children who go to a kindergarten program are more independent and confident and more likely to make a smooth transition to primary school.

Some kindergartens run as a stand-alone service and others are through child care centres or on school sites.

Three and four-year-old kindergarten is subsidised by the Victorian State Government to allow all children to attend for free.

You can apply for 3 and 4 year old kindergarten using either the online form or by downloading the application form below.

You will be required to provide the following information:

  1. Fill in your child's details and nominate three kindergartens, in order of preference

If you are applying for 3 year or 4 year old kindergarten  please nominate the three kindergartens in order of preference for both kindergarten years

  1. Provide the following supporting documents:
  • proof of child’s birth (eg. a copy of their birth certificate, passport or Immunisation History Statement)
  • proof of parent’s current address (e.g. driver’s licence, rates notice or utility bill). Name on document provided must match Parent/Guardian details on application. Non-residents may choose to provide proof of primary childcare/education or employment within the municipality to prove connection to Council. In the absence of this a signed Statutory Declaration can be used.
  • A copy of your Health Care Card/ eligible Concession/ Refugee or Asylum seeker visa etc to allow for priority of access.

Apply online or submit your completed application form by:

  • email: keo@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
  • mail:
    • Kindergarten Team
      City of Whittlesea
      Locked Bag 1, Bundoora MDC VIC 3083

If you speak a language other than English and would like assistance to apply for kindergarten, or to find out more information, please contact Council’s Kindergarten team on 9217 2170. You are welcome to contact the Interpreting Service 131 450.

Apply for kindergarten:

Would you like some help with your kindergarten application?

Come along to one of our help sessions with the City of Whittlesea’s Children and Families department for support in completing your application, understanding immunisation requirements and Early Start Kinder information and much more.

Interpreters are available to support families from non-English speaking backgrounds.

February Sessions

Wednesday 7 February
9:30am – 1pm
Westfield Plenty Valley, Kids Zone, 415 McDonalds Road, Mill Park

Tuesday 13 February
9:30am – 1pm
Galada Community Centre, 10A Forum Way, Epping

Friday 23 February
9:30am – 1pm
Thomastown Library, 52 Main Street, Thomastown

June Sessions

Friday 14 June
9:30am – 1pm
Thomastown Library, 52 Main Street, Thomastown

Wednesday 19 June
9:30am – 1pm
Pacific Epping, 571 – 583 High Street, Epping

Wednesday 26 June
9:30am – 1pm
Mernda Village Community Activity Centre
Foyer, 17 Grafton Street, Mernda

Three-year-old kindergarten

Your child must turn three by 30 April in the year of attendance.

Families with children born between January and April can choose which year to start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn 3, or in the year they turn 4 years of age.

Due to staff requirements, some services may ask that children start attending at kindergarten only after their third birthday. This may mean that some children may not start until part-way into Term 1 and have less time overall as part of a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program, in comparison to their peers. If this is the case for your child and you accept a place, kindergartens will hold your child’s place until they are old enough to attend. Kindergarten services will discuss with you directly about how they can support your child to join their program once they turn three. When your child starts at kindergarten directly relates to the age they will start at primary school. When enrolling at Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, we encourage families to plan ahead and consider the age they would like their child to start at school.

Four-year-old kindergarten

Your child must turn four by 30 April in the year of attendance.

  • Some children are eligible for a second year of funded kindergarten. This second year is only available at four-year-old kindergarten and is approved by your child’s kindergarten teacher.

If your child was born between January and April you can choose which year to enrol your child: Either the year they become eligible or the year after. 

  Three-year-old kindergarten    Four-year-old kindergarten  
 Date of birth range  Year of attendance Year of attendance  Applications open 
1 May 2019 – 
30 April 2020		 N/A 2024 Now
1 May 2020 –
30 April 2021		 2024 2025 Now

1 May 2021 -
30 April 2022

 2025 2026 1 February 2024

1 May 2022 -
30 April 2023

 2026 2027 1 February 2025

 

Kindergarten open day

Kindergartens host information events each year, providing an opportunity to speak to kindergarten teachers and learn about the quality programs on offer throughout the municipality. 

For a list of open days visit our Kindergarten open days website page.

For any enquiries, please contact your local kindergartens directly or you may view their websites.

 

Applications open

Applications open on 1 February each year, one year before three-year-old program attendance and two years before four-year-old kindergarten attendance. Please refer to the table above for guidance.

Kindergarten placement offers

Apply by 30 June in the year before your child attends kindergarten to be considered in the first round offers. Any applications received after this date will be accepted and processed later in the year. Kindergarten placement offers will be made via email or mail starting in the months of July and August in the year before your child is due to attend. Offers will continue to be made after this date as applications are received.

Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week for two years before starting school.

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

  • is from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or
  • identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or
  • your family has been involved with or received parenting support from Child Protection or The Orange Door

For more information visit here

A parent web portal is available for you to view and modify your child's kindergarten application.

To log in enter your child's first given name and surname as well as their date of birth and application ID.

If you don't have this number, contact us by emailing keo@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or phone 9217 2170.

 

Applications are processed according to the priority of access guidelines set by the Department of Education. Beyond these priorities, offers are made according to the date of application and other locally agreed criteria such as residential proximity or link to the service. The kindergarten placement offers are sent via email or mail starting from July and August in the year prior to your child attending. Offers will continue to be made after this date as new applications are processed, and other vacancies become available.

We do try to offer your preferred kindergarten placement however due to demand this is not always possible.

You may choose to stay on a waiting list instead of accepting an alternative kindergarten placement. Places may become available later at your preferred kindergarten due to deferments, cancellations and changes of preferences made by other families.

Confirm your offer

If you have received a placement offer you can respond to the offer online using the parent web portal. Alternatively, you may reply by email or you can return the printed form in person.

After you accept the placement offer, you will be contacted by the kindergarten management about session times and fees.

Under the 'No Jab, No Play' legislation you will need to provide documentation/evidence regarding immunisation directly to the kindergarten to confirm your child’s enrollment.

Council does not require this evidence for your kindergarten application.

Log in to the parent web portal to modify your child’s application instantly. You will require your child's application ID which will be shown on letters you have previously received.

If you do not have your child’s application ID, phone 9217 2170.

Alternatively, email your request to change or cancel your child's application to keo@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

You can defer your application to the following year online using the parent web portal. You will require your child's application ID which will be shown on letters you have previously received.

If you do not have your child’s application ID, phone 9217 2170.

Alternatively, email your request to defer your child's application to keo@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

Your child's application can only be deferred before they start attending kindergarten.

City of Whittlesea handles central applications for 44 kindergartens and you can nominate your child to attend any one of these.  Check out the kindergarten timetables and find one that suits your family. We also encourage you to contact any kindergarten you are interested in. 

Further information about programs, educators and learning spaces are available from each kindergartens' website or by contacting them directly. 

View a map of local kindergartens

Kindergartens in the City of Whittlesea are managed by volunteer parent management committees, schools or professional early childhood organisations.

Management bodies are registered with the Department of Education and Training (DET) and monitored regularly to ensure quality and standards are maintained and funding conditions are met.

City of Whittlesea’s role is to: 

  • maintain Council’s facilities in which kindergarten programs are run
  • manage a central application system for kindergartens in Council’s facilities
  • support early childhood educators with professional development and service planning

For more information on the management of local kindergartens, please refer to our Kindergarten Central Application Scheme Policy and Procedures.