Kindergarten (also called preschool) is an educational program for children delivered by qualified early childhood teachers. It's delivered in the two years before children start school.
Some kindergartens run as a stand-alone service. Others are run through childcare centres or are co-located on school sites.
Three and four-year-old kindergarten is subsidised by the Victorian State Government. This means it is free for all children to attend.
Benefits of kindergarten
Research shows that kindergarten:
- improves children’s health and wellbeing
- helps children to develop strong social skills
- encourages a love of learning.
Children who attend a kindergarten program are more independent and confident and more likely to make a smooth transition to primary school.
Kindergarten for every child
If your child has disability or learning difficulties, the educators will talk with you about how the kindergarten program and environment can support your child.
For information on the session times and schedules for your local kindergarten, please see the kindergarten timetables page below.
Kindergarten timetables
The Victorian State Government announced that from 2023 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're 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 five and 15 hours each week.
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 have turned three by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten. In addition:
For more information on Early Start Kindergarten, visit the Victorian Government website.
Our kindergartens 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.
Our role is to:
- maintain Council facilities in which kindergarten programs are run
- manage a central application system for kindergartens in Council facilities
- support early childhood educators with professional development and service planning.
For more information on the management of local kindergartens, view our Kindergarten Central Application Scheme Policy and Procedures.(PDF, 344KB)
Three-year-old kindergarten
Your child must turn three by 30 April in the year of starting three-year-old kinder.
If your child was born between January and April, you can choose which year your child starts three-year-old kindergarten.
These children can start in the same year they turn three, or in the year they turn four.
Due to staff requirements, some services may ask that children start attending kindergarten after their third birthday. This can mean that some children may not start until part-way into term one and have less time overall as part of a three-year-old kindergarten program, compared with 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 talk with you directly about how they can support your child to join their program once they turn three.
When your child starts kindergarten relates to the age they will start primary school. When enrolling at three-year-old kindergarten, we encourage you to plan ahead and consider the age you would like your child to be when they start school.
Four-year-old kindergarten
Your child must turn four by 30 April in the year they will begin four-year-old kinder.
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. This can be 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 |
Now |
| 1 May 2022 – 30 April 2023 |
2026 |
2027 |
1 February 2025 |
- Applications for all kindergartens open on 1 February each year. This is one year before three-year-old kindergarten attendance and two years before four-year-old kindergarten attendance.
- 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 are made via email or mail starting in the months of July and August in the year before your child is due to attend.
Apply for kindergarten
We manage the central application process for sessional kindergarten programs in the City of Whittlesea. This includes three and four-year-old programs at 44 kindergartens across the Council area.
Kindergartens by suburb
View details on kindergartens by suburb below.
Alternatively, you can see the location of local kindergartens via our interactive map or visit the Find A Kinder website and enter your location.
Donnybrook
Eucalyptus Parade Kindergarten
38 Eucalyptus Parade
Visit the Whittlesea YMCA website for more information.
Murnong Kindergarten (Previously Patterson Drive Kindergarten - open 2024)
181 Olivine Boulevard
Visit the Murnong Kindergarten website for more information.
Kindergartens host information events each year. This gives you the chance to speak with kindergarten teachers and learn about the quality programs on offer throughout the municipality.
For any enquiries, please contact your local kindergartens directly.
Kindergarten open days are generally held in February and March each year.
Open days for 2025:
- Thursday 27 February 2025, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
- Saturday 1 March 2025, 9.30am – 11.30am
Visit Kindergarten Open Days(XLSX, 22KB) for a list of kindergartens with their open days and times. Bookings are not required.
How are applications processed?
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 how close you live to the kindergarten, or any connections you might have to the service.
When will I find out if my child gets a place?
The kindergarten placement offers are sent via email or mail starting from July and August in the year before your child is due to start kindergarten.
Offers will continue to be made after this time 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.
What if we don't get a place at the kindergarten we want?
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.
How do I confirm a placement offer?
If you have received a placement offer you can respond in the following ways:
- online using the kindergarten portal
- email
- return the printed form in person.
What happens after I accept a 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 regarding immunisation directly to the kindergarten to confirm your child’s enrolment.
We don't require this evidence for your kindergarten application.
If you speak a language other than English and need help understanding information about kindergarten, you can:
For further information contact the Kindergarten Team on 03 9217 2170 or email our Multicultural Outreach Team at fet@whittlesea.vic.gov.au