VIC Kinder: Funding for two years of kinder 

In this article:

What is kinder?

Kinder: Best start, Best life

When do children start kinder?

The ‘Kinder Tick’ and government-approved kindergarten programs

Long day care (LDC) kinder vs sessional kinder

Flexible kinder sessions 

Preparing for smooth school transitions 

Inclusion and support

What is kinder?

Kinder is two years of government-funded kindergarten (kinder) for children before they start school in Victoria (VIC). The Victorian Government has strict quality standards that kinder providers must meet before approval. After approval, the government gives these programs a 'Kinder Tick'.

A ‘Kinder Tick’ approved program offers the following:

• A quality early learning program for two years for children aged three and four. 
• At least 15 hours a week for 40 weeks (600 hours) for two years. 
• Play-based learning environments guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework (VEYLF). 
• Early years programs designed and delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.

Two years of kinder before starting school is highly encouraged, but not compulsory.

Kinder: Best start, Best life 

All children in Victoria get 15 free kinder hours per week or up to 600 hours per calendar year. Families with children born between 1 January and 30 April can choose which year to start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn three or in the year they turn four.

Under the Best Start, Best Life program, the Victorian Government funds both three-year-old and four-year-old kinder using the following criteria:  

• For three-year-old kinder, children turning three before 30 April that year can access five to 15 hours of care a week. 
• For four-year-old kinder, children turning four before 30 April that year.   

The government provides $2101 per child to reduce costs for families and in addition to your Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The $2101 Free Kinder offset is split over the calendar year. Kinder centres get this funding directly from the government. Then, your centre applies this rebate to reduce the fees you pay to the centre.   

When can my child start kinder?

You can use the kinder age calculator to check when your child will be eligible to start three-year-old kinder and four-year-old kinder.

Families with children born between 1 January and 30 April can choose which year to start three-year-old Kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn three or in the year they turn four.

The Kinder Tick: Government approval and the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework (VEYLF)

In Victoria, government-approved kinder programs offer five to 15 hours of early learning per week from age three and up. Look for the 'Free Kinder Tick ' to find these programs.

The VEYLF extends on the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, or EYLF. The EYLF covers from birth to five years, and the VEYLF extends this to eight years. Like the EYLF, the VEYLF is play-based and supports children to grow the following skills in preparation for their transition to school:

• Social skills, like making friends and respecting others.
• Participation in groups and learning to take turns.
• Emotional regulation and naming how they feel.
• Empathy, like reading and understanding the feelings of others.
• Communication skills, like saying what they need without getting frustrated.

It's easy to see play-based learning as 'just having fun'. But it's important to remember that it's not 'just playing'. Children learn through play. You can read more about what they learn in kindy, play-based learning and the EYLF.

Look for the Kinder Tick 

Long day care kinder vs sessional kinder

Community (or sessional) kindergartens typically operate during school hours, with four terms a year. These hours work for families who don't need before- and after-school care or can be available on school holidays. But many families can't do that.

At long day care (LDC) kinder, your children will learn and play all year, before and after school hours. You get extra learning and playing hours beyond the 15 hours a week at a sessional kinder. 

If you have a pre-kinder child already at Goodstart and love their centre, we encourage them to stay for their kinder years, and here’s why: 

• They can stay with their friends. 
• Everyone can keep the same routine.
• Your child already has a relationship with their kinder teacher.  
• Your family already has a relationship with everyone at the centre. 

Kinder sessions that work around your life 

As an LDC kinder, we'll help fit kindergarten around your schedule with these benefits: 

• You can choose from nine-hour, ten-hour, and all-day sessions. 
• We're open before and after school so you can meet your work and life commitments. 
• Your child gets extended hours of quality early learning.
• You don’t need to use all your annual leave during school holidays 

Our programs are designed for smooth transitions to school

We want your child to have the social and emotional skills to start school confidently. We'll collaborate with school teachers, families and communities to support their well-being. We work closely with our local schools, giving them everything they need to know about your child through the Victorian Government’s Transition to School Statements, documents to help new teachers understand how your child learns.

We also run school transition activities during the kinder year to help your child feel comfortable on their first school day. We want a smooth and supportive start for your child's education journey

We offer inclusive learning environments   

Inclusion is everything to us. Every child deserves to feel seen and valued for who they are. We work hard to create environments and support networks that welcome all children and their families to our centres. We take reconciliation seriously, walking with our families, children, and communities on this journey.  

Save your kinder spot for next year! 

We hope we’re a good fit for you and your family in this exciting early learning stage. If you'd like to know how we can support your child from kinder to school, call our Family Services team or book a tour of your local Goodstart Early Learning below.

Backed by government

Our three and four-year-old kindergarten programs are funded and approved by the Victorian Government, and the program complies with government guidelines and the National Quality Framework.