Kindergarten applications

What is Kindergarten?

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 long day care centres or on school sites.

Four-year-old kindergarten is subsidised by the Victorian State Government to keep fees low and allow all children to attend.

Three-year-old kindergarten will be subsidised from 2022. Applications for three-year-old kindergarten in 2022 are now open.

For 2021 three-year-old kindergarten applications, please apply directly with your chosen kindergarten.

Apply for kindergarten

Free or low cost kindergarten

The kindergarten fee subsidy allows children to access up to 15 hours of funded kindergarten delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher for free or at low cost.

Your child is eligible for the kindergarten fee subsidy:

• if your child identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• if your child is identified on their birth certificate as being a multiple birth child (triplets or more)

or if your child holds or has a parent or guardian who holds, one of the following:

• a Commonwealth Health Care Card
• a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card
• a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or White Card
• Refugee or Asylum Seeker visa (200-204, 786 or 866)
• Bridging visas for any of the above Refugee or Asylum Seeker visas

If your family or child has a humanitarian or refugee visa listed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection which is not included in the above list, your child may still be eligible for the kindergarten fee subsidy. Please speak to your kindergarten service for more information.

Important dates

Kindergarten open day

Kindergartens host an information event each year, providing an opportunity to speak to kindergarten teachers and learn about the quality programs on offer throughout the municipality. This year the open night was held on 25 February. For any enquiries please contact your local kindergartens directly or you may view their websites.

We also welcome you to contact your local kindergartens directly.

Applications now 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 below 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 vacancies become available.

Eligibility

Three-year-old kindergarten

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

Four-year-old kindergarten

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

• 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. 
• Some children are eligible for a second year of funded kindergarten. This second year can only be approved by your child’s kindergarten teacher. Find out more by visiting the Department of Education and Training website.

Early Start Kindergarten

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 had contact with child protection.

For more information visit: Early Start Kindergarten (education.vic.gov.au)

Parent web portal

A parent web portal is now 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 9404 8825.

Kindergarten placement offers

Applications are processed according to the priority of access guidelines set by the Department of Education and Training (DET). Beyond these priorities, offers are made according to the date of application. 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.

Confirm your offer

If you have received a placement offer you can respond to the offer online using the parent web portal or, alternatively, you can return the printed form by email or mail.

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.

How to change or cancel your 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 9404 8825.

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

Defer your application

You can defer your application to the following year online using the parent web portal.

If you do not have your child's application ID, email keo@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or download the Kindergarten deferment form below.

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

Choosing a kindergarten

There are 37 kindergartens in the City of Whittlesea, and you can nominate your child to attend any one of these. We encourage you to contact any kindergarten you are interested in. 

Information about programs, session times and fees are available from each kindergartens' website or by contacting them directly. 

Kindergarten management

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

More information

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